General Counsel

City of New York•New York City, NY

About The Position

The Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) is dedicated to strengthening New York City’s vibrant cultural life by providing funding and support to New York City’s cultural community, including the 39 institutions that comprise the Cultural Institutions Group (CIG) and more than 1,100 non-profit cultural organizations that receive regular annual support. DCLA also manages a significant portfolio of cultural capital projects; provides free donated materials and supplies for arts programs and arts educators through its Materials for the Arts program; provides capacity building and technical assistance support to cultural groups; and commissions works of permanent public art through the City’s Public Art Program. This constituency represents a diverse array of organizations - including performing arts groups, museums, theaters, zoos, botanical gardens, visual arts and film centers, community-based organizations, and arts education programs – that are central to the life of communities in every corner of New York City. The Counsel’s Office is involved in all aspects of the agency’s operations ranging from the negotiation of funding and operating agreements with major cultural institutions to internal matters such as potential conflicts of interest. The Counsel’s Office also monitors legal issues and matters of public policy relevant to the non-profit sector and the cultural community. The General Counsel performs a broad scope of duties to advise the agency and lead the Counsel’s Office in all aspects of its practice.

Requirements

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
Must remain Members of the New York State Bar in good standing for the duration of this employment

Responsibilities

Provide legal support for agency-wide activities, programs, initiatives, policies, transactions and business operations
Draft and negotiate legal agreements related to City-funded projects, agency programs and initiatives, including grants, contracts, funding agreements, licenses, agreements governing occupancy of City owned property, and agreements relating to real property, equipment purchases, construction, and capital projects
Serve as legal advisor to the agency head, management, and staff in all business units
Provide legal counsel on a wide range of legal issues, including in the areas of contracts, non-profit law and governance, real property, legislation, construction and capital projects, intellectual property, art law, labor and employment, equal employment opportunity, ethics, free speech and censorship
Handle matters related to the Conflicts of Interest Board (COIB), freedom of information law (FOIL), and cultural policy
Assist with oversight of City-owned cultural facilities with respect to compliance with City agreements and policies
Advise constituent cultural organizations on city rules, policies, and legal terms applicable to DCLA grants and contracts
Interface with cultural and community organizations in need of technical assistance and render policy recommendations in response to their issues
Oversee the agency’s response to requests for records pursuant to city, state and federal regulations and FOIL
Serve as the agency’s lead liaison to the City’s Law Department and other City agencies to solicit guidance, advocate on behalf of the agency, and coordinate on litigation and review of various legal and regulatory matters
Advise on, and work with City colleagues to draft and/or negotiate, proposed legislation and research legal issues of interest to the agency and the non-profit cultural field
Work with staff to ensure agency compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and requests, such as those involving Department of Investigation, Conflicts of Interest Board or Law Department
Represent the Counsel’s Office and the agency in meetings internally, with City colleagues, and constituents
Supervise, manage, and direct the staff of the Counsel’s Office in a collaborative work environment
Serve as agency labor management liaison with Director of Human Resources
Lead all aspects of the Counsel’s Office practice, which include project management and responding to inquiries from the agency’s constituent organizations and the general public
Keep apprised of legal developments and relevant practice areas, and communicate highly technical legal guidance and information with clarity and skill
To the extent possible and relevant to skill set, lead the agency’s public-facing initiative around diversity, equity, inclusion, and access
Represent the interests of the agency and the City