Senior Attorney, litigation

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 building a more just, equitable, and resilient city. Led by an independently elected citywide official, the Comptroller’s Bureau of Law and Adjustment (BLA) negotiates and approves all monetary settlements of claims and lawsuits involving the City of New York, including pre-litigation claims, to protect the City’s fiscal interests while ensuring fair and lawful resolutions. BLA also manages City risk by holding agencies accountable, identifying trends, and coordinating with the Law Department and other agencies on matters affecting public fiscal and public safety.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate, negotiate, and resolve claims against the City of New York and its agencies prior to commencement of litigation, applying independent judgment and appropriate legal standards.
• 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 authority.
• Participate in settlement negotiations both in and out of court in a professional and informed manner consistent with the highest standards of the Comptroller’s Office.
• Support the Director and Deputy Director with data analytics and related initiatives.
• Assist in managing staff assignments and day-to-day operations of the Litigation Unit.
• Perform other related assignments as directed.

Minimum Qualifications

• Admission to the New York State Bar.
• 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 employment.

Preferred Skills

• Extensive litigation experience, preferably defense work, in torts, personal injury, medical malpractice, labor and employment, and/or civil rights litigation.
• Five or more years of experience handling all aspects of tort litigation, including taking depositions, motion practice, oral arguments, preparing and conducting trials, engaging in settlement conferences and negotiations, or adjusting personal injury claims.
• Eighteen or more months of experience supervising other attorneys or legal staff in an administrative, managerial, and/or executive capacity.
• Strong negotiation skills.
• Experience making appearances in state and federal courts located in New York City.
• Clearly demonstrated management and supervisory experience, as well as mentoring skills.
• Exceptional analytical, writing, and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to interact professionally and effectively with all levels of management, government officials, attorneys, the Court, and the public.
• Demonstrated proficiency in drafting clear, concise, and accurate memoranda.
• Excellent interpersonal, time management, and organization skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.

Pay

$120,000.00 – $125,000.00