Fensterman law firm's $730K Nassau contracts
Nassau's legislature approved two legal-representation contracts totaling $730,000 for Abrams Fensterman LLP, founded by Howard Fensterman, the finance chair of Blakeman's gubernatorial campaign. The contracts were signed in May 2026, months before the legislature formally approved them in early August. Blakeman's campaign received a combined $43,000 from firm-linked donors in the six months before the award. Ethics experts said the contracting process lacked the transparency needed to dispel concerns about favoritism or conflicts of interest.
The case on each side
County officials say the contracts were lawfully awarded and approved by the legislature, and outside counsel for specialized legal work is routine county practice.
Ethics experts note the firm is run by Blakeman's campaign finance chair, the contracts were signed months before legislative approval, and firm-linked donors gave $43K to the campaign shortly before the award — a transparency and conflict-of-interest problem.