Partner Gregory Harris featured in epiq systems April Newsletter
Gregory G. Harris Chapter 7 Panel Trustee Northern District of New York
2011 represents my 23rd year as a Chapter 7 Panel Trustee for the Northern District of New York. When I started as Panel Trustee, the only Trustee Case Management computer software available was a DOS based product that required manual input of all data including the debtor?s name, address, social security number, assets and exemptions.
I was among the first Chapter 7 Trustees in the Northern District of New York to utilize Epiq and it's TCMS® windows based software. For several years, I have been using the TCMSWeb® platform. Comparing the first system I used to Epiq?s current system is the equivalent of comparing an abacus to a personal computer. I cannot imagine handling a Trustee caseload economically and efficiently without the benefit and reliability of the TCMSWeb® platform.
One of my longest running, most complex, and interesting cases involved a Chapter 7 filing by a parent of one of the victims of the Pan Am Flight 103 disaster over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988, killing 259 people on board the plane and 11 on the ground.
The Chapter 7 case was filed in 1999 in Delaware and transferred to the Northern District of New York soon thereafter. My Chapter 7 estate was involved in the multi-billion dollar settlement with the Libyan government and state court litigation in 3 states. The estate was funded with over $1.5 million in 2004. After interim distributions and resolution of litigation, final distribution was made in 2010. Although my administration of the case was closed in August of 2010, there is still ongoing litigation and appeals related to events that took place during the ten years the file was open.
During my 20-plus years as a Trustee, I have been involved in the sale or liquidation of every type of property from airplanes to Rolls Royce vehicles to works of art. I have liquidated every kind of business from department stores to plumbing supply stores to a chain of submarine sandwich shops. Sometimes I think I sold more Harley Davidson motorcycles than some dealers. Learning about these unique businesses and the different business practices of the many types of companies that ultimately ended up in Chapter 7 has been fascinating.
Along with my Chapter 7 Trustee responsibilities I am the senior (and managing) partner of Harris, Conway & Donovan, PLLC, a 5 attorney firm in New York?s Capital City of Albany and maintain a significant caseload of foreclosures and complex matrimonial litigation. In addition, both of my partners and I serve as part-time Town and Village Justices in local communities in Albany and Rensselaer County.
On April 8, 2011 Partner Michael Conway lectured for the NYS Bar Association on Premises Liability - What You Need To Know in New York, Specifically on "Property Damage Claims"
On March 25, 2011 Partner Ryan Donovan lectured for the NYS Bar Association for the annual Automobile Litigation Update, specifically on "Soft Tissue Injuries and the Serious Injury Threshold"
On March 22, 2011 Partner Ryan Donovan lectured for the NYS Office of the Attorney Generals' Continuing Legal Education Program on "Depositions, The Most Effective Tool in Discovery" There more than 70 attorneys at the live location and hundreds State wide watching via the web.
HARRIS, CONWAY & DONOVAN, PLLC ANNOUNCES NEW PARTNER
CYNTHIA J. TIPPINS
ALBANY, N.Y. – The partners of Harris, Conway & Donovan today announced that Cynthia J. Tippins has joined the firm as a Partner.Ms. Tippins began working with the firm on March 1, 2010 and will focus on complex matrimonial and family law litigation.
“Cynthia is a natural fit into our matrimonial practice. She has more than twenty years of experience in complex matrimonial litigation for clients with significant wealth,” said Greg Harris, a founding partner of the firm. “Cynthia’s appellate background and her extensive experience lecturing throughout the state for the biannual MatLaw Seminars Programs gives us added depth and one more effective way to serve our clients.”
Mrs. Tippins has received the designation of Best Lawyers in America and has been listed in Superlawyers.com. She is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and has served on its Amicus Curiae Committee.
“I’m thrilled to be joining Harris, Conway & Donovan,” said Tippins, an East Greenbush resident. “They have a great reputation and I believe that my experience combined with Greg’s 30 years of matrimonial experience establishes us as one of the premier matrimonial firms in upstate New York.
“Cynthia brings an unparalleled level of experience, and she is an asset to our clients and the firm,” said Mike Conway, a founding partner.
Mrs. Tippins has also lectured at HofstraLawSchool and AlbanyLawSchool for programs sponsored by the AmericanAcademy of Matrimonial Lawyers. In addition to frequent Legal Updates, she has spoken on such topics as Preparing the Custody Case for Trial, Child Custody: The Substantive & Procedural Law, Effective Discovery & Motion Practice in Matrimonial Actions, Litigating & Negotiating Child Support Issues, Negotiating & Drafting Separation Agreements, and Effective Use of Demonstrative Evidence.
Donovan Named Member of Board of Trustees at Albany Law School
Donovan Elected President-Elect of National Alumni Association for Albany Law School- June 1, 2009
Partner, Ryan Donovan, was elected President-Elect of Albany Law Schools' National Alumni Association. Donovan has been a board member since 2000 and has served on the Executive Committee for the last four years.
Every graduate of Albany Law School is a member of the National Alumni Association (NAA) which is comprised of an active and supportive body of alumni. The NAA is governed by a Board of Directors, and board committees serve the School in an advisory and networking capacity in areas such as career services, admissions recruitment and alumni involvement.
Donovan Receives Albany Law School's Outstanding Young Alumni Award
Donovan received the Outstanding Young Alumni Award for his extraordinary professional and community accomplishments since graduation less than a decade ago. The award was conferred at Albany Law School’s Metro New York Reception at the Waldorf in New York City. He is the Town Justice for the Town of Bethlehem and is a partner with Harris, Conway & Donovan, PLLC.Donovan focuses his practice on personal injury and commercial litigation. He has also been appointed as Acting City Court Judge in the Cities of Troy and Albany.
Bankruptcy lawyers work overtime to keep pace with increased filings
Awash in paper: Gregory Harris, partner at Harris, Conway & Donovan in Albany, says bankruptcies are keeping him busy—that is, when he’s not handling foreclosures. Bankruptcy attorneys are adding hours and hiring staff as the recession deepens.
Year-end data show that the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Albany experienced a 22 percent increase in consumer and business bankruptcies last year compared to 2007 levels.
A similar jump is expected this year as a wave of credit concerns—including a lack of sufficient credit for businesses—continues to ripple through the economy.
“That’s the nature of the beast. When times are good, business is good. When times are bad, business is good,” said Gregory Harris, partner at Harris Conway & Donovan PLLC in Albany.
Harris Comments on Increase in Bankruptcy Filings as a Result of Recent Economic Downturn
Click here to see the article form the Times Union (10/1/08)
Harris, Conway & Donovan, PLLC honored by St. Catherine's Center for Children
St. Catherine's Center for Children awarded a certificate of appreciation to the firm for the firms' generosity in the centers' toy drive for underprivileged children during the 2007 holiday season. Each of the partners were also thanked individually for their generosity and support of this noble cause.
Partners from Harris, Conway & Donovan, PLLC speak at Albany Law School Senior Citizen Law Day
Mike Conway and Ryan Donovan presented a lecture on selecting a nursing home, foreseeing risks and potential litigation to a group of seniors on October 27, 2007. There was a great turnout and interesting questions about safety issues and ensuring that your complaints are heard by the nursing homes administrators.
