CONNECTICUT
Connecticut Local litigation teams
Highly recommended
Day Pitney
Connecticut’s litigation market has been exposed to a number of significant Carmody & Torrance
mergers and changes over recent years. However, senior individual lawyers stand
strong in the community offering stability in local courtrooms. Most of the Robinson & Cole
significant players are part of the larger First and Second Circuit community, Shipman & Goodwin
encompassing all of New England and New York. Often working in neighboring
states, these firms and stars dominate Connecticut from their home offices. Wiggin & Dana
Highly recommended firms Robertson was active defending client
The lawyers of Day Pitney are described as a MacDermid Incorporated in an antitrust Recommended
“thriving group” by competitors, who noted counterclaim arising from a previous
the firm’s presence in Connecticut has grown intellectual property summary judgment Cowdery Ecker & Murphy
since the 2006 merger between Day, Berry & obtained by the firm. In a favorable
Howard and Pitney Hardin. Steven settlement, Robertson proved to be on the Finn Dixon & Herling
Greenspan is considered at the “top of his cutting edge of antitrust litigation as it is
Halloran & Sage
class” with a footprint across the country continually fueled by defeated intellectual
based upon recent growth of the firm. Joseph property claims. (confusing sentence) Hurwitz Sagarin Slossberg & Knuff
Scully joins Greenspan as a recognizable The firm boasts one of the “most
figure in the Connecticut marketplace. significant crops of young lawyers in Jacobs Grudberg Belt Dow & Katz
Scully’s unique insurance and reinsurance Connecticut,” according to one client.
practice gained particular acknowledgment Standing out from the group, Mariella Koskoff Koskoff & Bieder
from his peers. The firm remains recognized LaRosa is described by peers as “one of the
for its real estate, intellectual property, white- best” medical malpractice lawyers in the Levett Rockwood
collar and employment capabilities. state. David Hardy and Fatima Lahnin also
McCarter & English
“Statesman” John Nolan remains active in find themselves among the more significant
a variety of practice areas across the country. young attorneys as they work alongside Murtha Cullina
Nolan, who began litigating when he joined Fitzgerald, Robertson and John Horvack on
the firm more than 30 years ago, is some of the firm’s most important matters. Silver Golub & Teitell
considered unsurpassed by peers. In one of With clients including Northeast Utilities,
the firm’s most significant matters of 2008, Timex and the City of Waterbury, Carmody Tobin Carberry O’Malley Riley & Selinger
Nolan and Allan Taylor represent a mixed- & Torrance has a bright future.
use development company in a more than Competitors and clients alike admit Tyler Cooper & Alcorn
$200 million reinsurance dispute. Robinson & Cole is “one of the few firms
Victoria Woodin Chavey is considered a who can cover all of New England.” With 25
member of the next litigation wave to lawyers working out of its Hartford office
practice in Connecticut. As co-chair of the within its business litigation group, the firm
Employment Litigation group, Chavey has built a reputation as a “well-prepared”
obtained favorable judgment for Fortune 50 group, according to sources.
clients through out the year, including a six- Clients recommend Bradford Babbit for
day trial in the US District Court of his expertise in business disputes including
Connecticut. commercial relationships, tortuous conduct,
Day Pitney remains a firm on the rise with intellectual property and regulatory
a growing national presence and roots oversight. James Wade is also noted by peers
throughout the northeast. as an “extremely talented” lawyer who can
Waterbury-based Carmody & Torrance take any business case presented to him. In
moves up in this year’s rankings backed by recent years, Wade represented numerous
the power of litigation stars Maureen Danehy Fortune 500 clients in grand jury
Cox and Anthony Fitzgerald. The two are investigations, securities, banking and
joined by James Robertson, making his first environmental disputes. Jeffrey White is
appearance among the Local Litigation Stars. singled out by clients as a “future presence”
“ ‘Statesman’ John Nolan remains active in a variety of
practice areas across the country. Nolan, who began
litigating when he joined the firm more than 30 years ago,
is considered unsurpassed by peers. In one of the firm’s
most significant matters of 2008, Nolan and Allan Taylor
represent a mixed use development company in a more
than $200 million reinsurance dispute.”
-Day Pitney
THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO AMERICA’S LEADING LITIGATION FIRMS & ATTORNEYS 105
CONNECTICUT
Local litigation stars
Bradford Babbit Jim Fogarty Frank Silvestri Jr
Robinson & Cole Fogarty Cohen Selby & Nemiroff Levett Rockwood
Aaron Bayer David Golub Shaun Sullivan
Wiggin & Dana Silver Golub & Teitell Wiggin & Dana
David Belt Steven Greenspan Richard Tynan
Jacobs Grudberg Belt Dow & Katz Day Pitney Halloran & Sage
Christopher Bernard Mitchell Harris James Wade
Koskoff Koskoff & Bieder Day Pitney Robinson & Cole
Francis Brady Robert Izard Richard Weinstein
Murtha Cullina Schatz Nobel Izard Weinstein & Wisser
William Champlin Hugh Murray Robert White
Tyler Cooper & Alcorn Murtha Cullina Murtha Cullina
Maureen Danehy Cox John Nolan Robert Wyld
Carmody & Torrance Day Pitney Shipman & Goodwin
Anthony Fitzgerald James Robertson
Carmody & Torrance Carmody & Torrance
Joseph Scully
Day Pitney
in the state. White represented a Fortune 500 Appellate Court and Connecticut Supreme zoning and property tax disputes.
national restaurant chain in a product-related Court. Erika Amarante joins Kennedy as Led by Lewis Hurwitz, the practice is
premises liability case involving allegedly future talent of the firm. Her practice ranges called “impressive” by peers and “excellent”
defective equipment. from antitrust and trade regulation to by one competitor.
