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Department of Finance


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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 21, 2023

Contact: Press Office

MICHAEL SMILOWITZ APPOINTED DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE GENERAL COUNSEL

New York, NY— Department of Finance (DOF) Commissioner Preston Niblack today announced the appointment of Michael Smilowitz as the agency’s next General Counsel.

Smilowitz, who started today, has served as senior counsel in the Division of Legal Counsel at the New York City Law Department since 2018. In that capacity, he advised various city agencies, including DOF, on a wide range of legal issues, with a focus on financial and separation of powers matters.

“We are delighted to have Michael Smilowitz join the Department of Finance as our next General Counsel. As we continue our daily work to enhance DOF services – from improving our interaction with the public to ensuring that our customers get clear and accurate information and prompt and professional service – there is no question that Michael’s record of public service will help us immeasurably in achieving these goals and more,” said Department of Finance Commissioner Preston Niblack. “I also want to thank Dara Jaffee for serving as interim general counsel with her usual professionalism, and the entire staff of the Legal Affairs Division for their great work on behalf of the agency.”

A graduate of the University of Virgina Law School and Bates College, Smilowitz was the recipient of the Legal Counsel 2021 Division Chief’s award and of the 2022 New York City Bar Association Municipal Affairs Award. He also worked as senior counsel to the 2018 Charter Revision Commission, and before that was assistant general counsel at the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services and an agency attorney at DEP.

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