NEW YORK, CMC – New York City Mayor Eric Adams has nominated prominent litigator Randy Mastro to succeed Barbadian-born Justice Sylvia Hinds-Radix, as the city’s following corporation counsel.
Justice Hinds-Radix stepped down from her position at the end of May. She has led the Department of Law since January 2022.
“I am excited to announce Randy Mastro as the City of New York’s following corporation counsel. Randy is a world-renowned attorney who brings decades of experience as a public servant, federal prosecutor, preeminent trial lawyer, and as someone who has built a career around fighting corruption, delivering justice for 9/11 families and non-profit organizations, advocating for the LGBTQ+ community, championing racial justice, and standing up to the Trump administration.
“Recognized as one of the 100 most influential lawyers in America, Randy is among the best-known and most respected litigators in the nation and has helped shape the legal world through his extensive work,” he added.
Adams thanked Justice Hinds-Radix for her “decades of service to New Yorkers, especially her last two years as corporation counsel to our city, and Muriel Goode-Trufant for serving as acting corporation counsel in the previous two months.
“Sylvia has played a pivotal role in furthering this administration’s vision to protect public safety, rebuild our economy, and make our city more affordable and livable,” he said. “We are grateful for her service to the people of New York.”
Mastro said he was “humbled and honored to have this opportunity to return to city government.
“I am a passionate advocate in the courtroom and a proud New Yorker who loves this city. So, when presented with this chance of a lifetime to use my legal skills to harness the power of government to do good and improve New Yorkers’ lives, I am answering the call.
“I stand on the shoulders of giants who held this position before me and led a Law Department that has set the standard for excellence in public representation,” Mastro said, adding, “I will work tirelessly to deliver the best legal services possible and achieve affirmative successes for the benefit of all New Yorkers.”
Adams said Mastro is a partner at King and Spalding law firm in lower Manhattan. He previously served as deputy mayor for operations and City Hall chief of staff from 1994 to 1998 and as a federal prosecutor in the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
As corporation counsel, the mayor said Mastro will lead the New York City Department of Law, which is primarily responsible for providing legal representation to the City of New York — for the Mayor’s Office, the Public Advocate’s Office, the Comptroller’s Office, city agencies, and the City Council — in all affirmative and defensive civil litigation.
After leaving her post on May 31 as the city’s top lawyer, Justice Hinds-Radix told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that I had had the honor of serving as the 81st Corporation Counsel for over two years.
“Leading one of the finest law offices in the country and contributing to the city’s betterment has been the privilege of a lifetime. Together, we have fulfilled that promise with excellence and integrity,” she said, adding that a main priority during her tenure was strengthening the office “to help us more effectively carry out its mission.”
Justice Hinds-Radix said she was gratified that, after extensive advocacy for the department, she and staffers had secured and implemented salary and merit pay increases to address significant retention and hiring issues.
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