Tom is chair emeritus of the School Law Practice Group and is active in all areas of school law, including labor negotiations for certified and non-certified staff, teacher tenure proceedings, grievance arbitration, freedom of information hearings, student disciplinary matters, special education disputes and all other legal proceedings involving boards of education. Tom is the author of A Practical Guide to Connecticut School Law (9th Edition, 2018), a comprehensive treatise on Connecticut school law, and two columns, “See You in Court!,” which appears in the CABE Journal, and “Legal Mailbag,” which appears in the CAS Bulletin.

Linda has more than 25 years of experience advising public and independent schools and colleges on education matters. Linda has worked with many school districts throughout the state on general education, litigation and special education matters. She currently focuses her practice in the areas of special education, investigations of discrimination claims including Title IX, sexual harassment or race discrimination, and representation of schools in administrative and court litigation matters involving such areas as First Amendment rights, student discipline, or contract disputes.

Dori Pagé Antonetti is a member of the School Law Practice Group where she represents a wide range of educational institutions, including both public and independent k-12 schools in a variety of education and employment law matters.  In her day-to-day representation of clients, Dori draws on her unique experience as a former educator for Teach for America.  This experience, coupled with her time as a hearing review officer for the New York City Office of Labor Relations, allows Dori to analyze issues from a practical perspective, which brings significant advantages to her clients.

Most recently, Dori’s practice has focused on assisting school districts and independent schools with various aspects of COVID-19 pandemic response and preparedness and return-to-school planning.  Dori has provided guidance on the requirements and implementation of ever-evolving federal and state laws and guidelines in various areas, such as employee leave, vaccine mandates, mask rules, health and safety protocols, telehealth, and sports-related issues.

Dori is a thoughtful attorney who has astute peripheral vision which allows her to help school clients identify legal issues and develop creative solutions.  She is attentive to detail, careful, and thorough.  Dori has extensive experience in policy development and review, and enjoys helping clients ensure that their policies and regulations are legally compliant, clearly written, and accomplish their intended purpose.  She also regularly advises schools on their obligations and responsibilities under the Family and Medical Leave Act and Americans with Disabilities Act.  For independent school clients, Dori has extensive experience drafting and revising enrollment contracts, faculty/staff handbooks, employment contracts and advising on issues such as truth-in-lending obligations, federal funding, vaccine policies and exemption issues.

Tyler Archer is an associate in the firm’s Real Estate, Environmental and Land Use Practice Group.

Prior to joining the firm, Tyler was a Law Clerk for the honorable judges of the Connecticut State Superior Court in Hartford. While in law school, he interned for a regional environmental nonprofit and an affordable housing developer. Prior to law school, Tyler earned a master’s in Marine Affairs with a focus on ocean policy and coastal management and worked on fisheries policy at a Connecticut-based nonprofit.

Laurann Asklof practices in the area of construction litigation, representing colleges, universities, public schools and independent schools in various construction projects. She has experience in the drafting and negotiating of construction contracts and the bid process. Laurann is the principal litigator for a national University’s construction infrastructure programs, acting as its Lead Counsel and primary construction litigator.

Kristie is an associate in the Environmental group, and focuses her practice on environmental compliance, remediation and due diligence on behalf of buyers, sellers, developers and lenders.

Rauchell is a member of the firm’s Employer Defense and Labor Relations practice group. She represents employers in all employment law matters before the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and state and federal court. Her experience includes defending public and private sector employers in employment-related litigation including wrongful termination, discrimination, retaliation, sexual harassment, and wage claims.

Andreana represents boards of education in education law matters, labor relations and employment law, including labor negotiations for certified and non-certified staff, grievance arbitration, freedom of information hearings, student disciplinary matters, special education disputes, and education policies and practices. Andreana frequently speaks on education law and labor relations matter.

David Bigger is chair of the firm’s Tax and Employee Benefits Practice Group, and he has a comprehensive tax practice covering a wide range of areas of international, federal, state and local taxation, with particular emphasis on personal income tax, mergers and acquisitions, and matters involving the taxation of partnerships.  David has represented individuals and companies with regard to multi-state taxation issues, tax planning and investment strategies, reorganizations, enforcement and collection defense, and other federal and state tax controversies.

