Harter Secrest & Emery LLP (HSE), a full-service business law firm with offices throughout New York, is pleased to announce that Megan K. Dorritie and Sheldon K. Smith have been named co-partners-in-charge of the firm’s Corning, New York office. Both are members of the firm’s Litigation practice group and succeed Leslie M. Connolly who served in the role for six years and is continuing her active practice in the firm’s Environmental, Land Use and Zoning practice group.
“Harter Secrest & Emery has long demonstrated an unwavering commitment to its communities,” said Connolly. “Megan and Sheldon’s leadership qualities and passions for the Southern Tier region will ensure Harter Secrest & Emery’s presence and ongoing contributions to those communities will continue.”
Dorritie concentrates her commercial litigation practice mainly in the areas of municipal law, zoning and land use, and renewable energy. She also represents companies of all sizes in a range of business disputes, including breach of contract, tort, unfair competition, trade secret matters, and tax assessment challenges and appeals. As part of her municipal law practice and experience, Dorritie manages the tax certiorari docket for several municipalities and school districts and represents towns and other municipalities on matters, including governance, PILOT agreements, and Article 78 proceedings.
“Since opening the Corning office in 2014, Harter Secrest & Emery has had many opportunities to collaborate and partner with exciting and innovative organizations and institutions that are making a real difference locally, throughout the state, and beyond.” said Dorritie. “I am excited to build on that momentum with Sheldon and look for new ways that we can contribute to the growth and prosperity of the region.”
Smith was born and raised in Elmira, New York. He works closely with clients to help them measure costs and risks while proactively solving problems through litigation or other leveraged business solutions. He handles a wide range of business disputes, including those involving non-compete and trade secret misappropriation, fiduciary duty and valuation (particularly as between partners, shareholders, or members), force majeure and other commercial contract provisions (i.e., liability limitations, remedies, warranties, termination rights, etc.), and tort defenses. He also represents health care providers on matters related to reimbursement, privacy, tort-defense, and real property. Smith currently serves on the Three Rivers Development Corporation Board of Directors.
“I am excited and thankful to co-lead our Corning office with Megan as we expand the firm’s presence and continue to help businesses in the Southern Tier that need the levels of sophistication, experience, and bench strength that big firms offer, without them having to search for firms in larger metro areas,” said Smith. “It is a special feeling, for me, that many of our lawyers get to meet and to work with Corning and Elmira business and other leaders whom I have known directly or through just a couple degrees of separation for many years.”
During the near decade since the firm opened its Corning office on Denison Parkway, several HSE attorneys have been active participants in the Corning community and Southern Tier region. We are proud supporters of many local organizations and companies, including the Corning Chamber of Commerce, Schuyler County Partnership for Economic Development (SCOPED), Chemung County Chamber of Commerce, Three Rivers Development Corporation, the ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes, and the Fund for Women of the Southern Tier.