Upon termination or completion of an engagement, you may request a copy of the contents of your client file. For purposes of the engagement, the client file does not include administrative records; time, billing, or expense records; personnel or staffing materials; credit and accounting records; or internal attorney work product prepared by or for the internal use of Rhoades McKee, including but not limited to drafts, notes, internal memoranda, electronic mail, and legal or factual research (including investigative and due diligence materials). Rhoades McKee may, in its discretion, charge reasonable fees for search, review and production of file materials in accordance with the rules of professional conduct and opinions of the State Bar of Michigan.
Consistent with Rhoades McKee’s Retention Policy, all original documents and other tangible property belonging to you that are received in connection with an engagement will be returned to you upon closure of the file, without further request or action required on your part. Upon file closure, the remaining contents of the client file, including copies of any returned original documents, will be converted to electronic format and retained for a period of seven (7) years, unless Rhoades McKee determines, in its sole discretion, that a longer retention period is appropriate or required. Following conversion to electronic format, all paper documents will be destroyed. At the end of the applicable retention period, the electronic records will be permanently deleted without further notice to you.
