DONALD HARWOOD PARTNER

(646) 957-2455 | dharwood@harwoodreiff.com

Mr. Harwood began his legal career in Boston, Massachusetts, focusing his practice on criminal defense work and constitutional law advocacy, garnering a reputation in the Boston legal community as a successful trial practitioner and gifted appellate advocate. Upon moving to New York in 1990, he continued and broadened both his trial and appellate practice, arguing state appeals in Massachusetts and New York, as well as federal appeals in the First, Second, Fourth and Seventh Circuit Courts of Appeals.

In 1994, Mr. Harwood became a partner in the law firm, Itkowitz & Harwood, a real estate and litigation boutique in Manhattan. Mr. Harwood was in charge of litigating a broad spectrum of high stakes commercial cases, including landlord tenant disputes, construction litigation, real estate brokerage claims, and collections work. In his many years of practice, Mr. Harwood has taken hundreds of depositions, engaged in extensive motion practice, successfully represented clients at trial in both state and federal court, and won countless appellate victories.

In 2012, Mr. Harwood formed Harwood Reiff LLC with Simon W. Reiff, who also previously worked at Itkowitz & Harwood.

Mr. Harwood also has experience in the entertainment law sphere, having served as executive producer on Frozen River, a critically lauded independent film. His production counsel role encompassed all aspects of the production process, including preparation of a film prospectus and raising all of the money for the film, drawing up of contracts for talent and crew, union contracts (SAG), and obtaining site-specific shooting approvals. He also negotiated and oversaw distribution and delivery agreements and post-production details that enabled a seamless release of the film. Mr. Harwood’s wife, Courtney Hunt, was the film’s writer and director. Ms. Hunt received a “best original screenplay” Oscar Award nomination, and Melissa Leo received a “best actress” nomination for her acting in the film. Frozen River also won the Sundance Grand Jury Prize for best film.

Mr. Harwood is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of St. Lawrence University (B.A. 1978), and of Northeastern University School of Law (J.D. 1981). He is a frequent lecturer for continuing legal education programs of the New York State Bar Association, Real Property Section and Commercial Leasing Committee.

Admissions: Massachusetts (1981); New York (1988); United States Supreme Court; U.S. Courts of Appeals for the First, Second, Fourth, and Seventh Circuits; U.S. District Courts for the Southern District of New York, Eastern District of New York, Northern District of New York, and the District of Massachusetts.