Management Construction

ALLYSON C. FORD

** ****** ***** **** • W est Orange, New Jersey 07052

(H) 973-***-**** • (C) 973-***-**** • ******@*****.***

Government & Legislative Affairs • Lobbying • Fundraising • In-House Counsel • Mediation

Seasoned attorney, lobbyist, and executive with extensive background in lobbying state legislatures,

mediating disputes, negotiating agreements, directing business operations, and organizing large-

scale fundraising events. Experienced as Special Counsel and program director for New York City

government agency. Superior communication, lobbying, problem-solving, and relationship

management skills. Areas of expertise include housing law, commercial litigation, labor law,

collective bargaining, arbitration, legislative processes, and issue resolution.

Lobbying • Mediation • Program Management • Commercial Litigation • Legislative Processes

Fundraising • In-House Counsel • Labor Law • Arbitration • Oral Advocacy • Compliance • Training

Communications • Legal Management • Negotiations • Operations Management • Presentations

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING PRESERVATION & DEVELOPMENT

New York, New York • 1998-Present

Special Counsel, Div. of Development (2004-Present)

Provide legal and legislative counsel for special division of largest municipal developer of affordable

housing in United States. Support six program directors responsible for specific types of construction

and housing. Supply legal and non-legal issue resolution. Coordinate activities of internal and

outside attorneys. Communicate extensively with attorneys for developers and homeowners.

Manage specialized projects. Resolve internal and external issues. Represent division to developers

and outside parties in areas such as compliance, policy, initiatives, and legal matters.

Major Contributions:

• Successfully negotiated division’s first two air rights transactions ever, allowing developers to

purchase air rights of city-owned properties in order to construct residential buildings.

• Effectively lobbied for increases in small home loan monies and statutory loan amounts under

Senior Citizen Home Assistance Program.

• Took over and resolved highly controversial and complex residential building safety case

previously unresolved for 20 years. Used political connections and worked with legal

representatives within agency and externally.

• As liaison to Environmental Unit, oversee CEQR and NEPA reviews, environmental

assessments, and relationship management. Improved communications and operations.

• Prepared and led seminar on tax issues attended by 100 of City’s top developers.

• Key member of team that successfully oversaw $400M retail, residential, school, and park

facility construction project with >640,000 sq. ft. of commercial space and 2,200 residential

units.

Director of Operations (2003-2004)

Promoted to direct Agency’s largest division. Supervised staff of unit directors, with 1,000 indirect

reports. Arbitrated grievances, interviewed candidates, and managed legal issues. Represented

division at meetings with other agencies, non-profit organizations, and Mayor’s office. Reviewed

applications and awarded contracts to non-profits selected to work with Agency.

Major Contributions:

• Improved Agency shelter program’s efficiency 60% by developing and implementing system to

expedite transition of homeless persons into permanent housing.

• Saved $5M by negotiating contracts with agencies operating City-sponsored family centers.

• Evaluated >100 applications from non-profits and awarded contracts to 20.

ALLYSON C. FORD • Page 2 • ******@*****.***

(New York City Dept. of Housing Preservation & Development, continued)

Director of Legislative Affairs (1998-2003)

Oversaw legislative affairs and lobbying to facilitate improvements in housing programs and statutes.

Reviewed ongoing and potential programs and lobbied state legislature to obtain approvals for

increased funding, issue resolution, passage of landmark bills, and other solutions. Consistently

managed 16 to 20 legislative items at any one time. Frequently met with State Assembly and Senate

Members to obtain bill sponsorship. Attended legislative meetings and sessions. Provided advice to

City Council Members, Senators, and Assembly Members.

Major Contributions:

• Saved $16.1M in rent for elderly residents and preserved affordable co-op housing for 7,000

residents through successful lobbying with New York State Legislature.

• Facilitated rehabilitation of 75,000 multiple-dwelling units by obtaining four-year extension of

benefits from J-51 tax incentive program.

• Enabled construction of tax-exempt market-rate rental developments in Manhattan by achieving

$3.8B bond cap increase.

• Attained major savings for homeowners by establishing legal authority to permit dissolution of

seed loans used for preconstruction costs.

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

WOOD, RAFALSKY & WOOD LLC, New York, New York • 1996-1998

Associate

Carried out general commercial litigation, mediations, and settlement negotiations. Successfully

prepared and argued cases in state and federal court. Managed healthcare-related cases, including

compliance with state and federal regulations.

NEW YORK CITY BOARD OF EDUCATION, New York, New York • 1992-1996

Labor Attorney, Div. of Labor Relations & Collective Bargaining

Prepared briefs and memoranda on issues relating to collective bargaining and labor law. Arbitrator

for Board of Education on tri-partite panels. Member of team that represented Board during

collective bargaining with Teamsters and teacher’s unions. Selected as Chancellor’s Hearing Officer

for Step III grievances.

EDUCATION

Juris Doctor

Boston College School of Law, Newton, Massachusetts

Bachelor of Arts, Sociology & American Studies

W esleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut

BAR ADMISSIONS & TRAINING

New York State Bar

US District Court for Southern & Eastern Districts of New York

Training, National Institute of Trial Advocacy

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Affiliations: Corporate Counsel Women of Color, Council of Urban Professionals

Computer Skills: MS Office, Outlook, LexisNexis

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