N.Y.C. Charter § 394: Section 394. Powers and duties.

a. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter or other law, the corporation counsel shall be attorney and counsel for the city and every agency thereof and shall have charge and conduct of all the law business of the city and its agencies and in which the city is interested.

b. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter or other law, the corporation counsel shall have charge and conduct of the legal proceedings necessary in opening, widening, altering and closing streets and in acquiring real estate or interests therein for the city by condemnation proceedings, and the preparation of all leases, deeds, contracts, bonds, and other legal papers of the city, or of or connected with any agency or officer thereof, and the corporation counsel shall approve as to form all such deeds and bonds and, individually or by standard type of class, all contracts, leases and other legal papers.

c. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter or other law, the corporation counsel shall have the right to institute actions in law or equity and any proceedings provided by law in any court, local, state or national, to maintain, defend and establish the rights, interests, revenues, property, privileges, franchises or demands of the city or of any part or portion thereof, or of the people thereof, or to collect any money, debts, fines or penalties or to enforce the laws. The corporation counsel shall not be empowered to compromise, settle or adjust any rights, claims, demands, or causes of action in favor of or against the city, and shall not permit, offer or confess judgment against the city, or accept any offer of judgment in favor of the city without the previous approval of the comptroller, except that with regard to matters involving excise and non-property taxes, such previous written approval shall be obtained from the finance administrator; provided, however, that this inhibition shall not operate to limit or abridge the discretion of the corporation counsel in regard to the proper conduct of the trial of any action or proceeding or to deprive such corporation counsel of the powers and privileges ordinarily exercised in the courts of litigation by attorneys-at-law when acting for private clients.