Jonathan Harris is the Founder and Managing Partner of Harris St. Laurent. A distinguished trial lawyer and advisor to C-Suite executives, founders, hedge fund leaders, and institutional clients, Jon is one of New York’s leading practitioners, regularly trying high profile cases as lead counsel.
Equally comfortable in the courtroom and at the negotiating table, Jon is known for his skill and success at resolving complex matters involving a wide variety of legal and business issues. He regularly represents individuals and companies in litigation and business negotiations, as well as in internal and governmental investigations.
Prior to founding the firm, Jon practiced with legendary trial lawyer Peter Fleming, Jr., and prominent plaintiffs’ firm Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossman LLP. In 2005, he served pro bono as lead clemency counsel for Stanley Tookie Williams.
Jon is widely recognized by the legal and business media for his professional accomplishments. Ranked by Chambers USA in both White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations and Labor & Employment, including a Band 1 ranking in Labor & Employment. He is also recognized as one of Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Lawyers in America and ranked by Benchmark Litigation as both a National Practice Area Star and Litigation Star. In addition, he was named a national Co-Litigator of the Week by The American Lawyer and The National Law Journal recognized him as a national “Trailblazer” in Employment Law in 2021.
- Pursuing a malicious prosecution action against Deutsche Bank on behalf of Matt Connolly, a former trader at the bank who was acquitted of all criminal charges related to LIBOR market manipulation.
- Representing a nationally pre-eminent medical group in the sale of its practice to a prominent hospital, along with the negotiation of long-term post-sale employment agreements.
- Served as trial counsel in a ground-breaking 2023 federal jury trial involving trademark protection for NFTs in the metaverse (with co-counsel).
- Won public recognition of Avi Dorfman as a founding team member of real estate brokerage Compass, along with a financial settlement for which Compass publicly announced a $21 million legal charge (with co-counsel).
- Won a record-setting $52 million defamation award in FINRA on behalf of a hedge fund portfolio manager against his former employer (with co-counsel).
- Commercial disputes
- Labor and employment
- White collar crime
- Financial services
- Gaming
- Healthcare
- Insurance
- Media
- Technology and telecommunications
- Bachelor of Arts, Stanford University, 1984
- Juris Doctor, Stanford Law School, 1987
- Board of Visitors, Stanford Law School
- Order of the Coif, 1987
- New York, 1990
- California, 1993
- Washington, D.C., 1991