Who is Ramzi Kassem? Mamdani names lawyer who defended Al-Qaeda-linked prisoner as NYC chief counsel

Mamdani taps Ramzi Kassem, Al-Qaeda defence lawyer, as New York City chief counsel

• Zohran Mamdani names Ramzi Kassem as NYC chief counsel ahead of 2026 swearing-in
• Steven Banks appointed corporation counsel, Helen Arteaga named deputy mayor
• Appointments spark debate, focus on civil rights and defending working people

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New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday announced a series of senior legal appointments ahead of his January 1, 2026, swearing-in, naming civil rights lawyer and academic Ramzi Kassem as the city’s chief counsel, the mayor’s top legal adviser.

Alongside Kassem, Mamdani appointed veteran attorney Steven Banks as corporation counsel, who will head the city’s Law Department, and Helen Arteaga as deputy mayor for health and human services. Mamdani described the team as central to his administration’s commitment to defending working people and safeguarding civil liberties, though the appointments have sparked sharp political debate.

Who is Ramzi Kassem?

Ramzi Kassem is a law professor at the City University of New York (CUNY) and a former senior policy adviser on immigration in the White House Domestic Policy Council under former President Joe Biden. He also served on Mamdani’s legal affairs transition team.

Kassem is widely known for representing high-profile and controversial clients. He was the lead lawyer for Ahmed al-Darbi, who pleaded guilty in 2014 before a US military commission to charges related to the 2002 al-Qaeda attack on the French oil tanker MV Limburg off Yemen’s coast. Al-Darbi was convicted in 2017 and transferred to Saudi Arabia the following year.

At the time of al-Darbi’s transfer, Kassem told reporters: “While it may not make him whole, I hope that repatriation at least marks the end of injustice for Ahmed… He had 16 long and painful years in captivity.”

In 2025, Kassem represented Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University student and pro-Palestinian activist arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over his role in campus protests. Khalil was later released, though legal proceedings remain ongoing.

Announcing the appointment, Mamdani praised Kassem’s background, saying: “City Hall will be stronger with him in it, and our work of building a more prosperous city for all will have a powerful advocate.”

Kassem is also the founder of the Creating Law Enforcement Accountability & Responsibility (CLEAR) law clinic, which provides legal support to Muslim communities, immigrants, and others facing federal scrutiny.

Responding to his appointment, Kassem said: “As the federal government threatens to undermine civil rights and the rule of law, our city will be on the front lines. We will not allow fear, cruelty, or authoritarianism to take root in our city.”

Steven Banks named corporation counsel

Mamdani named Steven Banks, a former senior official under Mayor Bill de Blasio, as corporation counsel. Banks has nearly four decades of legal experience and previously served as New York City’s commissioner of homeless services, where he played a key role in shaping the city’s “right to shelter” framework.

Despite criticism over management issues during his tenure — including findings cited in audits and media reports — Mamdani defended the appointment, saying: “With Steve Banks as our corporation counsel, our City will operate in accordance with the law and use it as a critical tool to fight for working people.”

Political and community reaction

Kassem’s appointment has drawn sharp criticism from conservative leaders and some Jewish advocacy voices, particularly over his past writings, campus activism, and legal work related to Israel-Palestine issues.

Democratic political operative Ken Frydman told the New York Post: “Everyone’s entitled to legal representation … even Mahmoud Khalil. But that doesn’t mean Ramzi Kassem had to represent him.”

Mamdani has rejected the criticism, framing the appointments as a signal that his administration will prioritise civil rights, legal accountability, and social justice.

“The rule-of-law is the bedrock of good governance, effective leadership, and a city that works for working people,” Mamdani said. “With Steve Banks and Ramzi Kassem as my Corporations and Chief Counsel, our City will not only operate in accordance with the law, but will understand and employ it as a critical tool in the fight for working people and to protect their safety and fundamental freedoms.”

(With agency inputs)