PAIGE GRAVES
Summary
General Counsel with deep experience advising the Chair, CEO, and Board of the nation's largest public transit system. Recognized for aligning legal strategy with business priorities and delivering measurable impact through disciplined legal operations. Brings a transferable skill set suited to complex, highly regulated industries.
Overview
32
32
years of professional experience
Work History
GENERAL COUNSEL
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)
New York, NY
11.2021 - Current
- Serve as chief legal officer for the nation's largest public transit system, providing legal leadership across multiple operating agencies and subsidiaries with complex regulatory, operational, and governance demands
- Lead a legal organization of 300+ attorneys and professional staff, while building a centralized legal operations function that embeds governance, performance metrics, and leadership infrastructure across litigation, transactions, procurement, and compliance
- Provide counsel to the 23-member Board, ensuring all board meetings and actions comply with applicable laws, governance protocols, and public accountability standards
- Established the MTA's first legal framework for cybersecurity, including overseeing a specialized task force, reviewing risk-based contract provisions, and implementing third-party incident response and investigations
- Modernize procurement and contracting processes by creating standardized templates, policies, and service guidelines; collaborated with IT to launch a case management system that tracks volume, aging, and matter status in real time to improve efficiency and transparency
- Oversee review of agency-wide policies, ensuring alignment with legal standards, ethical obligations, and compliance requirements across all operating entities and subsidiaries
- Direct organizational litigation strategy and advance high-impact settlements, achieving early resolution of complex matters while balancing legal exposure with operational feasibility and compliance objectives
- Conduct high-stakes litigation in federal and state forums, including matters involving congestion pricing, personal injury, and accessibility, while expanding affirmative litigation and recovery efforts that have doubled year-over-year returns
- Cultivate trusted relationships with senior executives and agency leadership, delivering insights on litigation risk, financial exposure, and strategic priorities while positioning Legal as a proactive partner
GENERAL COUNSEL
Long Island Rail Road (LIRR)
Jamaica, NY
01.2020 - 11.2021
- Principal legal advisor to the President and Executive leadership team of the nation's largest commuter railroad
- Managed legal risk across operations, labor, compliance, claims, and commercial agreements, supporting capital expansion and operational transformation
GENERAL COUNSEL
MTA Bus Company
New York, NY
01.2016 - 01.2020
- Led legal oversight for a complex transit operation during a period of major capital investment, service enhancement, and organizational change
- Provided legal support for major procurement and capital programs, including fleet modernization, vendor contracting, and sustainability initiatives
- Oversaw high-volume legal claims and outside counsel relationships to ensure cost-effective, high-quality representation
EXECUTIVE AGENCY COUNSEL
New York City Transit Authority
New York, NY
01.2012 - 01.2016
- Served as Executive Agency Counsel for one of the nation's largest public transit systems, handling litigation in federal and state courts and administrative tribunals
- Partnered with senior leadership and operations teams to proactively manage legal risk, while drafting and negotiating major rolling stock and commercial agreements
- Served as agency Ethics Officer, providing guidance on conflicts of interest, financial disclosures, and compliance with the MTA All- Agency Code of Ethics
ADJUNCT PROFESSOR
Monroe College School of Criminal Justice
New York, NY
01.2009 - 01.2012
SENIOR ASSOCIATE
Stern & Montana, LLP
New York, NY
01.2003 - 01.2011
- Led complex commercial litigation and insurance fraud matters across state and federal courts, including multi-party disputes and civil RICO investigations, delivering high-impact outcomes for national insurers
MANAGER, FORENSIC SERVICES
KPMG
New York, NY
01.1999 - 01.2003
- Management of high-stakes compliance and investigative engagements, including union corruption probes, corporate risk assessments, and due diligence reviews, delivering actionable insights to senior leadership
ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY
New York County District Attorney's Office
New York, NY
01.1994 - 01.1999
- Prosecuted complex criminal cases from investigation through verdict, leading grand jury presentations, evidentiary hearings, and pretrial litigation while developing deep courtroom expertise under high-stakes conditions
Education
Juris Doctorate Degree -
Hofstra University School of Law
Hempstead, NYBachelor of Science -
The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PABOARD OF DIRECTORS
"I Have A Dream" Foundation
Timeline
GENERAL COUNSEL
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)
11.2021 - Current
GENERAL COUNSEL
Long Island Rail Road (LIRR)
01.2020 - 11.2021
GENERAL COUNSEL
MTA Bus Company
01.2016 - 01.2020
EXECUTIVE AGENCY COUNSEL
New York City Transit Authority
01.2012 - 01.2016
ADJUNCT PROFESSOR
Monroe College School of Criminal Justice
01.2009 - 01.2012
SENIOR ASSOCIATE
Stern & Montana, LLP
01.2003 - 01.2011
MANAGER, FORENSIC SERVICES
KPMG
01.1999 - 01.2003
ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY
New York County District Attorney's Office
01.1994 - 01.1999
Juris Doctorate Degree -
Hofstra University School of Law
Bachelor of Science -
The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania