Overview
Helen Harris represents companies and individuals both in complex commercial litigation and in internal and government investigations. She vigorously defends clients in numerous state and federal business and commercial litigations in the Connecticut and New York courts. She also conducts timely internal investigations, and guides clients through regulatory inquiries. Helen is a practice group leader in the firm's Litigation department.
Experience
No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the highest court of any state. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Effectively defended companies and individuals in federal and state litigations regarding, among others, professional negligence claims, accounting and auditing practices, dissolution of partnerships and partnership disputes, breach of contract claims, challenges to proposed mergers, complex fiduciary and probate litigation matters, disputes involving trusts and closely-held businesses, and many other complex commercial matters
Guided corporate clients in securities class actions and other litigations alleging breaches of fiduciary duty and misleading or omissive public filings
Conducted internal investigations on behalf of board committees and companies concerning, among others, alleged misstatements in financial reporting, alleged breach of fiduciary duties, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and corruption concerns, bidding practices, environmental claims, accounting practices, and employee misconduct
Defended against and counseled clients in connection with investigations by federal and state government regulators into, among others, alleged misstatements in public filings, restatement of financial reports, false claims issues, sales of securities, registration under the securities laws and
deficiencies in trading and supervision
Advised distribution agent in SEC Fair Fund case
Previously, served as a law clerk to The Honorable Reena Raggi, then in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
Education and Credentials
Education
- Columbia Law School, J.D., Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar
- Yale University, B.A.
Admissions
- State of Connecticut
- State of New York
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
Affiliations
- Federal Bar Council
- Connecticut Bar Association
Recognition and Community
No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the highest court of any state. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. See Awards Methodology.
Recognitions
Chosen for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White, Inc.), Commercial Litigation, 2023-2025
Community Involvement
Federal Grievance Committee, District of Connecticut, 2017-2023
Federal Selection Panel, to consider reappointment of Magistrate Judge, District of Connecticut, 2023
Connecticut Legal Services, Board of Directors, 2014-Present; Chair of the Board, 2024-Present; and Officer, 2018-Present
Day Pitney Women Working Together, Leadership Committee, 2013-Present
Day Pitney Alliance, Leadership Committee, 2020-Present
Yale Alumni Schools Committee, 2010-Present, and ASC Regional Director, 2023-Present
Day Pitney Pro Bono Committee, Chair, 2010-2013
News & Insights
Thought Leadership
- Day Pitney White Collar Roundup – July 2023 Edition , July 2023
- Day Pitney White Collar Roundup – April 2023 Edition , April 2023
- Day Pitney White Collar Roundup – February 2023 Edition , February 2023
- Preview of Coming Attractions on Corporate Criminal Enforcement , December 5, 2022
- Day Pitney White Collar Roundup – October 2022 Edition , October 2022
Events
- Women Working Together Hosts Holiday Dinner for Stamford Women's Shelter, December 9, 2024
- Parade of Corporate Horribles: Responding Ethically to a New Problem Around Every Corner, November 27, 2018
- Day Pitney and ACC Present the Event-- Ask the Enforcers: The Most Significant Enforcement Trends and Greatest Risks in Global Commerce Today, October 29, 2015
In The Media
Publications
- Judge Shea Joins the District of Connecticut Bench, Federal Bar Council Quarterly, Sept./Oct./Nov. 2013
Media Mentions
- Editor, "White Collar Roundup," Day Pitney Newsletter, January 11, 2021
- Law Firms Find New Niche Conducting Sex Assault Investigations for Colleges, The Connecticut Law Tribune, April 22, 2016
- Law Firms See Opportunity in Wave of Campus Sex Discrimination Claims, The American Lawyer, April 1, 2016
Speaking Engagements
- Parade of Corporate Horribles 2022: Ethically Investigating Problems Around Every Corner, Association of Corporate Counsel, September 28, 2022
- Parade of Corporate Horribles 2020: Ethically Investigating Issues from the Pandemic and More, Westchester/Southern Connecticut Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC), September 15, 2020
- Is Attorney Client Privilege Dead?, October 30, 2019
- FCPA: Essentials and Ethics of Necessary Investigation, PLAC, March 6, 2019
- Parade of Corporate Horribles: Responding Ethically to a New Problem Around Every Corner, WESFACCA, November 27, 2018
- Ask the Enforcers: The Most Significant Enforcement Trends and Greatest Risks in Global Commerce Today, WESFACCA, October 29, 2015
- Updates on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, Insurance Compliance Best Practices Meeting, November 19, 2012
- The Bribery Act: Dramatic Change in Anti-Corruption Law, Insurance Compliance Best Practices Meeting, March 25, 2011
- From Multi-National Corporations to Closely-Held Companies: What Every Business Lawyer Should Know, American Bar Association Business Law Section Meeting, April, 2013
- Mitigating Risks: The U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the UK Bribery Act, Globalaw Americas Regional Meeting, March 5, 2011