Lawyers

Harnett & Lesnick, P.A. was organized in 1988. It offers clients well over a century of experience in handling complex and sophisticated legal matters.

Bertram Harnett Member of the Firm A distinguished career -- During a career spanning five decades, Bertram Harnett has served as a trial justice of the New York State Supreme Court and earlier served as County Attorney of Nassau County, NY. He has been a partner in several large New York City law firms concentrating in the fields of insurance, corporate finance, and trusts and estates.

Judge Harnett has taught law at Columbia, Rutgers, Kansas and Hofstra Universities’ Schools of Law, as well as the New York Practice of Law Institute. His reputation as a scholar originated at the Columbia University School of Law, where he graduated as the top James Kent scholar with the highest scholastic average in the three classes of his graduating year. An established legal author -- Judge Harnett is best known in the insurance field for his learned four-volume treatise Responsibilities of Insurance Agents and Brokers (Matthew Bender, 1974-1998); a six-volume treatise, The Law of Life and Health Insurance (Matthew Bender, 1988-1998) co-authored with partner Irving I. Lesnick; and two books on taxation. He also has published many articles in law reviews and periodicals. In addition to his scholarly works, Judge Harnett has written two books for the lay public; Lawyers and Laymen and Put the Law on Your Side, both published by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. A national insurance authority -- Bertram Harnett is a recognized national authority on insurance matters, whose writings are often cited in court opinions and publications. He is frequently called upon as an expert witness in Court and generally as a consultant regarding insurance industry practices and policy claims. Arbitrator and referee -- Judge Harnett serves as an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association. He also conducts administrative hearings for a New York State government agency. Throughout his career, Judge Harnett has devoted considerable time to voluntary public activities, including the co-founding of The Children’s Medical Fund of New York and serving as its long-time chairman. Irving I. Lesnick Member of the Firm Irving I. Lesnick offers an astute knowledge of corporate and administrative law to the firm’s clients, especially, but not exclusively, in matters relating to the insurance industry. Experience and insight -- Before moving to Florida, Mr. Lesnick had been a partner in a prominent Long Island, NY law firm. In 1983 he moved to Florida where he immediately commenced the practice of law. He served as the Florida resident partner of a large New York firm until 1988 when he joined longtime friend and former partner Bertram Harnett to establish the Firm now known as Harnett & Lesnick, P.A. During his extensive career, Mr. Lesnick has developed expertise in intricate insurance, corporate and commercial law matters, and was involved in several landmark real estate tax cases. Scholar and practitioner-- Mr. Lesnick graduated from Columbia College in 1954 and from Yale Law School in 1959, where he was an editor of the Yale Law Journal. Throughout his years as a practicing attorney, he has continued to publish law journal articles, primarily on insurance and real estate tax law, in addition to being co-author of The Law of Life and Health Insurance. As a Special Professor of Law at Hofstra University Law School in Nassau County, NY, Mr. Lesnick has taught courses on insurance law and on the public regulation of business. William A. Kass Counsel to the Firm William A. Kass has practiced law for more than 40 years, first in New York, where he was a Senior Partner in two firms, and now in Florida. He has concentrated on the areas of corporate, securities litigation and estate planning. Winning a landmark decision -- During his tenure in New York, Mr. Kass won a landmark securities class action case in the Supreme Court of the United States against the Boeing Aircraft Company. Recognition for achievement -- Mr. Kass was recognized as a Rufus Choate Scholar and Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Dartmouth College. He received his law degree from Yale Law School, where he was a Case Editor of the Yale Law Journal. His “on the job” training in corporate work and securities litigation began with an associate position in a large Wall Street firm. Over the years, Mr. Kass has represented various corporate and individual clients, including mutual funds and other public companies. Mr. Kass has served as a lecturer on corporate and securities law for the American Management Association. His civic activities include service as a director of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, and governor of the Boca West Country Club.