New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has appointed election law expert Jerry Goldfeder from Cozen O’Connor to his expansive 400-person transition team, focusing on legal affairs alongside Winston & Strawn’s Julissa Reynoso and Legal Aid Society’s Twyla Carter. This move blends Big Law expertise with public defense leaders as Mamdani prepares for January 1, 2026, inauguration. Amid progressive picks like reparations scholar Darrick Hamilton, the appointments signal a balanced approach to policy overhaul in housing, safety, and economic development. Explore the full committee lineup and implications for NYC governance.
Mamdani Taps Cozen Lawyer for Transition Team: Big Law Joins Progressive Overhaul
New York, November 25, 2025 – New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, the democratic socialist who stunned the political establishment with his upset victory, unveiled a sprawling 400-person transition team on Monday, tapping veteran election lawyer Jerry Goldfeder from Cozen O’Connor for its legal affairs committee. The appointments, spanning 17 advisory panels, mix high-profile Big Law partners with public defenders, progressive activists, and business leaders, signaling Mamdani’s intent to bridge ideological divides as he gears up for a January 1, 2026, swearing-in. With committees covering everything from housing to community safety, the team aims to recruit talent and craft policies aligned with Mamdani’s campaign pledges on affordability and equity.
Goldfeder, a longtime partner at the Philadelphia-based Cozen O’Connor and a nationally recognized expert on voting rights and campaign finance, joins alongside Julissa Reynoso, a former U.S. ambassador and Winston & Strawn partner, on the Committee on Legal Affairs. Their inclusion marks a rare nod to corporate law firms in a roster dominated by nonprofits and advocates, drawing both praise for expertise and scrutiny from Mamdani’s left-wing base. “These committees will ensure we hit the ground running with smart, inclusive policies,” Mamdani said in a statement, emphasizing recruitment and alignment with voter mandates.
The transition comes amid a turbulent post-election landscape, with Mamdani’s win—fueled by young voters and DSA endorsements—challenging the city’s entrenched power structures. As the first Muslim and Indian-American mayor, his team reflects New York’s diversity, including Staten Island community leaders and former FTC Chair Lina Khan as a co-chair.
Jerry Goldfeder: The Election Law Veteran Bringing Stability to Legal Affairs
Jerry Goldfeder’s appointment stands out as a pragmatic counterweight in Mamdani’s progressive orbit. A partner in Cozen O’Connor’s New York office since 2018, Goldfeder has spent decades litigating high-stakes election disputes, from ballot access battles to redistricting challenges. He served as general counsel for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign and advised on New York’s 2020 vote-by-mail expansion amid COVID-19.
His expertise could prove invaluable as Mamdani navigates potential legal hurdles in overhauling city contracts, zoning laws, and police oversight—priorities from the campaign trail. “Goldfeder’s track record in safeguarding democracy makes him a steady hand for this moment,” said a transition spokesperson, noting his pro bono work on voting rights for marginalized communities.
Goldfeder isn’t alone on the legal panel: Twyla Carter, CEO of the Legal Aid Society since 2022, brings frontline experience in indigent defense and criminal justice reform. Reynoso, with her diplomatic background as Biden’s ambassador to Spain and Andorra, adds international policy chops. Together, they form a trio blending corporate savvy with public-interest advocacy, a formula Mamdani’s team describes as “excellence without compromise.”
Critics, however, question the Big Law presence. “Why tap lawyers from firms that represent real estate giants when we’re fighting displacement?” tweeted a DSA organizer, echoing broader tensions in Mamdani’s coalition. Yet, supporters argue it’s strategic: Only two Big Law figures made the cut in a sea of 400, underscoring a deliberate pivot from pure ideology.
A 400-Strong Brain Trust: From Wall Street to the Streets
Mamdani’s transition team, co-chaired by ex-FTC head Lina Khan, United Way CEO Grace Bonilla, and former Adams deputy Melanie Hartzog, spans 17 committees tackling core issues like economic development, housing, and education. The sheer scale—over 400 members—reflects the complexity of governing a $100 billion bureaucracy, with input from former fire commissioner Dan Nigro to ex-Goldman Sachs partner Margaret Anadu.
