Wendy A. Kinsella, partner and leader of the Harris Beach Financial Restructuring, Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights practice group and advocate for inclusion and diversity in the law, has been named as U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the Northern District of New York, based in Syracuse. The appointment was announced by Chief Judge Debra Ann Livingston of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
“On behalf of everyone at Harris Beach, I would like to thank Wendy for her contributions to the success of our clients and the firm,” said Christopher D. Jagel, partner and chief executive officer, Harris Beach. “We have all benefitted from her leadership, particularly on matters of inclusion and diversity in the legal profession.”
Wendy served as chair of the Harris Beach Council on Inclusion and Diversity from 2014 to 2019 and more recently as the co-chair. During her time guiding the Council, Harris Beach has developed and implemented strategies and plans to advance diversity and inclusion in the law firm and legal profession, with a focus on supporting promising college and law students of color through scholarships, internships and programming. During her time as chair, Wendy developed extensive partnerships with Black Law Students Associations, Latin American Law Students Associations and other affinity groups at major New York law schools. Read the Second Circuit’s announcement of Wendy’s appointment here.
Partner Kevin W. Tompsett will take over the leadership position of the Harris Beach Financial Restructuring, Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights practice. Attorneys on this team work nationwide to counsel clients on matters involving debt restructuring, commercial contract dispute resolution, bankruptcy, foreclosure, distressed investments, commercial and consumer collection, and Uniform Commercial Code recoveries.
About Harris Beach
Founded in 1856, Harris Beach and its subsidiaries provide legal and professional services to clients across New York state, as well as nationally and internationally. Harris Beach is among the country’s top law firms as ranked by The National Law Journal and ranks as a BTI Elite law firm based on in-depth interviews of more than 600 corporate counsel at the world’s largest and most influential companies. Clients include Fortune 100 corporations, privately-held companies, emerging businesses, public sector entities, not-for-profit organizations and individuals. Principal industries Harris Beach represents include cannabis, education, energy, financial, food and beverage, health care, insurance, manufacturing, medical and life sciences, real estate developers, science and technology, veterinary medicine, and state and local governments and authorities. Our more than 210 lawyers and consultants practice from offices throughout New York state in Albany, Buffalo, Ithaca, Long Island, New York City, Rochester, Saratoga Springs, Syracuse, and White Plains, as well as from offices in New Haven, Connecticut and Newark, New Jersey. For more information, go to www.harrisbeach.com.