Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has employed Mitch Kamin, a lawyer who has fought the Trump administration and supplied authorized providers for underserved communities, to be her subsequent chief of employees.
Kamin, who, just like the mayor, is a graduate of Alexander Hamilton Excessive College, will probably be Bass’ third chief of employees in her almost three years main town — a way more speedy turnover than in earlier administrations.
Saying the appointment in a press launch Friday, Bass known 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 providers organizations and has served on a number of metropolis commissions.
Most not too long ago, he was common 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 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 Providers, a nonprofit legislation agency that gives free authorized providers.
“Mitch is a passionate, dedicated and compelling chief,” former U.S. Legal professional Basic Eric Holder, who was a associate 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 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 imagined to serve within the position 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 crew after her election.
Chiefs of employees in latest mayoral administrations typically served longer. Ana Guerrero headed the mayor’s workplace for eight years underneath Mayor Eric Garcetti, whereas Robin Kramer served underneath Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for about 4.
Guerrero misplaced her publish in 2021 after revelations that she disparaged elected officers, metropolis workers and others in a personal Fb group. She stayed on with the mayor in a diminished position.
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 fundamental factor was to get rid of any authorized legal responsibility … shut this chapter and transfer ahead,” Kamin instructed The Instances in 2011.
Kamin will begin his new job on Sept. 22, Bass instructed her employees in an office-wide e-mail.
“Mitch has my full help and mandate to guide this crew and to maximise our effectiveness and efficiency,” she wrote.
