PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Jessica Benvenisty, Partner at King & Spalding, on Randy Mastro's Nomination
10:38:42
·
3 min
Jessica Benvenisty, a partner at King & Spalding, provides testimony in support of Randy Mastro's nomination as Corporation Counsel. She emphasizes Mastro's qualities as a mentor, leader, and colleague, drawing from her 12 years of experience working with him.
- Benvenisty highlights Mastro's open-door policy and willingness to listen to and value input from all team members, regardless of seniority.
- She describes Mastro as open to diverse opinions and challenges, even from junior lawyers, and always striving for improvement.
- Benvenisty emphasizes Mastro's supportiveness of all attorneys, regardless of gender identity, and his empathetic nature despite potential differences in background or lived experiences.
Jessica Benvenisty
10:38:42
Good evening.
10:38:43
My name is Jessica Ben Menisti, and I'm a brand new partner at Randy's law firm, King And Spalding.
10:38:49
I think I'm the youngest lawyer to testify tonight, so perhaps I offer a little bit different perspective.
10:38:54
I've worked under and with Randy for the 12 years that I've been a lawyer.
10:38:59
I'd like to share a bit about what it's like to train with him and what he is like as a person at work.
10:39:04
I hope the city council appreciates what an amazing opportunity Randy's nomination is, not just for him, but also for the 850 lawyers at the law department who would benefit from his unparalleled leadership.
10:39:17
First, Randy is an unbelievably giving mentor.
10:39:20
He has an open door policy any time of day or night.
10:39:24
Randy does not tell anyone that he is too busy for them, and his door is open not just for the hard questions.
10:39:31
When Randy gives advice, he gives it to straight.
10:39:33
He actively listens to junior attorneys and believes that everyone on a team from paralegals to junior attorneys to the most senior lawyers can and do make critical contributions.
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And he gives credit where it is due.
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He works as hard as anyone, encouraging everyone to give it
Natalie Druce
10:39:51
their all
Jessica Benvenisty
10:39:51
to.
10:39:53
2nd, Randy is very open and reflective.
10:39:56
Given his reputation and years of experience, you may as assume that he thinks he's always right or even that he's stubborn, but the opposite is true.
10:40:03
Randy thrives when there is a diversity of opinion and when he is challenged by others, even and sometimes especially by the most juniors law junior lawyers on his teams.
10:40:13
I remember helping to prepare Randy for an argument in front of a judge when I was
Georgia Winston
10:40:17
a 1st year out of
Jessica Benvenisty
10:40:17
law school, probably twenty three or twenty four years old.
10:40:20
And he pushed everyone including me to challenge what he planned to say.
10:40:24
And then once it was over, he asked the team what he what we thought of his response to every single question.
10:40:30
Randy is never satisfied.
10:40:31
He always wants to do better, which makes everyone around him want the same for their own work.
10:40:37
3rd, Randy's supportive of all attorneys no matter their gender identity.
10:40:41
And I realize I'm running out of time, so I'm gonna skip to the end.
10:40:44
Brandy might not have the same background or lived experiences as the council or certainly not all New Yorkers and certainly not me.
10:40:52
But I have seen time and again that he is remarkably empathic, and that is the corporation council he would be.
Amanda FarÃas
10:40:58
Thank you.
Diana Ayala
10:40:59
Thank you.
10:41:00
Next panel?
UNKNOWN
10:41:02
The next panel will be Mark Kirsch.
Diana Ayala
10:41:04
What give me a second.
10:41:05
Are there any questions for this panel?
Gale A. Brewer
10:41:10
No.
10:41:10
Just quit you I'll I'll do you the favor, but really make it quick.
10:41:14
1 or 2 sentences, what was your last final word that you wanted?
10:41:18
You gotta put your mic on, sir.
Rita Joseph
10:41:21
But quick.
Christopher Porrino
10:41:21
It it will be very quick.
10:41:23
What I was going to tell you was that Project Kelly didn't know a key fact.
10:41:27
And that is that Randy Mastro presented the legal arguments to the Department of Justice in 2014 that the Supreme Court adopted in 2020 when the case was dismissed against her.
10:41:40
Randy has got some really unique qualities.
10:41:43
He's a great warrior.
10:41:44
We know that.
10:41:45
He's a leader.
10:41:46
Don't let him go.
10:41:48
Don't miss this opportunity.
Gale A. Brewer
10:41:49
Thank you very much.
Christopher Porrino
10:41:51
Thanks a lot.
Jessica Benvenisty
10:41:53
Thank you.