Danielle McGrath Braun assists with a wide variety of RFPs and contractual matters.  She has experience drafting and negotiating a range of service contracts, including transportation and food service contracts, facility use agreements, and lease purchase agreements.  Danielle works closely with superintendents and school business officials during the drafting and negotiation process in order to identify the specific needs of the school and its community, the detailed nature of the contracted service, and the unique risks involved.  She then uses this information to draft a contract tailored to each individual relationship, with the goal of minimizing risk to the school.

In addition to representing businesses in diverse industries as “outside” general counsel, Donna represents independent schools, colleges and universities. Donna counsels educational institutions on general contracting matters, governance issues, joint ventures, affiliations, mergers and acquisitions, finance, endowment and charitable giving matters and related investment management.

Ray practices in all areas of federal, state and local tax law. He has extensive experience representing tax-exempt organizations including schools, private foundations and public charities. Ray regularly deals with federal and state income tax issues, Connecticut sales and use tax issues, federal and state payroll tax issues, and private foundation excise taxes.

Brian represents public and private employers in labor relations, personnel problems and other employment law matters. Brian has taught various courses in labor relations and employment law at the University of Connecticut School of Law, and served two terms as Chairman of the Connecticut Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Law Section. He is a frequent speaker on employment-related topics at programs sponsored by business and professional groups.

Richard Cohen’s practice encompasses pensions and employee benefits, including tax-qualified retirement plans, 403(b) plans, nonqualified deferred compensation plans, SERPs, cafeteria plans, ERISA and COBRA compliance. Richard speaks on pension and employee benefit issues to business associations, such as the WEB Network of Benefits Professionals, client groups, and the Connecticut Bar Association.

Andrew Davis is Chair of the firm’s Environmental Practice Group. He counsels clients in transactional, permitting, compliance and enforcement matters under federal and state health and safety, hazardous waste, air and water pollution, site development and property transfer laws.

Eric Del Pozo is a member of the firm’s Litigation and Appellate practices, helping clients across a broad spectrum of industries navigate their most pressing legal issues.

A deeply experienced advocate, Eric has argued close to fifty appeals in federal and state court and has briefed nearly one hundred appeals overall. These appeals frequently have involved precedent-setting questions on topics such as federal jurisdiction and preemption, subpoena enforcement, agency power, telecommunications, healthcare reimbursement, insurer insolvency, coastal management, business and consumer fraud, free speech, religious rights, due process, and defamation per se. Eric has also prepared colleagues for oral argument in hundreds of cases, at every level of the federal and state judicial systems.

Before joining Shipman, Eric served for six years as an Assistant Solicitor General for New York State, litigating appeals on behalf of the State and its officers and agencies—with many of these matters at the forefront of law and public policy. For example, he defended New York’s concealed-carry licensing law in the U.S. Supreme Court in NYSRPA v. Bruen and was instrumental in crafting the defense of New York’s updated gun-safety statutes. Also in his capacity as Assistant Solicitor General, Eric successfully defended orders compelling the former President of the United States to sit for a civil investigative deposition, holding him in contempt of court for disobeying document requests, and appointing an independent monitor to oversee his business. In each of 2017 and 2022, Eric received the Louis J. Lefkowitz Award, given annually by New York’s Solicitor General, for outstanding individual performance.

Leander A. Dolphin is Co-Managing Partner of the firm.

Leander represents public school districts, independent schools, and colleges and universities in education and employment matters, including student discipline, special education disputes, disability-related matters, employee discipline and discharge, and investigations. In addition, she represents clients in claims before the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities and the Office of Civil Rights. Leander has conducted numerous professional development workshops for private and public sector clients on topics such as sexual harassment, bullying, special education, disability discrimination, and confidentiality issues.

