The Law Department created our new Risk Management Division in March 2023. This new division will assist agency partners in identifying and mitigating risks to decrease the potential for harm to this City’s residents and visitors while protecting the City financially. Risk Management will work with agency partners to evaluate existing processes and operations, based on risks identified in litigation, and counsel agencies on how to mitigate their legal risk through recommended program changes or, where applicable, waivers and indemnifications. The Division will leverage available data to identify potential future risks with a goal of prevention. It will work with other Divisions within the Law Department to understand the risks associated with their work and collaborate to mitigate those risks, and will advise agencies and elected officials on the risks associated with contemplated and proposed programs. Risk Management will coordinate with the Electronic Discovery Division to expand on the Law Department’s existing preservation program to include training all relevant agencies and staff on the importance of early evidence preservation and assist agencies in establishing a preservation program if one does not currently exist. The Division will also help agencies create and maintain a proactive data management process so that, when lawsuits are filed, the Law Department has the data it needs to defend the lawsuits and either dispose of them without settlement or reach an equitable settlement agreement. Risk Management will analyze the impact of court appointed monitorships on related pending litigation across the Law Department.