A firm built on depth, not volume.

Harrington & Cole was founded in 1991 with a deliberate philosophy: fewer clients, deeper engagement, better outcomes. That philosophy has defined us for more than three decades, first in New York and now on both sides of the Atlantic with offices across the United States and the United Kingdom.

Our Approach

What distinguishes this firm

Most large law firms optimize for volume. Harrington & Cole was built around the opposite idea. When James Harrington and Margaret Cole founded the firm in 1991, they made a deliberate choice to remain selective about the matters they take on and the clients they represent.

That selectivity allows us to invest deeply in each engagement. Our partners are personally involved in every significant matter. We do not use associates to buffer clients from senior attorneys. When you retain Harrington & Cole, you work directly with the lawyer whose name is attached to the outcome.

The results have spoken for themselves over thirty three years, in New York, in London and in every office in between. Our reputation is built on the trust of clients who have navigated their most consequential legal challenges alongside us.

Senior led representation

Every matter is led by a partner or senior associate with deep relevant experience. Junior attorneys support, they do not drive.

Selective intake

We accept matters we are genuinely well positioned to handle. When we are not the right firm, we say so and refer appropriately.

Long term relationships

The majority of our work comes from clients who have retained us across multiple matters and years. Continuity matters.

Absolute discretion

Our internal culture and systems are built around protecting client confidentiality. This is never compromised.

The Firm

Thirty three years of practice

From a two partner boutique on Park Avenue to a transatlantic firm with fifteen senior lawyers in eight offices, Harrington & Cole has grown deliberately, adding capacity only when the right people became available.

1991

Founded in New York

James Harrington and Margaret Cole leave Sullivan & Cromwell to establish Harrington & Cole, initially focused on corporate transactions and complex litigation.

1997

Expansion of Practice

The firm adds an estate planning and tax practice with the arrival of Jonathan Mercer, who brings a substantial family office client base from Boston.

2003

Washington, D.C. Office

Robert Ashford opens the firm's D.C. office, establishing a real estate and regulatory practice that serves developers and institutional investors along the Eastern Seaboard.

2009

National Criminal Defense Practice

David Okafor, a decorated AUSA from the Southern District of Texas, joins the firm to build the criminal defense and white collar practice.

2015

West Coast Presence

Immigration partner Priya Sharma opens the San Francisco office, bringing the firm's expertise to the technology sector and establishing one of the most respected business immigration practices on the West Coast.

2018

London Office

The firm opens in the City of London, led by Oliver Pemberton and Eleanor Whitcombe, to serve clients with interests in both the United Kingdom and the United States. London becomes the firm's UK headquarters.

2021

Manchester Office

Callum Rhodes opens the Manchester office, bringing employment and executive advisory work to clients across the North of England.

2024

Transatlantic Platform

With fifteen senior lawyers across eight offices in the United States and the United Kingdom, and practices spanning nine major areas of law, the firm continues to serve clients who demand depth, experience and absolute discretion.

Locations

Our Offices

United States

New York

Headquarters

425 Lexington Avenue, 18th Floor
New York, NY 10017

+1 212 555 0100

newyork@harringtoncole.com

Washington, D.C.

Regional Office

1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 700
Washington, D.C. 20004

+1 202 555 0200

dc@harringtoncole.com

San Francisco

West Coast Office

101 California Street, Suite 2800
San Francisco, CA 94111

+1 415 555 0300

sf@harringtoncole.com

Chicago

Midwest Office

233 South Wacker Drive, Suite 4400
Chicago, IL 60606

+1 312 555 0400

chicago@harringtoncole.com

Boston

New England Office

One Federal Street, 32nd Floor
Boston, MA 02110

+1 617 555 0500

boston@harringtoncole.com

Houston

Southern Office

1000 Louisiana Street, Suite 5800
Houston, TX 77002

+1 713 555 0600

houston@harringtoncole.com

United Kingdom

London

UK Headquarters

22 Bishopsgate, 14th Floor
London EC2N 4BQ
United Kingdom

+44 20 7946 0100

london@harringtoncole.com

Manchester

North of England Office

3 Hardman Street, 6th Floor
Manchester M3 3HF
United Kingdom

+44 161 496 0200

manchester@harringtoncole.com

Community

Pro Bono Commitment

The attorneys of Harrington & Cole commit a minimum of 60 hours annually to pro bono representation. We have formal partnerships with the Legal Aid Society, the Innocence Project, and several immigration legal services organizations in the United States, together with equivalent pro bono organizations in the United Kingdom, serving vulnerable populations in each of our office cities.

We believe that the practice of law carries an obligation to the communities in which we operate. Our pro bono practice is not a marketing initiative. It is a commitment that predates the firm's current prominence and will continue regardless of it.