Donald F. Harris

Bar / Professional Activity

• Former Member, Board of Directors, Family Law Section, New Mexico State Bar
• Member, Judicial Secition Committee, New Mexico State Bar
• President, States’ Association of Bankruptcy Attorneys
• Member, New Mexico Collaborative Practice Group
• Member, Bankruptcy Law Section
• Member, New Mexico Bankruptcy Court, Local Rules Committee
• Member, International Association of Collaborative Professionals
• Former President, Bankruptcy Law Section, New Mexico State Bar
• Former Barrister, Oliver Seth Inn of Court
• Founder, States’ Association of Bankruptcy Attorneys

Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)

• Bowers v. J&M Towing, 472 F.Supp2d 1248 (D.N.M. 2006).  Obtained dismissal of my client from lawsuit and was able to have the IRS pay my legal fees, 2006
• In re Williams No. 17-13118-ta13 Prevailed on state law rights of offset and recoupment rights of a divorced individual who's ex-spouse claimed bankruptcy leaving my client with the responsibility to pay on debt that was the ex-spouse's responsibility pursuant to the MSA.  My client filed a Proof of Claim in the ex-spouse's bankruptcy matter.  The ex-spouse objected to the Proof of Claim.  Judge Thuma ruled that "because the Debtor's objection to Mr. Williams' proof of claim is based on his setoff/recoupment rights, the objection is overruled. ", 2018
• City of Albuquerque v. Sachs, 2004-NMCA-65.  Prevailed on important constitutional issue before the New Mexico Court of Appeals, 2004
• Raleigh v. Illinois, 500 U.S. 15 (2000).  Represented 31 States before the United States Supreme Court.  Obtained Unanimous Decision, 2000

Videos

• General Video

Special Licenses / Certifications

• Certified Specialist, Business Bankruptcy Law, American Board of Certification
• Certified Specialist, Consumer Bankruptcy Law, American Board of Certification

Pro bono / Community Service

• City Councilor, District 9, City of Albuquerque, 2021

Honors

• Member, Editorial Board, Connecticut Journal of International Law, University of Connecticut School of Law
• AV Rated, Martindale Hubbell, 2016
• Honored by the New Mexico State Bar, Judicial Selection Committee
• Highest Grade Received, Commercial Law, University of Connecticut School of Law

Educational Background

• Hartt School of Music, Bachelor of Music Degree, Jazz Saxophone Player, 1987

White Papers

• Statement prepared for Donald Harris's Congressional Testimony, Prepared Statement of Donald F Harris, 1999
• Chosen by the New Mexico Judicial Education Center and the Institute of Public Law at UNM Law School to write a chapter in the Family Law Manual, desiged for generalist state court judges and for members of the bar., Family Law Manual, Intersection With Bankruptcy, 2011

Scholarly Lectures / Writings

• Author, Raleigh v. Illinois Dep't of Revenue, Raleigh Bankruptcy Advisor, 2000
• Author, Prisoners of Prestige, Journal of the Legal Profession, 1992
• Co-Author, Bankruptcy Jurisdiction and Jury Trials, Emory Bankruptcy Developments Journal, 1991

Other Outstanding Achievements

• Testified before the National Bankruptcy Review Commission in San Diego, October 1996., 1996
• Testified before Congress on Bankruptcy Reform, March 19, 1999, before the House Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law, 1999

• Albuquerque Bar Association
• American Bankruptcy Institute
• International Association Of Collaborative Professionals
• National Association Of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys
• New Mexico Collaborative Practice Group

“I would also like to nominate Mr. Harris for family law.”

“Don is a solid business litigation lawyer with a lot of experience in bankruptcy and in other courts.”