Russell Kivler
Profile Verified by The Marque
Last Updated: 22 Sep 2026
Founder
New York, US
Profile Verified by The Marque
Last Updated: 22 Sep 2026
THE MARQUE
In Their Own Right
Biography
Russell A. Kivler is a Managing Partner at Hirschen Singer & Epstein LLP, where for over 25 years he has represented developers, owners, and investors in the creation and preservation of affordable housing, mixed-income and mixed-use development, commercial real estate, and public finance. His work spans public-private developments, joint ventures, financings, and construction and commercial leasing, with particular depth in federal, state, and local housing programs, tax incentive structures, and large-scale developments financed through tax-exempt municipal bonds and Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity.
Representing clients across these transactions, Russell repeatedly encountered the same bottleneck: the paperwork-heavy process of qualifying and recertifying tenants. To address it, he founded Harmony, a qualification and reporting platform that streamlines the affordable housing application, lease-up, and compliance process. From initial application through occupancy and annual recertification, Harmony automates the collection, verification, and processing of eligibility requirements, helping applicants, operators, and city, state, and federal agencies clear operational hurdles.
Russell serves on the board of the New York State Association for Affordable Housing (NYSAFAH) and the advisory board of the NYU Furman Center, and has led panel discussions for organizations including Bisnow, the New York City Bar Association, and the New York City Economic Development Corporation.
Admitted to practice in New York and New Jersey, Russell earned a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, in Economics and Business Management (Finance) from Gettysburg College and a Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from American University Washington College of Law.
The Record
Background
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2024 — Present
Founder
Harmony
Harmony is a housing technology company that develops shared equity solutions designed to make homeownership more accessible. It works with employers, housing providers, and public sector organizations to reduce upfront housing costs and promote long-term housing affordability.
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2010 — Present
Partner
Hirschen Singer & Epstein LLP
Hirschen Singer & Epstein LLP is a New York-based law firm advising developers, businesses, financial institutions, investors, and individuals across real estate, corporate, litigation, tax, and trust and estate matters. The firm provides strategic legal counsel on complex transactions, dispute resolution, and long-term business planning.
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2004 — 2010
Associate
Hirschen Singer & Epstein LLP
Formative Years
Education
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American University Washington College of Law
Degree | Law (Magna Cum Laude)
2002
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Gettysburg College
BA | Economics & Business Management (Cum Laude)
1999
Areas Of Focus