Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has employed Mitch Kamin, a lawyer who has fought the Trump administration and supplied authorized companies for underserved communities, to be her subsequent chief of employees.
Kamin, who, just like the mayor, is a graduate of Alexander Hamilton Excessive Faculty, might be Bass’ third chief of employees in her almost three years main the town — a way more speedy turnover than in earlier administrations.
Asserting the appointment in a press launch Friday, Bass referred to as Kamin a “seasoned chief and established order disrupter.”
The Harvard-educated lawyer has many years of expertise as an government at nonprofits and authorized companies organizations and has served on a number of metropolis commissions.
Most not too long ago, he was normal counsel and chief technique officer for the Lucas Museum of Narrative Artwork, a mission of “Star Wars” creator George Lucas that’s set to open subsequent yr.
Earlier than that, Kamin was a associate on the legislation agency Covington & Burling LLP, the place he helped the agency recruit for its first L.A. workplace and was co-chair of the worldwide business litigation observe group and the leisure and media business group. He beforehand was president of Wager Tzedek Authorized Companies, a nonprofit legislation agency that gives free authorized companies.
“Mitch is a passionate, dedicated and compelling chief,” former U.S. Lawyer Common Eric Holder, who was a associate with Kamin at Covington, stated in a press release.
Kamin, 58, is taking cost of Bass’ workplace because the Trump administration continues its immigration crackdown in Los Angeles and throughout the nation. Throughout Trump’s first time period, he represented the town in a lawsuit in opposition to the Division of Justice that prevented the federal authorities from requiring cooperation with immigration enforcement as a situation of receiving grant cash.
Kamin replaces Carolyn Webb de Macias, who has led the mayor’s workplace since November 2023. She had been retired and was solely alleged to serve within the function for a yr however stayed on longer following the January wildfires, the mayor’s workplace stated.
The mayor’s first chief of employees was Chris Thompson, who led the transition staff after her election.
Chiefs of employees in current mayoral administrations usually served longer. Ana Guerrero headed the mayor’s workplace for eight years below Mayor Eric Garcetti, whereas Robin Kramer served below Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for about 4.
Guerrero misplaced her submit in 2021 after revelations that she disparaged elected officers, metropolis staff and others in a personal Fb group. She stayed on with the mayor in a diminished function.
Kamin was appointed by Garcetti in 2016 to serve on the fee that oversees the Los Angeles Homeless Companies Authority. He additionally served as president of the board of commissioners for the Housing Authority of the Metropolis of Los Angeles beginning in 2011.
Kamin was on the board when the company fired its CEO, Rudolf Montiel. The board drew criticism for offering Montiel with a $1.2 million severance bundle.
“The fundamental factor was to get rid of any authorized legal responsibility … shut this chapter and transfer ahead,” Kamin informed The Instances in 2011.
Kamin will begin his new job on Sept. 22, Bass informed her employees in an office-wide e-mail.
“Mitch has my full help and mandate to steer this staff and to maximise our effectiveness and efficiency,” she wrote.
