Mayor-Elect Adams appoints Brendan R. McGuire as Chief Counsel to City Hall
New York, NY – On December 7, Mayor-elect Eric Adams announced his appointment of Brendan R. McGuire, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York, as Chief Counsel to the Mayor and City Hall. McGuire will serve as the principal legal advisor to the Mayor-elect and his leadership team and direct legal strategy across the administration.
Mayor-elect Adams cited the importance of accountability, transparency, and effective governance in the selection of McGuire, a New York City native who is an accomplished trial lawyer and litigator with experience in both the public and private sectors.
“For my administration to be successful, my team in City Hall needs leaders who embody emotional intelligence, independent thinking, and calm under pressure. My lead advisors must have impeccable judgment and be willing to provide me with their candid advice about the varied challenges we will face together. Moreover, as someone who has always valued the role attorneys play in government and has surrounded himself with talented counsel, I appreciate that the City’s lawyers must play an essential role in improving the government’s performance in every area, with a critical focus on accountability and transparency. That is why I have asked Brendan McGuire to serve as my Chief Counsel. If harnessed and coordinated properly, the legal function of the City can facilitate meaningful change and have an enormous impact on the renewal of the City. I thank Brendan for agreeing to serve in this administration,” said Mayor-elect Adams.
McGuire served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York for 11 years, including as Chief of the Public Corruption Unit and Chief of the Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit. As Chief of the Public Corruption Unit, he led some of the most significant corruption investigations and prosecutions within the Department of Justice, including the largest municipal fraud case in the City’s history. McGuire is currently a partner in the New York office of WilmerHale, where he represents corporate and individual clients in criminal and regulatory investigations as well as complex commercial litigation. He is currently a resident of Brooklyn.
“I love the City. It is a privilege to return to public service to work on behalf of its residents. The Mayor-elect is uniquely positioned to bring us together and bring us back to where we belong. And I look forward to working with him, the City Hall team and the dedicated and talented attorneys across city government to improve the quality of life for all New Yorkers,” said Mr. McGuire.
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