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Transportation Team Adds Former Commissioner and General Counsel of the New York City Mayor's Office for People With Disabilities
[January 30, 2014]

Transportation Team Adds Former Commissioner and General Counsel of the New York City Mayor's Office for People With Disabilities


NEW YORK --(Business Wire)--

Windels Marx today announced today that Jason R. Mischel has joined the firm as Counsel, resident in the New York office. His practice will focus on transportation law, counseling clients on a broad range of matters including:

  • wheelchair accessibility, accommodations and laws relating to persons with disabilities;
  • regulatory compliance;
  • legislative drafting;
  • contract drafting and negotiation;
  • real estate;
  • Americans With Disabilities Act compliance;
  • employment law;
  • intellectual property and technology; government procurement;
  • litigation;
  • administrative law and
  • public policy.

With a formidable career serving and defending both public and private interests, Jason will now work closely with Matthew Daus (Partner, New York), who leads the firm's Transportation Practice and is the former Commissioner and Chairman of the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission ("TLC").

Matt said, "Jason's reputation in public service is exemplary, and includes a wealth of experience on accessibility and transportation related issues. We are thrilled he has joined Windels Marx."

Jason added, "When considering the return to private practice, Windels Marx's reputation in the transportation sector is second to none. Their approach to this rapidly changing industry affords me the ability to serve clients with creativity and enthusiasm."

About Jason Mischel

Prior to joining Windels Marx, Jason was Acting Commissioner and former Deputy Commissioner and General Counsel of the New York City Mayor's Office for People With Disabilities. He seved as an Advisor to the Mayor on all disability-related issues for nearly a decade. He was responsible for advising the NYC Department of Transportation and the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission on all disability related transportation law and policy issues.



During his tenure as Commissioner, Jason's accomplishments included the following projects, legislation and initiatives:

  • Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA's) pilot program that allows Access-a-Ride passengers to use yellow taxicabs for pick-up and drop-off using pre-paid debit cards;
  • NYS Department of Transportation's successful grant proposal for Federal New Freedom grant money for the city's Taxi Smart Card Program;
  • NYC Department of Transportation's Accessible Pedestrian Signal project and the installation of detectable warning strips at project sites;
  • NYC Accessible Taxi Dispatch program that allows wheelchair users to reserve an accessible taxi in advance through a number of platforms;
  • NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission's inclusion of critical accessibility features in the city's taxi fleet for people with different disabilities;
  • Accessible Taxi Tax Credit signed into law in January 2012;
  • NYC ferry legislation ensuring docks, piers, slips and terminals that receive and unload passengers are accessible for people with disabilities (2005);
  • Legislation mandating that NYC increase the number of accessible taxis, implement an education campaign and annual information workshop, and requiring accessible taxis and for-hire vehicles to display accessibility insignia (2006);
  • NYC Accessible Parking Education Program initiative;
  • Disability Rent Increase Exemption signed into law in July 2005;
  • Ensured accessibility in major city projects such as the new Yankee Stadium, the Barclays Center, the 9/11 Memorial and the 3-stage High Line project;
  • NYC's first Restaurant Access Program that highlights wheelchair-friendly restaurants (with NYC & Company, the city's official tourism bureau);

Jason has also authored the following publications and resources:


  • NYC's Official Accessibility Guide and the NYCGo Accessibility website (nycgo.com/accessibility), each containing critical accessible transportation information, resources and options for people with disabilities (in partnership with NYC & Company);
  • Inclusive Design Guidelines New York (http://shop.iccsafe.org/inclusive-design-guidelines-new-york-city-1.html), a comprehensive reference standard for architects, engineers and the construction industry that is now being utilized as a template by municipalities globally;

Before joining NYC government, Mr. Mischel was a litigator in private practice.

About Windels Marx. With offices in New York, NY, Madison, NJ, New Brunswick, NJ, and Stamford, Connecticut, Windels Marx Lane & Mittendorf, LLP is a full service law firm formed in the mid-nineteenth century. Today, we represent domestic and international clients in the banking and financial institutions, energy and environmental, government and tribal interests, healthcare, hospitality, insurance, manufacturing, real estate, technology and intellectual property and transportation industries. Learn more at www.windelsmarx.com


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