Battery of Legal Candidates for City Lawyer Role
A lawyer who identifies as a “social justice advocate” and previously led the city’s homelessness and human services under former Mayor Bill de Blasio is now pursuing the position of chief lawyer in President Zoran Mamdani’s upcoming administration, according to reports.
Insiders suggest that Mr. Mamdani is being urged to appoint Stephen Banks as the corporate general counsel, tasked with leading the city’s legal department.
Banks, who held the position of head of human services in the de Blasio administration, has reportedly become the leading candidate, although no official agreement has been finalized.
It seems there’s some pressure on Mr. Mamdani to position himself as a corporate advisor. One source mentioned, “there’s definitely a push for that.”
With a background in the Legal Aid Society, Banks has gained attention by frequently engaging in legal disputes with city officials over the controversial “right to protection” legislation in New York City.
As the head of the Department of Social Services, which is the largest social services agency in the nation, he managed a staff of 16,000 and provided services to over 3 million people annually, all while overseeing a budget of $12 billion.
However, his leadership has faced criticism, particularly related to financial scandals and the conditions at nonprofit homeless shelters affiliated with the agency.
Earlier this year, Banks stepped down from his role as a special prosecutor at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. His LinkedIn profile currently describes him as a “public interest social justice lawyer.”
Mayor-elect Mamdani is expected to rely on seasoned professionals, as evidenced by the recent appointment of Dean Fleihan as the city’s first vice mayor. Fleihan also worked under de Blasio as both budget director and first deputy mayor.
While Banks’ potential appointment would further align Mamdani’s administration with de Blasio associates, the transition team has not made any public comments, nor has Banks himself.
The city’s Legal Affairs Bureau is responsible for representing elected officials in litigation, managing juvenile delinquency cases in family court, and handling criminal proceedings.
