In an significant expansion of its New York City practice, government affairs strategic consulting firm Brown & Weinraub has brought in the core of former government relations firm Capalino’s award-winning land use practice. The new hires have extensive land use experience with multiple New York City administrations.
Joining the firm are Mark Thompson, Brian Cook, Matt Green, Kieth Tubbs, Richard Barth and Christopher Boylan. The new additions will join Roberto Perez and Rebecca Lamorte, whose skills anchor B&W’s New York City practice.
“I have been a big fan of Jim Capalino and his team for close to 40 years. Pat Brown and I regularly looked to what Jim did as we built our firm. I am grateful that this first-in-class land use team has chosen to join our firm,” said Brown & Weinraub Founding Partner David Weinraub.
Thompson was a founding member of Capalino 22 years ago. Prior to that, he worked for the City of New York at the Department of General Services and the Public Development Corporation and currently serves in leadership roles in several organizations including the Samuel J. Tilden Democratic Club and the Stonewall Democratic Club. As the former Chair of Manhattan Community Board Six, Mark has deep expertise on the issues at the heart of new development. His work ranges from securing tens of millions of dollars in funding for not-for-profits, to helping businesses navigate the complicated world of public approvals, to winning government contracts via Request for Proposal processes. He graduated from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and the University of Southern California.
Cook’s resume includes serving director of land use, planning and development for the Manhattan Borough President; director of the Economic Development Bureau of the New York City Comptroller; a Commissioner of the New York City Banking Commission and a board member of the New York City Industrial Development Agency and its related non-profit BuildNYC.
Green was deputy chief of staff and district director for New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson. While at the Council, he oversaw major land-use and budget processes, and collaborated with city and state agencies, nonprofits and community groups to advance affordable housing, public safety, sanitation, transportation, and homelessness initiatives.
Tubbs served as a senior advisor to the Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. focusing on external affairs, intergovernmental relations and assisting with policy and implementation. He also served as the director of outreach and intergovernmental affairs for the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board. He also worked as the chief of staff for Assemblywoman Latrice Walker who represented Brownsville.
Barth served as executive director of the New York City Planning Department, a post he held for 12 years after serving as director of Manhattan planning for eight years. He oversaw preparation and implementation of the department’s strategic land use plan, including innovative rezonings and comprehensive plans in all five boroughs that promoted economic development, new mixed-income housing opportunities, and neighborhood revitalization and preservation. Some of his major achievements included guiding the creation of the Hudson Yards District on Manhattan’s West Side.
Boylan served as deputy executive director for corporate affairs at the New York State Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), where he was responsible for internal and external relations, government and community relations, marketing and corporate communications and customer service. He previously served as chief of staff to two chairmen of the MTA and as director of government relations. Before joining the MTA, he served for over 11 years in the administration of Mayor Edward Koch where he handled Congressional Affairs.
