Helen Harris

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

Federal Contractors and Other Recipients of Federal Government Funds, Be Wary: DEI Initiatives May Lead to Liability Under the False Claims Act, May 30, 2025
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

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

View all

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