Law Department Names New Division Chiefs
May 5, 2025
Corporation Counsel Announces Michael L. Moore as Municipal Finance Chief and Amanda Papandrea as Commercial and Real Estate Division Chief
Michael Moore
Amanda PapandreaNew York City Corporation Counsel Muriel Goode-Trufant today announced the appointments of two new division chiefs: Michael L. Moore has been named Chief of the Municipal Finance Division and Amanda Papandrea has been named Chief of the Commercial and Real Estate Division. Both previously served in these positions on an Acting basis.
Corporation Counsel Goode-Trufant said, “Michael and Amanda are two fine public servants who have held integral roles in the divisions they will now lead. They bring decades of legal expertise to their positions protecting the interests of the City in their work on transactions and litigation related to billions of dollars of City initiatives.”
The Municipal Finance Division serves as counsel to the City on all bond transactions. New York City is one of the largest issuers of municipal bonds in the country, and the proceeds of its debt issuances finance capital projects that impact virtually every aspect of City life. The Commercial and Real Estate Litigation Division handles matters arising from the broad array of contracts the City and its agencies enter into each year. These contracts touch upon virtually every function of City government, ranging from agreements with private companies to build or repair bridges, water treatment plants, hospitals, courthouses, and schools.
About Michael L. Moore
Michael previously practiced at the firm of Genova Burns LLC, before joining the Law Department in 2012 as Senior Counsel in the Economic Development Division. In 2015, Michael joined the Municipal Finance Division as Deputy Chief where he represented the City in numerous complex transactions relating to the City’s General Obligation, Transitional Finance Authority and Water Authority bond matters, which has saved the City millions of dollars. Along with his legal duties, Michael served as chair of the Diversity, Recruitment and Retention committee and worked with the Corporation Counsel and division heads in developing FAQs for the Senior Counsel program.
In 2021, Michael received the Jeffrey D. Friedlander Excellence in Management and Supervision Award for his outstanding work in the Municipal Finance Division. He earned a law degree from Rutgers School of Law.
About Amanda Papandrea
Amanda joined the Law Department as a Summer Honors Intern in 2009 and was hired as an Assistant Corporation Counsel in 2010. In 2015, she was promoted to Senior Counsel and in 2021 became Deputy Chief of the Commercial and Real Estate Division where she has handled and supervised complex commercial litigation, mediations, negotiations, and settlements, including construction claims, real estate disputes, COVID-19-related claims, claims involving the City’s Build-it-Back program, surety negotiations, and disputes arising under goods and service contracts.
She serves on the City’s Capital Process Reform Task Force, offering guidance on improving City contracting processes, and on the Law Department’s Electronic Evidence Committee. Amanda is a graduate of Cardozo Law School.
The two new division chiefs said they were “excited and honored” to assume their new roles and “to continue working with the exceptional colleagues in the finest law department in the country.”
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