The firm with the most offices across the franchise and distribution litigation. New Haven-based Jacobs Grudberg Belt
state is Shipman & Goodwin, which is peer- Dow & Katz was noted for its successful
rated as Highly Recommended for the second Recommended firms unfair trade and business torts matters. The
consecutive year. Led by complex business Cowdery, Ecker & Murphy is noted by peers firm’s white-collar experience includes
litigator Frederick Gold, the firm spreads 34 as a preeminent white-collar and business representing individuals accused of bribing
business litigators across offices in Hartford, litigation group. With just five members, the the mayor of a major Connecticut city. Other
Stamford and Greenwich. firm has won false claims, government clients of the 13-lawyer firm include AT&T,
The “very impressive” Robert Wyld was contracting and whistleblower cases. The Big Y Foods and New England Energy
recognized by peers as a lawyer with a top- firm is led by the former chief of the Criminal Management.
rate litigation practice. Recently, Wyld Division of the US Attorney’s Office for the Practicing litigation from four offices in
represented two Connecticut agencies in a District of Connecticut, James Cowdery who Connecticut, Koskoff Koskoff & Bieder is
successful defense of a multi-party action is widely recognized by competitors as the one of the premier plaintiffs’ attorneys in the
initiated in the US District Court of “go-to white-collar attorney” in Connecticut. state. The talented duo of Michael Koskoff
Massachusetts asserting federal Racketeer The firm also includes a mix of veteran trial and Richard Bieder propel the firm’s
Influence and Corrupt Organizations Act attorneys, including Steven Ecker , as well as litigation group onto the map.
claims. a potential star William Gullotta. Christopher Bernard came highly
Wiggin & Dana is accepted by peers as a With more than 70 years courtroom recommended by peers for his medical
significant enough power to land itself among experience, Halloran & Sage is one of malpractice expertise. In 2005, he
the best firms in Connecticut. The 50-partner broadest practices in Connecticut. The firm’s represented a family against a local hospital,
litigation group ranges in practice ability ability to handle appeals, civil rights, winning $36.5 million, the largest jury
from white-collar defense to environmental construction, employment, environmental verdict in a medical malpractice case in
practices. and products liability litigation makes it Connecticut history.
The “brilliant” appellate practice chair “powerful,” according to one competitor. Westport-based Levett Rockwood makes
Robert Bayer has argued before the state and Business litigation co-chair John Farley its first appearance among the state’s
federal appeals courts during his career. His handled stockholder derivatives, contract recommended firms. As former co-chair of
most recent victory came in front of the renewal and unfair trade cases within the last the Connecticut Bar Association’s Federal
Connecticut Supreme Court on behalf of the year. In his most recent case, Farley defended Practice Section, Frank Silvestri Jr came
University of New Haven in September 2007. a derivative action brought by disgruntled recommended by peers as one of the
The Court’s decision in Miron v University of shareholders in two closely held family “toughest opponents” in Connecticut. In
New Haven prevents an employee from suing corporations and transitioned the case into a 2008, Silvestri obtained summary judgment
an employer for defamation based on the fair value hearing to buy out minority in favor of St. Vincent’s Medical Center, a
employer’s provision of reference shareholders. major healthcare client.
information. Hurwitz Sagarin Slossberg & Knuff has McCarter & English’s Connecticut office is
Kevin Kennedy is proclaimed by peers as developed a niche in real estate and land use home to a variety of practices, including
one of the “great young talents” in litigation, proving valuable in the business, commercial, construction,
Connecticut. Kennedy’s resume includes a Connecticut marketplace. The firm environmental, intellectual property,
successful defense before the US Court of represents large retailers, major regional employment and product liability litigation.
Appeals for the Second Circuit, Connecticut developers and local developers in planning, David Reif was a member of a three-person
106 Litigation
CONNECTICUT
team based out of New York that won a against United Technologies. Local star Future stars
preliminary injunction, after a hearing David Golub has worked on employment
enjoined termination of a major beer retirement income security act cases since Erika Amarante
distributor client. The firm extends its grasp 1986 and won four multi-million dollar Wiggin & Dana
south to offices in Delaware, giving it an verdicts during that time. David Hardy
ability unique in Connecticut, to handle Tobin Carberry O’Malley Riley & Selinger Carmody & Torrance
global clients such as Lockheed Martin, makes its debut on the recommended list due
Kevin Kennedy
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, Alcatel to its ability to handle a variety of litigation
Wiggin & Dana
Lucent and AstraZeneca. matters including appellate, gaming and
Murtha & Cullina’s 40-person Connecticut employment litigation. The general litigation Fatima Lahnin
litigation team stands as one of the largest in team includes Robert Tobin, Jerome Carmody & Torrance
the state. Hugh Murray leads a department O’Malley and Thomas Riley, all of whom Mariella LaRosa
handling a variety of matters including have more than 20 years experience in Carmody & Torrance
antitrust, bankruptcy, insurance and Connecticut courtrooms.
securities cases. Robert White established a Tyler Cooper & Alcorn boasts more than Jeffrey White
“very strong” bankruptcy and creditors’ 40 attorneys dedicated to litigation. The firm Robinson & Cole
rights practice. Competitors call White a has experience in numerous business Victoria Woodin Chavey
“brilliant” business lawyer. litigation matters. Recently, the group won a Day Pitney
Silver Golub & Teitell has a reputation $2 million arbitration on behalf of a
handling the most sophisticated cases in the technology client, served as counsel in a case
state. This litigation boutique handled the involving a breach of software development
State of Connecticut’s case against the contract and represented a marketing firm in
tobacco industry, a corporate whistleblower out-of-state litigation involving claims of
claim under the Federal False Claims Act tortious interference.
THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO AMERICA’S LEADING LITIGATION FIRMS & ATTORNEYS 107