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Overcast Agostisi named new corporation counsel
Assistant city attorney tapped to replace Corey Klein on Jan. 1
Assistant Corporation Counsel Robert Agostisi has been named the new head attorney for the city, after former Corporation Counsel Corey Klein was elected City Court judge earlier this month.
After weeks of speculation about who would replace Klein — including rumors that former Democratic County Legislator Jeff Toback was being considered for the position — City Manager Jack Schnirman confirmed on Tuesday that Agostisi will officially take over the job on Jan. 1.
“Our corporation counsel’s role is to serve as chief legal counsel to, and a municipal officer of, a city consisting of approximately 35,000 residents, and we were extremely fortunate to have an excellent candidate right here in our office,” Schnirman said. “Rob is sharp, articulate, and he knows Long Beach inside and out.”
Agostisi has served as assistant corporation counsel for the city since 2006 and as acting corporation counsel since September, as Klein used accrued paid vacation time until the election.
As chief legal advisor to the city, Klein handled litigation at all levels of state, federal and administrative courts. The corporation counsel also prepares and writes resolutions, ordinances and local laws, among other responsibilities.
Prior to working for the city, Agostisi spent many years as an associate in several regional law firms. A past president of the Labor and Employment Relations Association and a former vice chair of the Labor And Employment Committee of the Nassau County Bar Association, he earned a B.S. in business administration from SUNY Albany in 1998; in 2001, he earned a law degree from Hofstra University’s School of Law.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Agostisi specializes in labor law, employment law and civil rights litigation. His role as a municipal attorney includes working with multiple government agencies as a liaison and assisting with labor negotiations, industry compliance and internal employee disciplinary hearings. To guide the conflict resolution process during labor-management disputes, he offers guidance on options in the New York State Public Employees’ Fair Employment Act, or Taylor Law, and the New York State Public Employment Relations Board.