Key committees include:
- Economic Development & Workforce: Led by Partnership for New York City’s Kathy Wylde and economist Darrick Hamilton, a reparations advocate whose inclusion has sparked debate over fiscal priorities.
- Housing: Developer Jed Walentas joins advocates from Make the Road New York, eyeing rent stabilization and affordable builds.
- Community Safety: Controversial pick Alex Vitale, author of “The End of Policing,” advises on alternatives to traditional law enforcement, reviving Mamdani’s past “defund” rhetoric.
Staten Island gets representation through eight appointees, including Snug Harbor’s Jessica Baker Vodoor and UFT president Michael Mulgrew, ensuring borough voices in a team often seen as Brooklyn-heavy. Progressive heavyweights like VOCAL NY and New York Appleseed dominate youth and education panels, while worker justice draws labor leaders from the Nurses Association.
Elana Leopold, transition executive director, emphasized inclusivity: “This is about recruiting top talent that mirrors our city’s promise of equity.” Yet, absences loom large—no rumored schools chancellor candidates like Jamaal Bowman appear, hinting at ongoing deliberations.
Balancing Act: Progressive Roots Meet Establishment Ties
Mamdani’s picks reveal a tightrope walk. His DSA co-chairs Gustavo Gordillo and Grace Mausser nod to grassroots energy, but inclusions like former Suffolk police commissioner Rodney Harrison on safety raise eyebrows among abolitionists. More flashpoints: Tamika Mallory, ousted from Women’s March over antisemitism allegations, and Ramzi Kassem, known for defending Guantanamo detainees, have fueled conservative critiques.
On X, reactions range from jubilation—”Finally, a team for the people!”—to skepticism: “Big Law in a socialist admin? Optics matter.” Law.com reports the legal committee as a “cadre that largely ices out Big Law,” with just Goldfeder and Reynoso amid dozens of public-interest attorneys.
This blend could stabilize Mamdani’s agenda against lawsuits from real estate lobbies or state overrides, but it risks alienating purists. As one analyst noted, “It’s de Blasio 2.0 with sharper edges—progressive heart, pragmatic sleeves.”
Implications for NYC: Policy Preview and Power Shifts
The transition foreshadows bold moves: Hamilton’s role hints at equity-focused budgets, potentially including baby bonds or land trusts, while Vitale’s input could reshape NYPD funding. Housing reforms might accelerate under Walentas’s developer lens, balanced by tenant advocates.
Challenges ahead include filling 50+ commissioner posts and integrating holdovers from Eric Adams’s scandal-plagued tenure. With a $107 billion budget facing deficits, Wylde’s business acumen on economics could temper ambitious spending.
Mamdani’s team, drawn from Bloomberg, de Blasio, and Adams eras, underscores continuity amid change—prompting pushback from those eyeing a clean break. Still, the diverse slate positions him to unite a fractured city.
- Key Appointments Snapshot:
- Legal Affairs: Jerry Goldfeder (Cozen O’Connor), Julissa Reynoso (Winston & Strawn), Twyla Carter (Legal Aid Society).
- Economic: Kathy Wylde (Partnership for NYC), Darrick Hamilton (reparations scholar), Margaret Anadu (ex-Goldman).
- Safety: Alex Vitale (“The End of Policing” author), Rodney Harrison (ex-police commissioner).
- Total Members: 400+ across 17 committees; co-chairs include Lina Khan.
- Timeline: Advice through Dec. 2025; inauguration Jan. 1, 2026.
For the complete roster, visit Mamdani Transition Team site. Follow updates on X at @ZohranKMamdani.
Mamdani’s transition team, capped by Goldfeder’s Cozen O’Connor expertise, embodies a city at crossroads—progressive fire tempered by legal steel. As NYC braces for reinvention, these 400 voices could forge equitable policies or expose coalition fractures. With inauguration looming, the real test begins: Delivering on promises without buckling under pressure.