Pei Pei Cheng de Castro, with more than 20 years of experience in private practice and at the highest level of New York State government, represents clients across a range of industries in complex commercial litigation and advises on complex regulatory and compliance issues, government and internal investigations, criminal defense in federal and state courts, labor and employment, ethics and lobbying matters, and congressional inquiries. Her background is invaluable when representing clients in matters in New York City, New York State, and at the federal level.
In her role as deputy counsel to the governor of New York, Pei Pei managed high-profile disputes and controversies for all executive agencies, handled special projects for the governor, oversaw executive state litigation, oversaw the office’s human resources unit that handled discrimination and harassment investigations, and was liaison to the Office of the Attorney General and the State Comptroller. She was also responsible for matters involving ethics, risk management, compliance, and procurement across New York State’s executive agencies. As part of this role, Pei Pei served as counsel to the Executive Chamber, which works to advance the governor’s policy initiatives and agenda by overseeing government operations and coordinating with state agencies, federal and local governments, and community stakeholders.
As former executive deputy inspector general at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Pei Pei oversaw investigations into capital projects and services contracts with the MTA and conduct of MTA union and non-union employees. She also spent five years as the director of investigations at the New York State Joint Commission on Public Ethics, where she conducted investigations focused on potential lobbying and ethics laws violations of elected officials, public employees, lobbyists, and clients of lobbyists.
In addition to her legal practice, Pei Pei previously served as an adjunct professor of law at Fordham Law School and New York Law School in drafting litigation, legal writing, and Asian Americans in the Law.
Pei Pei currently serves as Vice President, Programs and Operations, on the AABANY Board
Pei Pei is the Moderator for the Conducting Effective Internal Investigations program.