Adam Ford

Practice Areas

Government compliance and regulatory defense

White collar criminal defense

Complex commercial and civil litigation

Career

New York City Business Integrity Commission, Commissioner and Chair (April 2019 – December 2021); First Deputy Commissioner; Deputy Commissioner of Legal Affairs; and General Counsel

New York County District Attorney’s Office, Senior Investigative Counsel and Assistant District Attorney

Morvillo, Abramowitz, Grand, Iason & Anello, PC

Schulte, Roth & Zabel LLP

Professional Memberships

New York Building Congress and its Construction Law Committee

Association of Inspectors General

New York State Bar Association

Expert in these Jurisdictions

New York

U.S. District Court Southern District of New York

U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York

Work Highlights

Represented a New York City commercial waste-hauling company that had been shut down by BIC, promptly resolving the issues and achieving reinstatement of the company’s waste-hauling privileges.

Representing two foreign individuals charged with conspiracy to commit securities and fraud and other offenses in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

Representing major New York City commercial waste-hauling companies in connection with the NYC Department of Sanitation’s Commercial Waste Zones program, including advising on compliance issues.

Representing several New York City commercial waste-hauling companies regarding various regulatory and administrative issues with BIC, including compliance issues, various BIC applications and litigating administrative violations.

Represented a foreign corporation in connection with inquiries by multiple regulators in the waste industry.

Representing multiple entities with respect to their broker registration applications with BIC.

Advised 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.

Advised a New York City construction company regarding certain employment decisions and a related background investigation.

Experience

As Commissioner at BIC (appointed by Mayor Bill de Blasio), Noah was responsible for all policy, regulatory and enforcement decisions at the agency—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 entities and individuals who failed to meet the integrity standards required to operate in the regulated industries and referred cases for criminal prosecution where appropriate. Noah also spearheaded the expansion of BIC’s regulatory authority to encompass traffic safety through Local Law 198 of 2019 and related rules. Additionally, Noah represented BIC on the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office’s Construction Fraud Task Force. Prior to being appointed Commissioner, Noah served as BIC’s First Deputy Commissioner and General Counsel. As General Counsel, Noah successfully represented BIC before the New York City Council Oversight and Investigations Committee.

Prior to joining BIC, Noah was a Senior Investigative Counsel and an Assistant District Attorney at the Manhattan D.A.’s Office, 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 major changes to local laws to improve safety at construction sites across New York City. Prior to the Manhattan D.A.’s Office, Noah worked in private practice at two leading New York City 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.

Education

Awards