An experienced trial lawyer with twenty years of experience, Ms. Harris represents individuals and companies in a wide variety of criminal and white-collar matters, as well as complex civil and regulatory proceedings. Known for her vigorous and meticulous advocacy, as well as her unwavering dedication to her clients, Ms. Harris has obtained numerous jury acquittals, won pretrial motions to dismiss, and consistently achieved favorable sentencing outcomes for her clients. Many of Ms. Harris’s clients have had their charges reduced, or have avoided criminal or civil liability altogether. Super Lawyers has recognized Ms. Harris as one of Manhattan’s top white collar criminal defense attorneys and listed her among the Top 100 Lawyers and the Top 50 Women in New York.
Ms. Harris has expertise on a variety of complex financial and legal issues. She routinely defends individuals charged with insider trading, securities fraud, bank fraud, RICO, mortgage fraud, terrorism, obstruction of justice, bribery and tax fraud. Ms. Harris also represents individuals in sensitive federal and state grand jury proceedings, internal investigations, and investigations conducted by government agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Consumer Financial Protection Board (CFPB), and the New York State Attorney General.
Prior to joining Sher Tremonte LLP, Ms. Harris was a partner at Colson & Harris LLP, which she co-founded. From 2001 to 2010, Ms. Harris was an assistant federal defender at the Federal Defenders’ office for the Eastern District of New York, where she was lead counsel on hundreds of criminal cases in federal court. Previously, she was an associate at Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP, where she worked on a wide variety of criminal and civil cases, including civil enforcement actions before the SEC and the NASD, commercial arbitrations, and various pro bono and commercial civil matters.
Ms. Harris is a graduate of Columbia Law School and Harvard College, and clerked for the Honorable Eugene H. Nickerson in the Eastern District of New York.
Representative Matters
Obtained dismissal of state criminal charges against top aide to NYC City Council Member in campaign financing prosecution
Obtained dismissal of federal criminal charges against senior United Nations employee in visa fraud and foreign labor contracting prosecution in Southern District of New York
Representation of real estate consultant in election fraud prosecution in Southern District of New York
Representation of hedge fund analyst in $57 million insider trading case in the Southern District of New York
Representation of employees of one of the nation’s largest mortgage service providers in CFTB investigation
Representation of senior hedge fund executive in SEC insider trading investigation
Representation of manager at national energy company in SEC investigation
Representation of indicted FIFA committee member and president of national soccer federation
Representation of senior campaign consultant in NY state court political corruption case
Representation of executive of Fortune 100 Wall Street financial institution in federal RMBS investigations
Representation of health care company employee in DOJ health insurance fraud investigation
Obtained deferred prosecution in Southern District of New York for individual charged with commercial bribery
Obtained probationary sentence for a broker charged with multiple counts of securities fraud in the Eastern District of New York
Representation of individual accused of computer hacking in Southern District of New York
Obtained favorable SEC settlement for business owner facing insider trading charges
Obtained probationary sentence for business owner accused of bribing a public official
Won pre-trial dismissal of criminal immigration charges following a full evidentiary hearing
Won motions to suppress evidence in federal court based on constitutional violations by law enforcement
Successfully challenged regulatory sanctions in NASD disciplinary action, including life-time bar from securities industry, on behalf of a securities broker
Professional Activities
Speaking Engagements
Panelist, “Current Issues in Cross-Border and International Prosecutions,” October 2017
Panelist, “Terrorism: Past and Future, A Perspective From the Federal Courts,” Fordham University School of Law, September 2012
Panelist, “The State of Federal Criminal Discovery,” Federal Bar Council, July 2010
Panelist, “Federal Sentencing,” Federal Criminal Practice Institute, New York County Lawyers’ Association, November 2009
Panelist, “Representing Noncitizen Defendants,” U.S. District Court, EDNY, October 2004
Boards and Academic Work
Board of Directors, New York Council of Defense Lawyers
Board of Directors, Federal Defenders of New York, Inc. (2011-present)
Non-Voting Member, Practitioners Advisory Group, United States Sentencing Commission
Adjunct Professor, NYU Law School, Federal Defender Clinic (2007, 2009-2011)
