(July 15, 2026) — Thomas J. Garry, a longtime partner and Management Committee member at Harris Beach Murtha and a prominent figure in Long Island economic development and public finance, is the new chairman of the firm’s Management Committee.

Tom will work with Harris Beach Murtha CEO Chris Jagel to execute and implement firm strategy, including continuing the thoughtful growth strategy that led to the 2025 combination of Harris Beach and Murtha Cullina and the recently announced addition of Boston-based Peabody & Arnold. Those two moves brought more than 100 attorneys to the firm and greatly expanded the breadth and depth of its legal practices.

Tom currently serves as managing partner of Harris Beach Murtha’s Long Island office in Uniondale, where he supervises day-to-day operations and the work of more than 40 attorneys and professional staff.

“Tom will be a great and visible ambassador for the firm as it continues its upward trajectory,” Chris said. “Tom and his team have played key roles in many of the major development projects that have shaped Long Island over the years, and he’ll bring that same energy and tenacity to growing the entire firm.”

Tom’s role as leader of the Management Committee begins shortly after the exciting announcement of the firm adding nearly 40 attorneys from Peabody & Arnold, strengthening the firm’s Northeast presence and expanding its national and global capabilities. The two firms are expected to be fully integrated by late summer, the latest milestone in Harris Beach Murtha’s growth strategy.

Peabody & Arnold brings new and enhanced capabilities to Harris Beach Murtha, including nationally recognized transactional and management liability coverage practices, deep experience navigating insurance coverage disputes, and professional liability defense, while supplementing Harris Beach Murtha’s services in a number of areas, including labor and employment, medical and life sciences, health care and long-term care, and business litigation, as well as product liability and mass torts.

“This is a tremendously pivotal time in the firm’s history; we are a legal powerhouse throughout New York and the Northeast, as well as a major player nationally and internationally,” Tom said. “I’m excited to help champion our next wave of growth through adding even more lateral attorneys, expanding our service areas to match client needs and assessing new geographies to match our evolving client base.”

Tom focuses on assisting clients with major expansion projects in energy, health care and other industries. He also advises municipalities and serves as special counsel to many towns and local agencies, and represents developers and municipalities in litigation involving matters such as land use and zoning and breach of contract.

Tom has received many accolades for his work, including being named to the Long Island Business News’ Most Influential Long Islanders of 2025 list and City & State Magazine’s Power 100 List. He’s also been tapped to serve on many influential committees, currently serving as the chair of the New York Appellate Division Second Department Judicial Screening Committee appointed by Governor Kathy Hochul, a member of the New York State Judicial Screening Committee and Law chair of the New York State Democratic Committee.

Tom is recognized for his experience in election law. He served as New York state counsel for each of the past four Democratic nominees for president and served as an elector for New York in the 2020 and 2024 presidential elections.