Mayor Adams Appoints Allison Stoddart as City Hall Chief Counsel

October 1, 2024

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced the appointment of Allison Stoddart as City Hall chief counsel, effective immediately. Stoddart has served as chief of staff in the Office of the Chief Counsel since the start of the Adams administration. During her tenure, Stoddart spearheaded the New York City Legal Fellows Program, a citywide initiative designed to enable junior attorneys at law firms across New York City to serve their fellow New Yorkers through a one-year appointment in the legal department of a city agency. Stoddart has worked alongside City Hall policymakers on a wide range of issues, including the expansion of paid parental leave and family leave and the removal of sidewalk construction sheds and scaffolding.

“It is my honor to announce Allison Stoddart as City Hall’s next chief counsel, where she will serve New Yorkers every day,” said Mayor Adams. “Allison has been part of our administration since day one, and during this time, has become an integral part of the legal team at City Hall. In her tenure, she’s helped bring private sector expertise to the public sector though the Legal Fellows Program, advocated for better benefits towards city employees by expanding paid parental and family leave, and helped the city get sheds down. I have no doubt that she is the right person to lead this office at this time, and that her intelligence and drive to serve everyday New Yorkers will benefit our entire city.”

“I’ve always believed that the law and public service go hand-in-hand, and serving in the Office of the Chief Counsel to the mayor and City Hall has been a defining privilege of my career,” said City Hall Chief Counsel Allison Stoddart. “I’ve been proud to serve as a chief of staff, and now, as chief counsel, to serve New York City. In this role, I will continue to collaborate with the many committed public servants who work so hard every day to shape the future of our city. I look forward to continuing to work closely with newly-nominated Corporation Counsel Muriel Goode-Trufant and the other members of the Law Department.”

“During her tenure as chief of staff, Allison Stoddart has consistently used the power of the law to advance the needs of everyday New Yorkers,” said First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright. “With her proven experience and expertise, Allison is ready to serve New Yorkers as chief counsel. I look forward to her continued success in our administration and her using the full force of the legal system to move our city forward.”

“In her time at City Hall, Allison has continuously demonstrated to be a person of the utmost integrity and an exceptional attorney,” said City Hall Chief of Staff Camille Joseph Varlack. “Bringing an impressive understanding of city government, Allison's appointment will ensure the seamless continuity and transition of the chief counsel team and I am grateful that she will continue to serve our city at the highest level.”

“Allison Stoddart has been an integral part our team for the past two years,” said Chief Advisor Ingrid P. Lewis-Martin. “City Hall has a deep roster of talent, and I am thrilled to elevate one of our best and brightest to lead the chief counsel's team and continue to deliver for New Yorkers.”

“I’ve been able to see firsthand the strong work ethic, respect for the law, and integrity that Allison Stoddart brings to her work in city government,” said Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives Ana J. Almanzar. “A proven leader, Allison has stepped up time and time again to deliver for New Yorkers, utilizing the full power of the law to ‘Get Stuff Done.’ She is more than ready and qualified to continue her tenure in public service as the city’s new chief counsel.”

“Allison is a talented attorney who has served this administration well,” said Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phil Banks. “I am proud to see her elevated to this role and look forward to see how she continues in her impressive career of public service.”

“Through her time at City Hall, I have known Allison to be an impressive, thoughtful, and ethical colleague, who has continuously made the chief counsel team and City Hall better,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “I am glad to see her receive this well-deserved promotion and continue to serve our city.” 

“Since day one of this administration, Allison has served our city tirelessly and devoted herself to implementing the law in a way that supports 8.3 million New Yorkers,” said Deputy Mayor for Communications Fabien Levy. “Whether working to make our city safer and more livable, fighting on behalf of city employees, or helping train the next class of lawyers for our city, Allison has always put New York City first. She’s smart, dedicated, and has impeccable judgment — and there is no one we’d rather see serve as City Hall’s top lawyer. We are extremely lucky to have such an immensely talented person serve as our next chief counsel.”

“From day one, Allison Stoddart has shown a prowess for using the law for good and lifting up New Yorkers most in need,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer. “In this new role, Allison will only deepen her hard-earned reputation as a public servant, continuing her proven track record as a lawyer who leads with integrity. I’m thrilled for her to enter into the role and deliver for our city.”

“We are lucky to have Allison Stoddart appointed to chief counsel today. Since the beginning of the administration, Allison has been a trusted leader within the chief counsel’s team, and helped us navigate through complex, yet critical health and human services issues,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “New Yorkers are better for her promotion today.”

In addition to serving as both Mayor Adams’ and City Hall’s counsel, Stoddart will oversee 10 agencies: the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services, the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary, the Office of Labor Relations, the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, the Mayor’s Office of Risk Management and Compliance, the New York City Business Integrity Commission, the New York City Commission on Human Rights, the New York City Department of Records and Information Services, the Office of the Administrative Justice Coordinator, and the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings.

About Allison Stoddart

Allison Stoddart most recently served as chief of staff to City Hall’s chief counsel. Stoddart was appointed in January 2022, at the beginning of the Adams administration. Prior to that, she was counsel at WilmerHale, where her practice focused on representing individuals, corporations, and financial institutions in complex commercial litigation, white-collar criminal defense, regulatory enforcement proceedings, and internal investigations. 

Stoddart previously served as a law clerk for the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire. 

She is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and Boston College Law School.

Stoddart will report directly to Mayor Adams.

###