Assistant Counsel

Duties Description

The Assistant Counsel will provide legal counsel, compliance oversight, and program administration for the Authority’s Ethics, Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), and Cashless Toll Subpoena functions. The incumbent will support transparency, integrity, and public accountability, and ensure alignment with New York State laws, Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (COELIG) guidance, and Authority policies.

• Provide legal advice and counsel to Authority executives, employees, and board members regarding applicable ethics laws, codes of ethics, conflicts of interest, financial disclosure requirements, gifts, outside activities, recusals, and post‑employment restrictions.
• Interpret and apply state and local ethics statutes, regulations, advisory opinions, and agency ethics policies.
• Review and advise on potential conflicts of interest arising from official actions, procurement, hiring, contracting, and policy making.
• Draft, review, and update ethics policies, codes of conduct, and internal guidance documents.
• Assist in the administration of ethics programs, including financial disclosure processes and compliance monitoring.
• Conduct or assist with ethics‑related reviews, inquiries, or investigations assigned.
• Provide ethics training and educational presentations to Authority staff, management, and board members.
• Serve as liaison with ethics oversight bodies, inspectors general, or ethics commissions, as applicable.

• Assist in the administration of the agency’s FOIL program to ensure timely, accurate, and lawful responses to public records requests, including providing legal review and guidance on FOIL requests, and preparing written FOIL determinations, acknowledgments, denials, and responses in compliance with statutory deadlines.
• Review responsive records for legal sufficiency, confidentiality, privacy concerns, and privilege.
• Coordinate with the records access officer and program areas to locate, review, and produce responsive records.
• Advise on records retention, indexing, and disclosure practices related to FOIL compliance.
• Assist the agency in FOIL‑related litigation, administrative proceedings, or Article 78 proceedings, as assigned.

• Receive, analyze, and process all Cashless Tolling subpoenas and records requests.
• Review subpoena requests to ensure compliance with Authority policies governing the release of personal records, the CPLR, and other applicable statutory requirements.
• Coordinate with program staff to identify, collect, and compile responsive records.
• Review all records for accuracy, relevance, and compliance with the scope of the subpoena and Authority policies.
• Plan, develop, and prepare formal responses to subpoenas and records requests on behalf of the Authority.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for law enforcement agencies, private attorneys, and government officials regarding records requests and subpoenas.
• Ensure timely certification and secure transfer of records for use in criminal investigations or court proceedings.
• Maintain accurate tracking and documentation of all subpoena‑related actions within the Authority’s database.

• Conduct legal research and analysis on issues related to ethics, public integrity, transparency, and administrative law.
• Draft legal memoranda, opinions, correspondence, policies, and guidance materials.
• Assist in risk assessment and compliance strategies related to ethics and public records obligations.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments affecting ethics and FOIL and advise on necessary policy or procedural changes.
• Collaborate with other attorneys, compliance staff, and agency leadership on cross‑functional legal matters.
• Perform other legal duties as assigned in support of the agency’s mission and operations.
• Respond to inquiries and provide guidance regarding proper service of process on the Authority in accordance with established policy.
• Accept service of process directed to the Authority and its officers or directors in their official capacities.
• Provide organizational guidance to…