Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has employed Mitch Kamin, a lawyer who has fought the Trump administration and offered authorized companies for underserved communities, to be her subsequent chief of workers.
Kamin, who, just like the mayor, is a graduate of Alexander Hamilton Excessive Faculty, will probably be Bass’ third chief of workers in her practically three years main the town — a way more fast turnover than in earlier administrations.
Asserting the appointment in a press launch Friday, Bass referred to as Kamin a “seasoned chief and establishment disrupter.”
The Harvard-educated lawyer has many years of expertise as an govt at nonprofits and authorized companies organizations and has served on a number of metropolis commissions.
Most not too long ago, he was basic counsel and chief technique officer for the Lucas Museum of Narrative Artwork, a venture of “Star Wars” creator George Lucas that’s set to open subsequent 12 months.
Earlier than that, Kamin was a accomplice on the regulation 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 apply group and the leisure and media business group. He beforehand was president of Guess Tzedek Authorized Providers, a nonprofit regulation agency that gives free authorized companies.
“Mitch is a passionate, dedicated and compelling chief,” former U.S. Lawyer Normal Eric Holder, who was a accomplice with Kamin at Covington, stated in an announcement.
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 12 months however stayed on longer following the January wildfires, the mayor’s workplace stated.
The mayor’s first chief of workers was Chris Thompson, who led the transition staff after her election.
Chiefs of workers in current mayoral administrations usually served longer. Ana Guerrero headed the mayor’s workplace for eight years beneath Mayor Eric Garcetti, whereas Robin Kramer served beneath Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for about 4.
Guerrero misplaced her publish 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 Providers 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 package deal.
“The essential factor was to eradicate any authorized legal responsibility … shut this chapter and transfer ahead,” Kamin informed The Occasions in 2011.
Kamin will begin his new job on Sept. 22, Bass informed her workers in an office-wide e mail.
“Mitch has my full help and mandate to guide this staff and to maximise our effectiveness and efficiency,” she wrote.
