About
Patricia A. Harris, Esq., MBA, LEED AP
Founder & CEO
Patti Harris provides legal and business counsel to design professionals throughout the United States. A serial entrepreneur, Patti is the Founder and CEO of LicenseSure LLC, which provides business and licensing compliance services to design professional firms. Patti is Special Counsel to Zetlin & De Chiara LLP, the New York City-based construction law firm, where she served as Managing Partner from 2000 – 2013. Patti started her career as a corporate attorney with two New York City law firms and her legal practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, ownership transition, M/WBE issues and licensing issues.
Patti frequently speaks and writes on industry-related issues, particularly with respect to licensing and transactions. She was a chapter contributor in the “Design Professional’s Guide to Construction Law,” published by ABA Construction Forum, Spring 2021 and has recently presented at the American Society of Landscape Architects 2024 National Convention, the Center for Architecture in New York, NY and on EntreArchitect’s Context & Clarity podcast. She is past Chair and a Board Member of the Global Design Alliance and General Counsel to and Executive Committee Member of the Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation. She has been named a Super Lawyer, 2021 - 2025. Patti graduated with a B.A. in Government from Pomona College and a J.D. and M.B.A., with distinction, from New York University; she is a LEED Accredited Professional.
Experience
LicenseSure LLC
Founder and CEO, 2013 – Present.
Zetlin & De Chiara, LLP
Special Counsel, 2013 – Present; Managing Partner – 2000 – 2013. Advise design professional firms in connection with licensing matters, startups, ownership transitions, acquisitions and M/WBE compliance.
Harris Group LLC/Harris Management LLC
Founder and CEO, 1995 – 2005. Provided billing and bookkeeping services to small law firms and high net worth individuals. Sold business to an accounting firm.
Giancarlo & Glieberman LLP
Corporate Attorney, 1992 – 1995. Advised British clients coming into the U.S. for business and financing purposes.
Richards O’Neil & Allegaert LLP
Corporate Associate/Intern, 1987 – 1992. Transactional practice representing primarily venture capital and leveraged buyout groups in business acquisitions.
Recent Publications
Contractor Magazine
Quoted in "Solid Business Sense: Private Equity and the MEP Trades" regarding private equity investment in the plumbing industry, March 2025
ARCHITECTURE New York State
Ownership Transition Options for Small Firms, February 2023
NY Real Estate Journal
Making Sure Good Deeds Go Unpunished, June 2021
ABA Construction Forum
State Regulation of the Design Professional, chapter in Design Professional’s Guide to Construction Law, April 2021
ABA Construction Forum
participant in 50-state Survey of Licensed Design Professional’s Stamping and Sealing Obligations, May 2018
ABA Construction Forum
participant in 50-state Survey of Firm Licensure Requirements for Architectural and Engineering Firms, January 2015
Recent Presentations
ASLA National Conference
Professional Practice: Project Delivery Structure, High-Value Contract Terms, and Negotiation Tactics, October 2024
AIA Women's Leadership Summit
How Dattner Architects Transitioned to a Certified Women-Owned Business, October 2024
AIA Tri-State Conference
Trail Blazing: Becoming a Women-Owned Practice, November 2024
Global Design Alliance Omaha Symposium
Technology and AI - Thinking about the Future, November 2024
Small Firm Symposium sponsored by AIA New York State, AIA New Jersey and AIA Pennsylvania
Preparing for Ownership Transition, It’s Never Too Early, November 2022
EntreArchitect Podcast Context & Clarity
Professional Business Entities & Licensure: Rules to Live by Whether You’re Starting Out or Growing Your Practice, November 2021
Distinctions
Fifty over 50 – The Age Disruptors, 2024,
City & State NY
Super Lawyers, 2021-25
The Sutherland Award, 2019,
Global Design Alliance
Women Worth Watching, 2014,
Profiles in Diversity Journal
Urban Green Space Service Award, 2013,
U.S. Green Building Council New York
Outstanding Women 2009,
Women’s Builders Council
LEED Accredited Professional, awarded 2009,
Green Building Certification Institute
Professional and Civic
AIA-NY,
General Counsel, 2025 – Present
Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation,
General Counsel and Member of the Executive Committee, Treasurer (Chair in 2018), 2013 – Present
Global Design Alliance,
Board of Directors (Treasurer from 2014 to 2018, Chair in 2021, Executive Committee from 2014 to 2022), 2005 – Present
The Mayor’s NYC Building Task Force following Sandy, Special Committee on Homes Member,
(Select Task Force by Invitation Only), 2012-13
The Association of the Bar of the City of New York,
Construction Law Committee Member, 2016-19
The LicenseSure Team
Mariana Stefan
Client Experience Manager
Mariana has been working with law firms and other small businesses since 1998. Over the years, she has worked in many areas of professional service firms, including financial management, office management, records management, HR oversight, firm Excel guru and overall software support. At LicenseSure, Mariana is working with clients to facilitate their filings, act as a liaison throughout the business formation and qualification process and overseas billing and accounting issues. Mariana lives in Surprise, Arizona, with her husband and son. She enjoys walking with her dog, listening to music and reading sci-fi books.
Maria Poliski
Maria has worked at several law firms in Manhattan over the years. At LicenseSure, Maria has been working with clients in architecture, engineering and landscape architecture to facilitate their filings, business formation and qualification process. Maria lives in Brooklyn and enjoys reading, yoga, going to Broadway shows and pet sitting cats and dogs.
Ashley Miller
Ashley graduated Magna Cum Laude from Hampton University where she earned her Bachelors in Criminal Justice. Ashley is experienced being a change agent in our community and she is passionate about advocating for people’s rights. At LicenseSure, Ashley works with clients to facilitate filings, business formations, and qualification processes.
Jahnavi Swamy
Jahnavi graduated from Brandeis University in 2023 with a bachelor of science in Health: Science, Society and Policy and a minor in Psychology. She enjoys running, reading and traveling.
Corina Dia
Administrative Support
Corina has worked for various law firms as an administrative assistant and billing coordinator but for the past several years she has been developing her communication, listening, research and organization skills in her role as Mom to her twin girls. At LicenseSure, Corina is providing record-keeping and administrative support.
Alisha Patel
Alisha graduated from New York University in 2014 with a degree in Politics and a minor in Dance. Since then, she has worked at several law firms in the city and went on to receive her J.D. from Brooklyn Law School in 2021. Post law school, Alisha worked at a Film Production Company, specializing in licensing, contracts, and intellectual property matters. She is a member of a South Asian fusion dance company in the city and enjoys spending time with her family in Boston.
Holly Macdonald
Before joining LicenseSure in September of 2024, Holly worked in commercial and residential real estate law in Savannah, GA. Holly attended Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA where she studied Political Science and French. In her free time, Holly enjoys going on walks in Central Park and trying new restaurants with friends.
Clare O'Brien
Clare graduated from Washington and Lee University in 2024 with a degree in History and a minor in Law, Justice, and Society. During this time, she also worked for a WWII research library. At LicenseSure, she supports architecture, engineers and construction firms with their licensing needs. She is a lifelong equestrian and competed on her college riding team. In her free time, she enjoys cooking and reading.
