Assistant Division Chief and Counsel, Law Division

The New York City Comptroller’s Office works to promote the financial health, integrity, and effectiveness of New York City government, in order to strengthen trust, secure a thriving future for all New Yorkers, and build a more just, equitable, and resilient city. Led by an independently elected citywide official, the comptroller’s office provides checks and balances needed to hold City government accountable for budgeting wisely, investing responsibly, operating efficiently, acting fairly, living up to its obligations and promises, and paying attention to the long-term challenges we face together.

Authorized by the New York City Charter, the Comptroller, through the Bureau of Law and Adjustment (BLA), negotiates and approves all monetary settlement of claims and lawsuits involving the City of New York. BLA investigates and, when in the best interest of the city, settles pre-litigation claims for and against the City of New York. In resolving claims before litigation is commenced, BLA protects the fiscal interest of the City while ensuring that pre-litigation claims are resolved in a fair and just manner, and in accordance with applicable laws. BLA furthers this goal in its review, evaluation, and authorization of requests to settle litigated cases involving the City and through diligent administration of disputes arising out of City contracts. BLA manages City risk by holding agencies accountable, rooting out fraud, and identifying trends, as well as, coordinating with the Law Department and other City agencies on issues that impact the public fiscal and public safety.

The Bureau of Law & Adjustment is responsible for investigating and adjusting claims filed for and against the City of New York. Among other claims, the Law Claims Division investigates and resolves non-tort claims including breach of contract, affirmative, refund, salary, special education and illegal but equitable claims, as well as claims brought under the alternative dispute resolution provisions of the Procurement Policy Board ('PPB") rules and City contracts The Division works closely with the New York City Law Department and various agencies and departments on a variety of matters.

Under the direction of the Chief of the Law Division Chief, with wide latitude for independent judgment and unreviewed action and decision, responsibilities for the Assistant Division Chief and Senior Counsel include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Advising and counseling the division on a wide variety of difficult and complex legal matters, including contract interpretation and administration, special education issues, litigation, and labor and employment law.
• Investigating, evaluating, and negotiating difficult and complex prelitigation claims, including breach of contract and illegal but equitable claims, and claims brought pursuant to the alternative dispute resolution procedures in PPB rules and City contracts, and other claims having significant financial, procedural, or policy consequences.
• Monitoring, evaluating, negotiating, and approving settlements of lawsuits, including those related to class actions, labor and employment, special education, and other lawsuits having significant financial, procedural, or policy consequences.
• Attending and representing the Comptroller’s Office at settlement conferences in federal and state courts, when required.
• Drafting comprehensive yet concise memoranda recommending settlement outside of delegated authority.
• Supervising division staff, including reviewing and assigning work assignments based on knowledge and experience of staff; reviewing and deciding on recommendations by staff for settlement or disallowance of claims; providing support and guidance to staff to ensure the timely and appropriate handling of claims; preparing employee performance evaluations; and ensuring compliance with agency and bureau policy and procedures.
• Assisting the Division Chief in managing the division’s functions to effectuate operational efficiency and resolution of claims in compliance with bureau procedures, statutes, and laws.
• Recommending, designing, and implementing new procedures for the effective and efficient resolution of claims.
• Acting as a point of contact with other bureaus, the staff of elected officials, agency personnel, attorneys, the public, and others, as necessary.
• Perform related assignments and special projects as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Admission to the New York State Bar; and four years of recent full-time responsible, relevant, satisfactory legal experience subsequent to admission to any bar, eighteen months of which must have been in the supervision of other attorneys, in an administrative, managerial or executive capacity, or performing highly complex and significant legal work.

Incumbents must remain Members of the New York State Bar in good standing for the duration of this employment.

Preferred Skills

• Experience in the supervision of legal staff, including other attorneys, claim examiners, investigators, or paralegals, in administrative, litigation management, or other managerial or executive capacity, or performing highly complex and significant legal work, including those areas in the bulleted list of the above job description.
• Comprehensive knowledge of City Contracts and the PPB Rules.
• Strong negotiation skills and analytical skills with attention to details.
• Exceptional analytical, organizational, writing, and verbal communication skills and the ability to perform multiple tasks requiring prioritization with minimal supervision.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment while managing multiple priorities.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to interact with all levels of management.

Residency Requirement

New York City Residency is not required for this position