Job Description
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
• Act as a confidential legal advisor to NYSIF’s Executive Director & CEO, Board of Commissioners (Board), and staff.
• Serve as attorney of record on all NYSIF legal matters.
• Maintain current knowledge of major legal trends as they impact the following operations of NYSIF: contracting; workers’ compensation and employer liability; disability benefits; paid family leave; insurance law; risk management; real estate; and labor and employment issues.
• Provide advice and counsel to NYSIF’s various business units with respect to initiatives, ongoing programs and policy, based on the existing statutory and regulatory framework.
• Responsible to employ special counsel in matters involving special difficulty, and to provide for the payment of their compensation and expenses out of NYSIF’s financial resources.
• Responsible for the direction and oversight of all units within the Office of General Counsel (OGC), including Administration, Legislative and Regulatory Affairs, Contracts, Policy and Governance, Agency Litigation, Labor Relations, Ethics, Adjudicatory Services (including appeals), Employer Liability, Collections, Third Party, and Loss Transfer.
• Confer on legal and legislative matters with other NYS government entities, including, but not limited to: the Executive Chamber; Office of the Attorney General; Workers’ Compensation Board; Office of the Inspector General; Department of Financial Services; Office of the State Comptroller; and the Legislature as appropriate.
• Conduct litigation management, including oversight of outside counsel, case strategy and guidance to settle litigation matters, and confer as necessary with the Office of the Attorney General.
• Negotiate, draft, and review contracts and other legal documents, including real estate leases, property and asset acquisitions, limited partnership agreements, and other procurements.
• Perform legal research necessary to draft and analyze various contracts, policies, and other documents.
• Responsible for oversight of NYSIF’s efforts to combat systemic fraud, waste, and abuse.
• Oversee the legal review and response to Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests and other public information documents.
• Prepare proposed legislation and supporting memoranda, providing legal counsel and advice to Executive Management regarding complex legal matters.
• Interpret the impact of legislation and court decisions and evaluate bills introduced in the Legislature for their impact on agency operations.
• Direct reporting to the Executive Director & CEO and Board of Commissioners (Board) on regulatory and securities compliance matters, including the drafting/issuance of Investments Department Emerging Manager Policies; MWBE Financial Institution Strategies; Emerging Manager of Manager Policies; Proxy Voting Guidelines; Investment Policy Statement; Asset Manager contracts and RFPs; and matters involving any standing subcommittee of the Board, or the Board itself.