Senior Attorney, litigation

City of New York; New York (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of New York Comptroller’s Office seeks an Executive Agency Counsel to join the Bureau of Law and Adjustment. Reporting to the Deputy Director of Litigation, the Senior Attorney will evaluate and settle claims against the City pre-litigation and supervise junior attorneys.

The role requires NY State Bar admission, at least four years of relevant experience (18 months supervising others), and strong skills in negotiation, legal research, and strategic leadership.

Qualifications

• Admission to the New York State Bar and four years of post-bar legal experience, including 18 months supervising attorneys.
• Experience in administrative, managerial, or executive capacity or handling highly complex legal work.
• Ability to negotiate settlements and perform complex legal memoranda.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate, negotiate, and resolve claims against the City prior to litigation.
• Approve or deny Law Department settlement recommendations.
• Supervise junior attorneys and review work.
• Prepare complex memoranda for settlement approvals beyond delegated authority.
• Participate in settlement negotiations and support management in data analytics and operations.
• Perform related assignments as directed.

Skills

NY Bar admission

Legal research

Negotiation

Litigation management

Supervisory experience

Job description

Job Description

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.

Reporting directly to the Deputy Director of Litigation, duties for the Senior Attorney position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Using independent judgment and applying appropriate standards of law:
  1. Evaluate, negotiate, and resolve claims against the City of New York and its agencies prior to commencement of litigation.
  2. Approve or deny Law Department recommendations for settlement.
• Supervise junior attorneys, including reviewing written work and delegating settlement authority;
• Prepare complex legal memoranda on pre-litigation claims and pending litigation to request settlement approval beyond delegated settlement authority;
• Participate in settlement negotiations both in and out of court in an informed and professional manner consistent with the highest standards of the Comptroller’s Office;
• Support the Director and Deputy Director in data analytics and related endeavors;
• Support the Director and Deputy Director with respect to managing staff assignments and day-to-day operations of the Litigation Unit; and
• Perform other related assignments as directed.

EXECUTIVE AGENCY COUNSEL - 95005

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.

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.