Assistant Division Chief and Counsel, Law Division

About the role

The New York City Comptroller’s Office works to promote the financial health, integrity, and effectiveness of New York City government, strengthening trust and securing a thriving future for all New Yorkers. The Bureau of Law and Adjustment (BLA), authorized by the New York City Charter, negotiates and approves all monetary settlements of claims and lawsuits involving the City of New York. BLA investigates and settles pre-litigation claims for and against the City, protecting the City’s fiscal interests while ensuring fair and just resolutions in accordance with applicable laws. The Bureau also reviews, evaluates, and authorizes settlements of litigated cases and administers disputes arising from City contracts, managing risk by holding agencies accountable and identifying trends.

The Law Claims Division within BLA investigates and resolves non-tort claims, including breach of contract, affirmative, refund, salary, special education, and illegal but equitable claims, as well as claims under the alternative dispute resolution provisions of the Procurement Policy Board (PPB) rules and City contracts. The Division collaborates closely with the New York City Law Department and various City agencies.

Responsibilities

• Advise and counsel the division on complex legal matters, including contract interpretation and administration, special education issues, litigation, and labor and employment law.
• Investigate, evaluate, and negotiate difficult and complex pre-litigation claims, such as breach of contract, illegal but equitable claims, and claims under PPB rules or City contracts, particularly those with significant financial, procedural, or policy consequences.
• Monitor, evaluate, negotiate, and approve settlements of lawsuits, including class actions, labor and employment, special education, and other high-impact cases.
• Represent the Comptroller’s Office at settlement conferences in federal and state courts as required.
• Draft concise memoranda recommending settlements outside of delegated authority.
• Supervise division staff, including assigning work, reviewing settlement recommendations, providing guidance, preparing performance evaluations, and ensuring compliance with agency policies and procedures.
• Assist the Division Chief in managing the division’s functions to improve operational efficiency and ensure compliance with laws and bureau procedures.
• Recommend, design, and implement new procedures for the effective and efficient resolution of claims.
• Serve as a point of contact with other bureaus, elected officials, agency personnel, attorneys, the public, and others as necessary.
• Perform related assignments and special projects as required.

Requirements

• Admission to the New York State Bar and four years of recent full-time legal experience subsequent to admission, with at least eighteen months in a supervisory, administrative, managerial, or executive capacity, or performing highly complex and significant legal work.
• Must remain a Member of the New York State Bar in good standing for the duration of employment.

Preferred Skills

• Experience supervising legal staff, including attorneys, claim examiners, investigators, or paralegals, in administrative, litigation management, or other managerial roles.
• Comprehensive knowledge of City contracts and PPB Rules.
• Strong negotiation and analytical skills with attention to detail.
• Exceptional organizational, writing, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritize with minimal supervision.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to interact with all levels of management.

New York City Residency is not required for this position.

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website.