High-profile attorney Alex Spiro, known for representing celebrities such as Elon Musk and Jay-Z, has been hired to help defend Mayor Eric Adams against a lawsuit accusing him of sexually assaulting a co-worker more than three decades ago. The lawsuit was brought by Lorna Beach-Mathura, who claims Adams assaulted her in 1993 when they worked together at the Transit Police Department. Adams has strongly denied the allegations and stated that he does not remember ever meeting Beach-Mathura.
Spiro, a partner at the Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan law firm, has a reputation as a go-to defense attorney for the wealthy facing legal troubles. He has represented various celebrities and high-profile individuals, including Alec Baldwin, Robert Kraft, Megan Thee Stallion, and Jay-Z. His law firm will charge the city $250 per hour for partners and $175 for associates, significantly less than his typical rates for high-end clients.
The Law Department has retained Spiro and his firm as co-counsel to assist in representing the city and the mayor in this case. The decision to bring in outside assistance was made to ensure that the Law Department can allocate its existing resources to other ongoing matters. The move comes after Adams’ corporation counsel, Sylvia Hinds-Radix, defended the use of taxpayer funds to cover the legal costs for the mayor based on his status as a city employee at the time of the allegations.
The bombshell lawsuit filed in mid-March alleges that Adams pressured Beach-Mathura for oral sex in exchange for using his power within the Transit Bureau NYPD Guardians Association to secure her a promotion. Beach-Mathura claims that when she refused his advances, Adams put her hand on his erect penis before ejaculating on her in a police car. The initial notice of claim was filed in November under New York’s Adult Survivors Act, as a window to submit old claims was set to close.
Adams has maintained his innocence, stating that the events described in the lawsuit did not happen and that he does not recall ever meeting Beach-Mathura during his time in the police department. Hinds-Radix has described the allegations as outrageous. The high-profile nature of the case, along with the involvement of prominent attorney Alex Spiro, has drawn significant attention to the lawsuit and its implications for Mayor Eric Adams.
Despite the controversy surrounding the case, Adams remains steadfast in his denial of the claims and continues to focus on his duties as mayor. The involvement of top-tier legal representation in the form of Alex Spiro underscores the seriousness of the lawsuit and the potential impact it could have on Adams’ reputation and tenure. As the case progresses, all eyes will be on the legal proceedings and the defense put forth by Spiro and his team on behalf of Mayor Eric Adams.
