Dr. Aaron Richard Harmon teaches in the Qatar University College of Law’s Legal Skills Program (LSP). He administers the QU College of Law’s moot court programs, and coaches both the QU International Negotiation Competition team and the QU Vis International Commercial Arbitration Competition team. He is also a fellow with the QU Center for Development Law (CDL).

Prior to joining the faculty at Qatar University, Dr. Harmon taught legal research, writing, and oral advocacy at the University of North Carolina School of Law in the United States. A specialist in oral advocacy and alternative dispute resolution (with an emphasis on mediation and negotiation), Dr. Harmon directed the UNC National Negotiation Competition Team and the UNC Environmental Negotiation Competition Team to several high finishes at tournaments.

He has also taught negotiation, contract drafting, and legal writing classes at Wake Forest University and Lewis & Clark Law School, and has conducted related trainings for organizations such as the ABA-Rule of Law Initiative (Egypt), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Commercial Law Development Program, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the Qatar Green Building Council, the QU Continuing Education Office, and the North Carolina Bar Association.

Before entering the teaching profession, Dr. Harmon practiced real estate and corporate law at Ball Janik LLP in Portland, Oregon USA. His real estate practice focused on “green” building (sustainable and high-performance real estate development projects), as well as “green” leasing for those projects. As part of his practice, he negotiated permits and drafted contracts related to large-scale wind and solar farm projects. He also gained experience assisting property owners and prospective buyers with risk management issues associated with the purchase and sale of contaminated commercial properties (brownfields).

Dr. Harmon was one of the first attorneys in the United States to receive the LEED® AP credential (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design—Accredited Professional) from the United States Green Building Counsel (USGBC). He has given numerous lectures on the intersection between green construction, sustainability, renewable energy, and risk management, both in the United States and in Qatar.

Dr. Harmon is an active supporter of entrepreneurial and start-up incubators, with a particular interest in sustainability-related ventures. He has significant experience assisting small business owners with entity selection, business planning, funding, grant writing, and exit strategies.

He is licensed to practice law in Oregon, USA.