News
September 19, 2024New Partner Expands Harris Beach’s Extensive Appellate Practice Capabilities
Harris Beach’s Appellate Practice Group is thrilled to announce that Lisa LeCours, who brings robust appellate experience honed by service at the highest levels of the New York state judiciary, is joining the firm.
Lisa has been an appellate lawyer for more than 30 years, having most recently served as Chief Clerk and Legal Counsel to the New York Court of Appeals, the highest non-judicial position in the state’s highest court. In that role, she managed all day-to-day court operations, attended confidential judicial conferences and provided counsel to the Judges on matters of jurisdiction, procedure, ethics and institutional policy.
Her unique experience is unmatched by other law firms. Lisa’s service as Chief Clerk capped off a nearly-quarter-century tenure of service to the High Court, in which she worked under the leadership of three Chief Judges and two dozen Associate Judges. Prior to becoming chief clerk, Lisa served as chief of staff to Chief Judge Janet DiFiore, Assistant Consultation Clerk and Senior Principal Law Clerk to Senior Associate Judge Victoria A. Graffeo, preparing confidential bench memoranda on more than a thousand appeals and assisting in the drafting of hundreds of opinions.
At Harris Beach, Lisa will work with litigators across the firm’s broad array of practice groups and industry teams. She also will be available to consult with other law firms interested in obtaining the unique perspective on New York state appellate practice and procedure that only someone with Lisa’s distinctive background and experience can bring.
“Lisa’s rarefied experience serving in senior positions on New York’s highest court, as well as her demonstrable prowess in high-caliber legal research, writing, editing, and case analysis, make her an incredible and unique asset to our firm and to our clients,” said Brian Ginsberg, leader of the firm’s Appellate Practice Group. “Lisa’s track record of success and achievement is truly one of a kind.”
Brian continued: “Our Appellate Practice Group brings together attorneys from the highest echelons of appellate litigation, including former appellate judges and law clerks, members of solicitor general offices, and attorneys with vast private-practice appellate experience. Lisa is a great addition to our already-excellent team. Adding Lisa to our ranks further solidifies Harris Beach’s position as the firm that should be the first call of any sophisticated business, individual, local government, or other institution that absolutely, positively needs to prevail in a high-stakes appeal. And Lisa gives our clients unparalleled insight into judicial decision making at the highest levels.”
Lisa joins Harris Beach during a period of growth. The firm recently signed an Operating Agreement with New England-based Murtha Cullina LLP to form a regional powerhouse in the legal industry on Jan. 1, 2025. The new firm, to be known as Harris Beach Murtha, will feature more than 250 attorneys across 16 offices in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and the District of Columbia.
Lisa’s extensive experience will allow her to assist clients and colleagues across that expanded geographic footprint. Her robust skill set makes her an asset in consulting at the trial level, drafting appellate briefs and critical motions, reviewing briefs and motion papers authored by other attorneys, advising case teams on high-level legal strategy, and presenting and preparing other attorneys for presenting oral arguments in trial and appellate courts.
Lisa joins a market-leading Appellate Practice Group that already includes Hon. Erin M. Peradotto, a former Associate Justice with the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, one of the nation’s most significant intermediate appellate courts for commercial and regulatory disputes; and Brian Ginsberg, who served as an Assistant New York State Solicitor General, representing one of the largest and most diverse governments in many of its most significant appeals, including appeals in the U.S. Supreme Court. Harris Beach’s Appellate team has nearly 30 attorneys with hundreds of years of combined experience.
Lisa’s broad-based appellate experience is complemented by a deep understanding of New York state administrative law, including legal challenges to the determinations of administrative agencies. She co-authored a chapter on the subject for the venerable Commercial Litigation in New York State Courts treatise edited by Robert Haig and has presented many CLE programs on the topic.
Before joining the New York Court of Appeals, Lisa worked as a litigator in the New York State Solicitor General’s Office, where she worked on more than 75 appeals, appearing in all four Appellate Division Departments, the New York Court of Appeals, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Lisa also previously clerked in two Appellate Division departments of the New York Supreme Court, the Third and Fourth Departments.
Lisa has presented numerous continuing legal education programs on appellate-related and other topics, and, as an adjunct professor at Sage Graduate School, originated and taught a graduate-level course entitled Mental Health Law – a required course for students in the Forensic Mental Health program.
She joins a firm that, after the Jan. 1 combination, will be a mid-size national firm with full-service capabilities, serving as a strategic business partner to our clients throughout the Northeast Corridor and nation, helping them navigate legal challenges and manage day-to-day operations. Harris Beach Murtha attorneys complement their legal capabilities with a deep understanding of the region’s complex regulatory, governmental, political and cultural environments.
