For more information, contact:
William P. Albert
Public Relations Manager
Harris Beach PLLC
(585) 419-8908

Albany and Saratoga Springs, New York…Harris Beach PLLC has expanded its presence in the Capital Region with the addition of attorney John S. Harris as a partner of the firm. Mr. Harris, a native of the area, has practiced law in the Capital Region for 18 years. He is widely known for his experience in environmental, energy, and government affairs matters, representing clients before state and local agencies in connection with the regulatory review, permitting, financing and development of a wide range of projects. Harris Beach now has more than 15 attorneys and non-legal professionals practicing in the Capital Region and more than 200 state-wide.

“John’s experience meets our strategic goal to provide clients here in the Capital Region and on a state-wide basis with expanded services in state and local regulatory matters, energy, economic development, public finance, and municipal law,” said William M. Flynn, managing partner of the Harris Beach Capital Region’s offices in Albany and Saratoga Springs.

Mr. Harris said: “I have known the attorneys at Harris Beach for many years and I am excited to be working with this talented team both in the Capital Region and throughout the state. Harris Beach provides a state-wide platform upon which to expand my practice. I am honored to have joined a firm with such an outstanding reputation.”

Mr. Harris focuses his practice on the intersection of law, business, and government. Most recently, Mr. Harris was a partner at McKenna Long & Aldridge, where he concentrated his time on environmental, energy, and government affairs matters. Mr. Harris has provided advice and counsel to clients on various energy projects and proceedings, including the permitting of both fossil fuel and renewable power generating facilities, the permitting of transmission cable projects, the sale and purchase of regulated assets, and strategies for deploying sources of alternative energy, such as fuel cells.

Mr. Harris has counseled clients in connection with large hazardous waste remediations, violations of the state’s pesticide regulations, negotiated consent orders with the Department of Environmental Conservation, and assisted with the preparation of applications to DEC for eligibility in New York’s Brownfield Tax Credit Program.

Mr. Harris also works with clients in connection with proposed regulations and agency guidelines. He has advised insurers, computer companies, real estate developers, utilities and energy companies on pending legislation and rule making in the State of New York.

Mr. Harris has also represented school districts, municipalities, industrial development agencies and other tax-exempt organizations as borrower’s counsel and bond counsel on numerous tax-exempt transactions.

Mr. Harris received his JD, cum laude, from Case Western Reserve University Law School where he was a member of the law review and his BA, in economics from Amherst College. He is a member of the New York State and American Bar Associations. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Capitalize Albany Corporation and is a former member of the Board of the Albany Convention Center Authority.

Founded in 1856, Harris Beach and its non-legal affiliates provide a full range of legal and professional solutions for clients across New York state as well as nationally. Ranked by the National Law Journal as one of the country’s Top 250 law firms, Harris Beach has 200 lawyers and offices throughout New York state in Albany, Buffalo, Ithaca, Long Island, New York City, Niagara Falls, Rochester, Saratoga Springs, Syracuse, White Plains, and Yonkers, as well as Newark, New Jersey, and New Haven, Connecticut. Clients include Fortune 500 corporations, privately-held companies, emerging technology businesses, educational institutions, energy industry companies, financial institutions, health care providers, medical and life science companies, real estate developers, not-for-profit organizations, foundations, state and local governments and authorities, as well as individuals.

# # #