Keegan Drenosky practices in the area of labor and employment law and business litigation. She has represented employers in cases involving claims of discrimination and retaliation before the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and state and federal Court.

Lee Anne Duval focuses her practice in the areas of complex business and intellectual property litigation, representing clients nationally in both state and federal courts in all phases of litigation at the trial and appellate levels. In addition to her practice, Lee also currently serves as the firm’s Associate General Counsel.

Brenda Eckert practices in the areas of civil litigation, civil rights, employment law litigation, and employment-based immigration law before state and federal courts and administrative agencies. She has successfully defended public and private sector employers against employment law claims, including contract claims, discrimination claims and related state tort claims.

Julie is co-chair of Shipman’s Education Department, and a partner in the School Law Practice group, where she represents public and independent schools in a variety of special education and general education law matters, with a particular focus on issues relating to students with disabilities, student discipline, confidentiality, school governance and policy. Julie frequently represents schools in administrative hearings, including expulsion hearings, special education due process hearings and related proceedings, and is often called upon to guide districts in drafting policies and administrative procedures in all education law areas. As part of her practice, Julie has conducted numerous professional development workshops for clients and other school organizations.

Susan represents school boards and independent schools with regard to education matters, the Americans with Disabilities Act and general litigation, including special education, at the administrative level and in state and federal courts. In her practice, Susan calls upon her 14 years of experience as a teacher. She is a frequent speaker on education matters for CABE, CONN-CASE, the Connecticut Bar Association and other groups, and is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Connecticut.

Chair of Shipman’s Health Law Practice Group, Joan W. Feldman delivers strategy, perspective, experience, and business acumen to the firm’s healthcare clients. Joan couples her healthcare experience, insight and legal prowess to serve as outside counsel or general counsel to hospitals, health systems, academic medical centers; specialty hospitals, home health agencies, hospice, behavioral health, and substance use disorder providers; DME providers; clinical laboratories; and life sciences companies.

A former aerospace engineer, Alfredo focuses his practice on regulatory compliance and transactional due diligence with respect to a wide range of federal, state and international environmental, health and safety laws.  Alfredo regularly counsels clients regarding new and existing chemicals under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), “Superfund” liability under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), chemical crises under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), and workplace safety under the Occupational Safety and Health Act.  Alfredo also has experience with unique investigation and remediation issues associated with emerging contaminants, state “Brownfields” programs and the “Connecticut Transfer Act.”

Alfredo’s complete biography can be found here.

Danielle Ferrucci practices in the areas of estate planning, estate settlement and trust administration. She assists clients with the full range of planning techniques for tax-effective intergenerational and charitable transfers. Danielle also prepares, and advises those preparing, probate documents, estate tax returns and fiduciary income tax returns as well as represents estates before the IRS and DRS on audit.

Sarah Gleason is a member of the firm’s School Law Practice Group, where she advises public school districts on a variety of general education, special education and labor and employment issues.  Prior to receiving her J.D., Sarah worked as an elementary school teacher, and she brings that unique perspective to her practice as a school law attorney.

Eric Goldstein practices in the areas of bankruptcy and creditors’ rights, representing clients throughout the United States. He has served as lead national or regional bankruptcy counsel for a variety of businesses, including Fortune 500 companies. Eric has extensive experience handling complex commercial litigation matters and foreclosure actions.

Bradley Harper is a member of Shipman’s Employment and Labor Practice Group.  Bradley’s practice is two-fold: he assists employers and individuals in navigating the U.S. Immigration system and he helps clients facing challenging and complex employment matters, including those related to discrimination and retaliation claims. He represents a wide array of clients, ranging from large regional healthcare systems and local school districts to professional and financial services firms.

Gabriel Jiran is a partner in Shipman’s Employment and Labor Practice Group. Gabriel practices labor and employment law on behalf of corporations and public employers. He assists employers in addressing the full spectrum of issues associated with the employment relationship. He negotiates collective bargaining agreements, and frequently represents employers before administrative agencies and courts in labor disputes. Gabriel also litigates employment disputes on behalf of employers.

