Login | February 10, 2026
Akron Mayor Shammas Malik Appoints Brian Angeloni Director of Law; Matz Of Counsel
Published: February 6, 2026
Akron, Ohio, Jan. 29, 2026 — Akron Mayor Shammas Malik announced a leadership transition in the City’s Department of Law. Effective immediately, Deputy Director of Law Brian Angeloni has been appointed Director of Law. He replaces Deborah Matz, who will serve as Of Counsel for the City through her retirement on July 29, 2026.
“As I reflect over the past two years, I am proud of the significant progress we have made on our 'Together for Akron’ plan. Going forward, we will continue to build on that momentum, and we have an aggressive agenda,” said Mayor Malik. “Brian Angeloni’s experience and knowledge will help us accelerate our plans, while maintaining continuity in the Department of Law. I am thankful for Deb Matz’s service to the City of Akron as my inaugural Director of Law and her over 30 years of public service in the Greater Akron area, and I look forward to her contributions in this transition role.”
Angeloni has been with the Department of Law for almost 10 years and was named Deputy Director of Law in 2024. In that role, he has provided legal advice and representation on a wide range of municipal legal issues, including economic development, real estate, public finance, ethics, legislation, labor, land use and zoning, and intergovernmental, acted as legal counsel for the Mayor, Akron City Council, and other city government officials and helped manage the Department of Law. Notably, Angeloni led the creation and implementation of Akron’s residential tax abatement program (CRA), spurring reinvestment and new home construction, negotiating a new, 50-year, drinking water agreement between Akron and the City of Tallmadge, and helping Akron legally navigate the use and expenditure of $145 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding. Previously, Angeloni joined the Department of Law as Assistant Law Director in 2016 and served as Senior Counsel of Administration and Development. Angeloni began his legal career in private practice at a full-service, Akron-based law firm, where he focused primarily on complex financial insolvency matters.
Angeloni is a graduate of Mount Union College (now the University of Mount Union) and The University of Akron School of Law, where he was an associate editor for Akron’s Law Review. Angeloni is licensed to practice law in Ohio, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court.
“I am grateful to Mayor Malik for this opportunity to serve as chief legal counsel for the City of Akron and would like to thank Deb Matz for her service and dedication to this department,” stated Angeloni. “The City’s Law Department plays a vital role in the long-term stability and day-to-day operations of city government, and I am excited to lead and direct these efforts. Moving forward, this department will continue to serve the City of Akron, its residents, and stakeholders with the utmost integrity and professionalism.”