Harrington, William P.
William P. Harrington
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Biography
Mr. Harrington is Chairman of the Firm’s Executive Committee and head of the Litigation Practice Group. He is an experienced trial attorney who has represented Fortune 500 companies in criminal, commercial, environmental, civil rights, real estate, gaming, and employment discrimination matters. His clients have included major oil and pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, racetracks/casinos, financial institutions, and significant regional companies in all aspects of complex environmental, toxic tort, and commercial litigation. Mr. Harrington also represents both municipalities and developers in all phases of land use development and related litigation.
From 1982-1983, Mr. Harrington served as a law clerk for Hon. Charles L. Brieant, United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York. A graduate of Fordham University School of Law, he received his undergraduate degree from The College of William & Mary, where he was an Academic All-American basketball player.
- Fordham University School of Law, J.D., 1982
- College of William & Mary, B.A., 1979
- New York
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Northern and Southern Districts of New York
- U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut
- 2000-Present, Town of Pound Ridge, NY, Town Attorney
- 2001-2006, New York Gubernatorial Review Panel for the Federal Judiciary
- 1982-1983, Law Clerk for the Hon. Charles L. Brieant, U.S.D.J., former Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
- New York State v. DuPont Semiconductors, Trial counsel for defendant in civil and criminal proceedings arising from alleged facility pollutant discharges into protected trout stream and surrounding wetlands. Successfully defended client in 220-count felony indictment and secured an acquittal on all charges after 8-week jury trial.
- In Re MTBE Multi-State Litigation, National trial counsel for national petroleum company in federal multi-state litigation related to alleged MTBE contamination of municipal and private water supplies. Over 10-year period, developed litigation strategy that enabled client to successfully resolve all pending litigations.
- COTCO v. TBS Shipping, Lead counsel for international shipping company in litigation proceedings filed in New York, Europe, Africa, Central America, and South America. Secured dismissals of all proceedings.
- Liberty Lines v. County of Westchester, Lead trial counsel for plaintiff in litigation arising from breach of Memorandum of Understanding. Secured jury verdict for plaintiff after 6-week trial.
- EEOC v. Yonkers Racing Corporation, Lead counsel in litigation alleging sex-based class discrimination by racetrack. Secured dismissal with prejudice for failure of plaintiff to comply with discovery demands.
- EEOC v. Stella D’oro, Trial counsel for defendant in class sex-based discrimination claim. Secured favorable settlement for client.
- In Re IDI Litigation, Trial counsel for defendant engineer in multiple securities lawsuits alleging fraudulent representations regarding development of CAD CAM product.
- In Re Taystee Baking Company, Acted as regulatory and environmental counsel for multistate bakery in federal and state claims arising from the alleged asbestos contamination of baking products from industrial oven insulation. Managed and coordinated emergency response and related communications with federal and state regulatory agencies. Negotiated and secured civil settlement of regulatory penalties.
- City of Yonkers v. Yonkers Racing Corporation, Lead counsel for racetrack defendant in lawsuit alleging failure to pay admissions tax. Successfully secured litigation dismissal at no cost to client.
- Matera v. Mystic Transportation, Successfully defended oil company in product liability wrongful death action alleging defective design of tanker truck. Granted summary judgment dismissing litigation against the defendant.
- In Re Town of Clarkstown, Appointed special counsel to investigate and prosecute administrative charges against municipality’s police chief. Following 18-month investigation and multiple hearing dates, secured decision from ALJ in favor of municipality.
- S&R Development Estates LLC v. Town of Greenburgh, et al., Lead trial counsel for plaintiff developer in 10-year litigation arising from municipality’s discriminatory denial of zoning approvals required to build proposed affordable housing project. Secured court-ordered approvals mandating construction. Acted as co-counsel in subsequent federal litigation and secured multimillion dollar settlement for damages arising from municipality’s discriminatory conduct.
- American Bar Association
- New York State Bar Association
- Litigation Counsel of America
- 2007-Present, New York Super Lawyers
- 1996-Present, Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review National Rating: AV®Preeminent (5.0 out of 5)
- 2018, Legal Services of the Hudson Valley Honoree, Equal Access to Justice Award
- 2017, AJC Learned Hand Equal Justice Award
- 2016, Charles L. Brieant Center Annual Spring Gala Honoree
- 2007, Ellis Island Medal of Honor
- 2015-Present, Each One Counts Foundation, Inc., Trustee
- 2011-Present, Finance Committee of the Archdiocese of New York, Member
- 2010-Present, St. Joseph’s Seminary and College, Trustee
- 2000-Present, Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center, Trustee
- 2011-2021, Westchester County Association, Chairman
- 2010-2016, CMS Bank Corp., Director and Governance Chair
- 1995-2006, Food Bank for Westchester, Chairman Emeritus
- 2023, Saint Joseph’s Seminary & College, Recipient of the Archbishop Michael A. Corrigan Founder’s Medal
- 2021, Westchester County Association, Alfred B. DelBello Visionary Award
- 2021, Archbishop Stepinac High School, Special Recognition Award
- 2021, Andrus Light Up the Night, Leadership and Commitment Award
- 2014 VNS Westchester, Community Leadership Award
- 2009, Franciscan Friars of the Atonement-Graymoor, Sharing Hope Celebration Award
- 2009, Archdiocese of New York, Westchester County Inner City Scholarship Fund Award