Robert A. O’Hare Jr.

Robert O’Hare is a trial and appellate lawyer representing clients in complex litigations and arbitrations and high-stakes disputes. He brings to each case a combination of years of experience, big-firm training, and a client-centered philosophy that emphasizes success, honesty, efficiency, and practical outcomes.

Robert’s practice covers contract, partnership, and shareholder disputes, fiduciary duty claims, shareholder derivative actions, securities claims, insurance coverage, serious personal injury and medical malpractice matters, and assisting first responders and 9/11 WTC families. With hundreds of cases handled, he is recognized for his ability to succeed in court, arbitration, on appeal, and through heavily negotiated settlements. Clients value his candid advice, responsiveness, litigation strategy, rigorous preparation, and relentless focus on achieving their goals.  Lawyers at U.S. and international law firms regularly call on Robert to partner with them on behalf of their clients because of his record of effective advocacy, counsel, and years of experience.

Before co-founding O’Hare Parnagian, Robert practiced at Haight, Gardner, Poor & Havens (now Holland & Knight) and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, representing Fortune 100 companies and individuals in a wide array of business and corporate disputes. Earlier in his career, he clerked for the Honorable Collins J. Seitz of the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. He also served in the New York City Police Department as a sergeant and as a member of the New York City Emergency Medical Service, experiences that honed his disciplined approach to problem-solving under stress, commitment to public service, personal advocacy, and helping others.

A leader in the legal profession, Robert has been an active member of the New York City Bar Association, serving as chair of the Litigation Committee, a member of the Judiciary, State Courts, and Federal Courts Committees, and as program chair for its annual Current Developments in Commercial Division Practice series. He has also spoken at numerous continuing legal education programs covering topics from federal and commercial practice to the evolving landscape of litigation.

Robert remains closely connected to his alma mater, St. John’s School of Law, where he serves on the Alumni Association’s Board of Directors and as president of the Manhattan Chapter. He frequently mentors law students and young lawyers and participates in Fordham University’s undergraduate pre-law symposium presenting on law school, careers, and the various opportunities of a legal education.

Beyond his professional life, Robert is committed to community service. He has acted as pro bono counsel, a director, and volunteer leader to parochial high schools, charitable, youth, and local sports organizations. He also coaches inner-city high school students in mock trial programs helping young people discover the law and build self-confidence.

A life-long New Yorker raised in Brooklyn, Robert earned his B.A. in Economics from Fordham University and his J.D. from St. John’s Law School where he was an editor of the Law Review. He and his wife have been married for more than two decades and are the proud parents of four children. Outside of work, he is an avid sports fan, coach, and enjoys following local and national politics, exercising, supporting local restaurants, and visiting the ever-changing Lower East Side.