Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association

PRESIDENT:  DAMON P. HART, Esq.

Email:  damon.hart@hklaw.com

Biography

DAMON P. HART is a Partner at Holland & Knight, LLP.  He practices in the area of commercial litigation, with particular focus in technology, intellectual property, and labor and employment matters.

Mr. Hart is a leader in the legal community.  In May 2005, he was named as one of Boston’s Ten Outstanding Young Leaders by the Boston Jaycees for outstanding professional and community leadership.  He joins elite company by winning this award, as former winners include John F. Kennedy, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Justice Roderick Ireland, Thomas Flatley, Leonard Zakim, Bob Cousy and Carl Yastremski.  Mr. Hart was named by his colleagues as a "Massachusetts Rising Star" in the field of Business Litigation in 2006 and 2007.

Mr. Hart has strong experience in a variety of complex intellectual property and other business disputes in the federal and state courts.  In addition to his litigation work, he also provides clients with business advice with regard to employment, contract, real estate and development matters.  Mr. Hart advises a number of churches and other religious organizations in their unique business and organizational challenges, and has gained significant experience in constitutional "Separation of Church and State" issues and inter-denominational disputes.

Mr. Hart has served as the co-chair of the Boston Bar Association’s New Lawyer Section where he developed Continuing Legal Education programs, networking events, pro bono projects and practice development programs for the Boston Bar Association’s largest section of almost 2000 members who have been practicing for ten years or less.  He has also served on the Boston Bar Association’s Diversity Committee.  Currently, Mr. Hart serves on the BBA's Public Service Committee.  Additionally, Mr. Hart has served on the Associate Advisory Committee of the Boston Lawyers' Group for three years.  For the Boston Lawyers Group, he worked with member organizations to recruit, retain and increase opportunities for attorneys of color.

Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Hart worked for the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination.

Mr. Hart received his bachelor’s degree in Political Science in 1996 from The College of Holy Cross and earned his law degree in 1999 from Boston College Law School.

In law school, Mr. Hart received the Massachusetts Black Judges Award in recognition of his outstanding scholarship and community services in 1998.

Awards:

Boston Magazine's "Super Lawyer Rising Star", 2006 and 2007

Boston JayCees, Ten Outstanding Young Leader Award, 2005

Massachusetts Black Judges Association Award, 1998