New York State Bar Association Announces That Matthew Pennello Will Lead its Government Relations Department
8.12.2024
Matthew Pennello, who has more than a decade of experience working at the highest level of state government, has joined the New York State Bar Association as its director of government relations.
“We are delighted to have someone of Matthew Pennello’s experience and stature lead our Government Relations Department,” said Domenick Napoletano, president of the New York State Bar Association. “He is a tremendous addition to our already talented team, and we look forward to continued success advocating for association policy that is important to the legal profession, our courts, and the public.”
Prior to joining the New York State Bar Association, Pennello was director of cabinet affairs in the Hochul and Cuomo administrations. He has worked with various state agencies on a wide range of policy issues including labor and worker protections, economic development, and tax administration.
“In difficult times our state and country turn to trusted institutions like the New York State Bar Association to provide sound policy analysis to decision-makers and elected officials,” Pennello said. “If the civic religion of our country is our legal system, then the moral character of the law is reflected in NYSBA’s mission. I am excited to serve and be a part of that.”
For the past two years, the association’s general counsel, David Miranda, served as acting director of government relations. During that time, the association had some of its most successful years of legislative advocacy including establishing higher fees for attorneys representing the poor in assigned counsel/18B programs, passing the Clean Slate Act, amending the CPLR to permit the use of affirmations in civil actions, forming a state commission to study reparations, expanding the use of e-filing in the courts, strengthening protections against hate crimes, increasing the number of Family Court judges and putting the Equal Rights Amendment before New York voters.
The Government Relations Department also includes Hilary Jochmans, a federal policy consultant; Lena Faustel, policy manager; and Moe Whitcomb and Barbara Mahan, assistants to the Executive Offices.
