Profile
Harold, a founding member of the firm, has retired from the practice of law, effective January 1, 2022. The Firm is indebted to Harold for his commitment to professional excellence, his skills as a practitioner and as a mentor, and for the many key contributions he made to our success.
As a trial lawyer and a mediator/arbitrator, Harold earned a reputation for excellence and professionalism. He remains a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and an Associate of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He tried more than 50 cases to verdict, in jurisdictions across New York State, in California, and in Connecticut. He also has briefed and argued cases in the New York Court of Appeals, the First, Third, and Fourth Departments of the Appellate Division, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, the Western, Northern, and Southern Districts of New York, and the California Court of Appeals. Harold also served regularly as a neutral, having arbitrated more than 30 cases and mediated more than 200 disputes. Harold’s practice included contract and commercial litigation, construction, and defense of medical malpractice cases, in addition to his work as a mediator and arbitrator.
Credentials
Education
- Cornell Law School, J.D., cum laude, 1976
– Article Editor, Cornell Law Review - Dartmouth College, A.B., cum laude, with highest distinction in history, 1973
Admissions to Practice
- New York State
- District of Columbia
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Courts of Appeals, D.C., Second, and Third Circuits
- U.S. District Courts of New York (All Districts)
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court of Pennsylvania (Middle)
- U.S. District Court of Texas (Northern)
Activities
- Monroe County Bar Association
– President, 2009-2010 - Foundation of the Monroe County Bar
– President, 2017-2018 - New York State Bar Association
– Committee on Professional Ethics, 2010-2016
– House of Delegates, 2008-2011 - American Bar Association
- U.S. District Court, Western District of New York
– Certified Mediator - International Mediation Institute
– Certified Mediator - National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals, New York Chapter
- New York Office of Court Administration
– Advisory Committee on Civil Practice - American Arbitration Association
– Mediator
– Arbitrator, Commercial and Construction
– Instructor, Commercial Arbitration - National Association of College and University Attorneys
– Past Member - Rochester Inns of Court
– Past President and Master
Presentations & PUBLICATIONS
Recognition
- American College of Trial Lawyers
– Fellow - American Board of Trial Advocates
– Associate - American Bar Foundation
– Fellow - New York Bar Foundation
– Fellow - Ranked by Chambers USA (Upstate New York), since 2016
– Litigation: General Commercial - Selected to The Best Lawyers in America®, since 2005
– Administrative / Regulatory Law
– Arbitration
– Commercial Litigation
– Litigation - Construction (2018 "Lawyer of the Year" Rochester, NY)
– Mediation
– Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants (2021 "Lawyer of the Year" Rochester, NY) - Selected to Super Lawyers®, since 2007
- Martindale-Hubbell AV® Rating
Community
- Volunteer Legal Services Project, Inc.
– Past Member, Board of Directors, 2001-2017 - Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Inc.
– Past Chair, Board of Directors
– Member, Governance Committee
– Member, Honorary Board - Dartmouth Club of Rochester
– Past President - Genesee Valley Club
– Member, Board of Governors, 2015-current
