International Affairs Team

Charles Diamond, Special Counsel

Charles T. Diamond serves as Special Counsel with the Mayor’s Office for International Affairs, overseeing matters of international law facing the City of New York and questions of domestic law impacting the extensive international community in our City. Charles serves as a legal advisor for the Office handling international legal matters and government relations, including diplomatic incidents affecting New York City. In this capacity, he works closely with City Hall, the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations, the New York Police Department, and foreign governments on various complex legal matters and government affairs. He also manages emergencies involving foreign-born New Yorkers in collaboration with the Deputy Commissioner for Policy and Strategic Initiatives and Chief of Staff.
Charles has previously served the City of New York as an attorney with the Law Department, the Office of the Comptroller, and the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services, addressing issues ranging from potential civil rights violations to systemic procedural noncompliance to potential fraud and corruption amongst City contractors. Charles has represented the City before administrative tribunals, state court, federal court, City Council, and State Legislature at various public hearings, boards, and panels. Amongst his proudest achievements is contributing to the systemic reform of the City’s intricate procurement system under the City's Chief Procurement Officer, resulting in over 70 days shaved from the average procurement timeline and the first reform of the City’s concession rules in 35 years.

Before City service, he worked in sports for the PGA TOUR and Chelsea Football Club. A native of London, England, Charles is a graduate of Colby College, with distinction in Government, and Brooklyn Law School, magna cum laude, where he was awarded the John A. Ronayne Memorial Prize for Dedication to Public Service. He lives in Manhattan with his wife Anjuli and son Ravindra.