“Our firm is committed to representing our clients with the highest ethical standards.”
James M. N. Harris

ARTICLE I – HONESTY & INTEGRITY
The J. Harris Company conducts business with honesty and integrity.

  • Employees shall be truthful in communicating with public officials and with other interested persons and shall seek to provide factually correct, current and accurate information.
  • If an employee determines that he or she has provided a public official or other interested person with factually inaccurate information of a significant, relevant, and material nature, the employee shall promptly provide the factually accurate information to the interested person.
  • If a material change in factual information that the employee provided previously to a public official causes the information to become inaccurate and the employee knows the public official may still be relying upon the information, the employee shall provide accurate and updated information to the public official.

ARTICLE II – COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS & REGULATIONS
Employees shall comply fully with all applicable laws and regulations.

  • Employees shall be familiar with applicable laws and regulations and shall not engage in any violation of such laws or regulations.
  • Employees shall not cause a public official to violate any applicable law or regulation.

ARTICLE III – PROFESSIONALISM
Employees shall carry out their duties in a fair and professional manner.

  • Employees shall have a basic understanding of the legislative and governmental process and such specialized knowledge as is necessary to represent clients or an employer in a competent, professional manner.
  • Employees shall maintain their understanding of governmental processes and specialized knowledge through appropriate methods such as continuing study, seminars and similar sessions in order to represent clients or an employer in a competent, professional manner.
  • Employees shall treat others — both allies and adversaries — with respect and civility.

ARTICLE IV – CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Employees shall not continue or undertake representations that may create conflicts of interest without the informed consent of the client or potential client involved.

  • An employee shall avoid advocating a position on an issue if the employee is also representing another client on the same issue with a conflicting position.
  • If an employee’s work for one client on an issue may have a significant adverse impact on another client’s interests, the employee shall inform and obtain consent from the other client whose interests may be affected of this fact even if the employee is not representing the other client on the same issue.
  • Employees shall disclose all potential conflicts to the client or prospective client and discuss and resolve the conflict issues promptly.

ARTICLE V – DUE DILIGENCE & BEST EFFORTS
Employees shall vigorously and diligently advance and advocate the client’s or employer’s interests.

  • Employees shall devote adequate time, attention, and resources to the client’s or employer’s interests.
  • Employees shall exercise loyalty to the client’s or employer’s interests.

ARTICLE VI – CONFIDENTIALITY
Employees shall maintain appropriate confidentiality of client or employer information.

  • Employees shall not disclose confidential information without the client’s or employer’s informed consent.
  • Employees shall not use confidential client information against the interests of a client or employer or for any purpose not contemplated by the engagement or terms of employment.

ARTICLE VII – DUTY TO GOVERNMENTAL INSTITUTIONS
In addition to fulfilling duties and responsibilities to the client or employer, employees shall exhibit proper respect for the governmental institutions before which they represent and advocate clients’ interests.

  • Employees shall not act in any manner that will undermine public confidence and trust in the democratic governmental process.
  • Employees shall not act in a manner that shows disrespect for government institutions.