Noah D. Genel

Noah Genel is an experienced litigator and advisor and Chair of the Firm’s State Regulatory Compliance and Litigation practice. Prior to joining the Firm, Noah was the Commissioner and Chair of the New York City Business Integrity Commission (BIC)—the agency that regulates the commercial waste-hauling industry and the public wholesale food markets in New York City. With more than 15 years working in New York City public service—and more than 20 years’ experience as an attorney—Noah specializes in complex criminal, civil and administrative litigation and government compliance and regulatory matters. He also has broad experience in local government and coordinating with numerous agencies.

Prior to joining BIC, Noah was Senior Investigative Counsel and an Assistant District Attorney at the New York County (Manhattan) District Attorney's Office (DANY), serving approximately eight-and-a-half years under both the Hon. Robert M. Morgenthau and the Hon. Cyrus R. Vance, Jr. Assigned to the Rackets and Special Prosecutions Bureaus, Noah investigated and prosecuted cases involving complex financial fraud, traditional organized crime, bribery of public officials, terrorism, and other matters. Additionally, one of Noah’s cases resulted in a slew of changes to local laws to improve construction safety in New York City. Prior to DANY, Noah worked in private practice at two law firms, representing clients in criminal and civil cases in federal and state courts, including matters involving numerous components of the U.S. Department of Justice, local District Attorney's Offices, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and other entities.

Noah was at BIC from March 2015 through December 2021 in a number of roles—starting as General Counsel and rising to become First Deputy Commissioner. Then, in April 2019, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio appointed Noah to be Commissioner and Chair of BIC. In that role, Noah ran an agency of more than 70 employees and was responsible for all policy, regulatory and enforcement decisions—working closely with numerous federal, state and local partners on a broad range of criminal and regulatory investigations and legislative and other issues. Under Noah's leadership, BIC took regulatory action against various entities and individuals who failed to meet the integrity standards required to operate in the regulated industries. These matters involved bribery, theft, fraud, associations with organized crime, tampering with physical evidence relating to a murder, and other issues. Noah also represented BIC on DANY’s Construction Fraud Task Force.

One of Noah's major policy initiatives at BIC was to improve safety in the commercial waste-hauling industry—particularly traffic safety. His work was integral to the development, drafting and passage of Local Law 198 of 2019, which expanded BIC's jurisdiction to include traffic safety and allowed the agency to develop new safety rules for the industry. Noah was also closely involved in drafting the Commercial Waste Zones (CWZ) law (Local Law 199 of 2019), which creates a new structure for waste collection in New York City. Once implemented (likely beginning in 2024), the CWZ program will dramatically change the rules waste haulers must follow.

Recent matters include:

• Representing a New York City commercial waste-hauling company in connection with its response to the Request for Proposal for the City’s Commercial Waste Zones program.
• Representing a New York City commercial waste-hauling company regarding notices of violation issued by BIC.
• Representing a foreign corporation in connection with multiple inquiries by regulators in the waste industry.
• Representing an international corporation seeking licensure with BIC in connection with its application.
• Representing a foreign corporation with respect to its broker application with BIC.
• Advising an independent food waste upcycling company regarding regulatory compliance and strategic advice, including with respect to New York State and City environmental regulations across several agencies.
• Advising a New York City construction company regarding certain employment decisions and background investigation.