New York City Law Department Creates Two New Divisions to Enhance Citywide Ethics and Risk Management

April 13, 2023

The New York City Law Department has created two new legal Divisions -- Ethics and Compliance, and Risk Management. The new Divisions build upon existing Law Department work and will be a resource for all City agencies.

“The Law Department is known for integrity and high ethical standards. Our new Ethics and Compliance Division will support that great tradition and provide a resource for attorneys across City government,” said New York City Corporation Counsel Sylvia O. Hinds-Radix. “The Risk Management Division will build upon the existing work of our Risk Unit within the Tort Division, which has worked for years to monitor trends in Tort litigation to reduce issues that give rise to lawsuits.”

The Ethics and Compliance Division will expand on the Law Department’s existing ethics work to counsel and train Law Department employees, elected officials, and the employees of all City agencies on legal ethics, representation, privilege, and sanctions matters. The Division will also be responsible for counseling on a wide array of federal, state, and local compliance matters to mitigate risk to City operations and finances. The Division will serve as the Conflict of Interest Board liaison, ensuring Law Department employees comply with Chapter 68 of the City Charter. In addition, Division attorneys will represent City lawyers in disciplinary proceedings before the Attorney Grievance Committees and will represent the five District Attorneys’ Offices and the Special Narcotics Prosecutor’s Office in connection with anticipated proceedings before the newly formed New York State Commission on Prosecutorial Conduct.

The Risk Management Division will assist agency partners in identifying and mitigating risk to decrease the potential for harm to this City’s residents and visitors while protecting the City financially. It will leverage available data to identify potential future risks with a goal of prevention. Risk Management will coordinate with the Law Department’s E-Discovery Division to expand its existing preservation program to train more agencies and staff on the importance of early evidence preservation and assist them in establishing preservation programs. 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. Risk Management will analyze the impact of court appointed monitorships on related pending litigation across the Law Department.

The Law Department is actively recruiting for these new Divisions.

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