Walsh appoints new City of Syracuse corporation counsel

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh on Monday announced the appointment of attorney Susan Katzoff as corporation counsel, which is the top attorney for the City of Syracuse.

Katzoff brings three decades of practice in public finance, economic-development incentives, municipal law, and bankruptcy law to City Hall, Walsh’s office said in a news release. She has served as outside counsel to the   Syracuse Industrial Development Agency (SIDA) since 2007.

Katzoff will replace Kristen Smith, who is returning to Syracuse–based law firm Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC, where she was a partner before joining the Walsh administration four years ago.

Katzoff — a member of the Syracuse law firm Bousquet Holstein PLLC — has represented multiple public and quasi-public entities and municipalities. They have included industrial-development agencies, local development corporations, and port authorities in public-finance transactions throughout New York.

In these areas, Katzoff has advised clients on a variety of governance and compliance issues including the General Municipal Law, the Public Authorities Law, and the latest pronouncements and audit findings of the New York State Authorities Budget Office.

“Sue Katzoff is widely respected in Syracuse and across New York State for her expertise in local government and economic development. Our residents and city government alike will be served well by Sue. She brings the passion for our city and the capabilities necessary to fulfill the duties of Corporation Counsel,” Walsh said.

As corporation counsel, Katzoff will lead the department of law, which manages the legal affairs of the City of Syracuse. The department handles the city’s litigation, legislative drafting, contracting, real-estate transactions, collections, and other legal matters.

Smith’s work in role

During her time as corporation counsel, Smith implemented major staffing, organizational and performance improvements to the city’s law department and “improved responsiveness and efficiency” of the Freedom of Information Law process. She also made “significant” contributions to police-reform initiatives, In negotiating the city’s acquisition of its street-light network, a “critical component” of the Syracuse Surge initiative, Smith helped Syracuse earn its designation as New York’s Flagship Smart City, Walsh’s office said.

“While I am sad to see her go, I am thankful to Kristen [Smith] for the time she spent serving the people of Syracuse and for the many contributions she made to our community during her tenure,” Walsh said. “She has built a strong foundation and provided the resources necessary for a fluid transition for her successor in the department of law.”