In a significant move for New York City's legal landscape, Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani announced on Tuesday the appointment of prominent lawyer and academic Ramzi Kassem as the city's next Chief Counsel. Kassem will take over the top legal position when Mamdani's administration begins its term on January 1.
From Immigrant Advocate to Top Legal Advisor
Mamdani made the announcement through a post on the social media platform X, warmly welcoming Kassem to his incoming team. He highlighted Kassem's background as an immigrant and a proud resident of Harlem, emphasizing his deep connection to the city. Kassem joins the administration from the City University of New York (CUNY) School of Law, where he has been a central figure.
At CUNY Law, Kassem co-founded and co-directs the Creating Law Enforcement Accountability & Responsibility (CLEAR) project. This initiative has been instrumental in providing legal defense for students detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and supporting numerous others at risk of deportation. His legal career is notably marked by a commitment to immigrant rights and civil liberties.
In response to the appointment, Kassem expressed his gratitude, framing the new role as a "call of duty to serve the city that I've called home, the city that embraced me."
A Diverse and High-Profile Legal Career
Ramzi Kassem's professional journey spans high-stakes terrorism cases, White House policy advising, and grassroots legal activism. One of his most notable past roles was serving as lead counsel for Ahmed al-Darbi. In 2014, al-Darbi pleaded guilty before a U.S. military commission to conspiracy charges related to an al-Qaeda plot to bomb the French oil tanker MV Limburg off the coast of Yemen in 2002. The attack resulted in one civilian death and several injuries. Al-Darbi was convicted in 2017 and transferred to Saudi Arabian custody in 2018.
Kassem's expertise also led him to the highest levels of the federal government. He served under President Joe Biden as a Senior Policy Advisor on immigration at the White House Domestic Policy Council, shaping national immigration policy.
More recently, in 2025, he represented Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil, an anti-Israel activist who was arrested by ICE over allegations of leading antisemitic protests on campus. Khalil has since been released, though his legal case continues.
Steering New York's Legal Future
The appointment of Ramzi Kassem signals a clear direction for Mayor-elect Mamdani's approach to governance, particularly in areas of law enforcement accountability and immigrant advocacy. By placing a lawyer with Kassem's unique background—bridging national policy, academic rigor, and frontline defense work—into the city's top legal job, the incoming administration is poised to address complex legal and social issues with a distinct perspective.
As Chief Counsel, Kassem will be responsible for overseeing all legal affairs for New York City, a role that will undoubtedly involve navigating contentious issues at the intersection of local authority, federal policy, and civil rights. His first day in office will be January 1, marking the start of a new chapter for the city's legal department.