Sarah is a member of Shipman’s Environmental Practice Group where she assists clients by creating technical and legal solutions to complex regulatory challenges. Sarah maintains a robust regulatory practice, and helps corporate clients navigate enforcement actions brought under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), and Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Sarah also helps clients comply with federal and state environmental, health, and safety (EHS) protocols, including regulatory compliance, auditing, and due diligence. She has assisted pesticide clients obtain favorable settlements for data compensation disputes under FIFRA arbitration regulations.

Sheridan’s practice is dedicated to identifying, evaluating and mitigating the array of legal and compliance risks that employers face.  She regularly counsels employers on issues including hiring, termination, privacy issues, compensation issues, state and federal compliance, and state and federal leave and paid time off laws. She also works diligently with employers to prepare business focused and legally compliant employment strategies as well as provides advice as to how employers may be affected by and handle the latest employment laws and regulations.

Aaron Levy is a partner in the firm’s Real Estate, Environmental and Land Use Practice Group.  Aaron’s practice involves providing environmental regulatory compliance and transactional due diligence and business counseling with respect to a wide range of federal and state environmental, health and safety laws. Aaron regularly counsels public entities regarding compliance with remediation requirements under federal and state laws, as well as the abatement of hazardous building materials (e.g., asbestos, lead, PCBs).

Anne represents schools in labor relations, employment and education law, including collective bargaining, personnel policies and practices, constitutional law, special education, student discipline, freedom of information, and education policies. She negotiates collective bargaining agreements on behalf of schools, including representation in interest arbitration proceedings as needed. Anne works with schools to address issues such as bullying and sexual harassment. She is often called upon to advise schools regarding professional boundaries and child abuse and neglect issues.  In her role as general counsel to boards of education around the state, Anne facilitates self-evaluation and goal-setting sessions. She also leads Shipman & Goodwin’s model policy project, which provides policy support and guidance to a number of school districts.

Anne serves as General Counsel to Shipman & Goodwin. From 2010 through 2017, she was Co-Chair of the firm’s School Law Practice Group, and from 2011 through 2017, she served on the firm’s seven-member Management Committee.

Jarad is chair of Shipman’s Employment and Labor Practice Group, where he practices on behalf of both public and private sector clients.  Jarad has successfully represented employers in grievance arbitration matters, prohibited practice proceedings before the State Board of Labor Relations, and unfair labor practice proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board.  He has also represented employers in cases involving claims of discrimination and retaliation before the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and State and Federal Courts.

Peter Maher represents boards of education and other entities in all areas of school law, with an emphasis on special education issues, labor and employment matters and, more recently, issues related to school operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. A former educator, Peter draws on his firsthand knowledge of the needs and goals of school stakeholders to provide practical, community-specific and timely counsel that helps prevent problems when possible and solve them when necessary. Whether navigating sensitive special education matters or advising on day-to-day district operations, he partners with his clients to identify opportunities and pursue a clear path in the face of today’s challenges.

Rich represents numerous boards of education and other school law clients in labor, employment and school law matters. Rich counsels school law clients in a wide range of matters, including student discipline, Board of Education policies, First Amendment issues, Freedom of Information Act issues, residency matters and budgetary matters. He also advises school law clients extensively on labor and employment matters. Rich also negotiates collective bargaining agreements on behalf of school law clients, and has represented numerous clients in mediation and in interest arbitration proceedings.

Peter represents public and private sector employers in a broad array of cases, with a focus on cases involving claims of discrimination, wrongful termination, first amendment retaliation, and other labor and employment disputes. In addition, Peter advises employers on issues such as employee discipline, disability accommodations, and internal investigations, and provides training and seminar presentations on those issues.

Sarah is a member of the firm’s Employment and Labor practice group.  She assists public and private sector clients in a variety of matters, including grievance and interest arbitrations, prohibited practice proceedings, and labor negotiations. Sarah also represents employers before state and federal courts and agencies with respect to employment matters ranging from employment discrimination and wrongful termination to tortious interference, breach of contract, and wage and hour claims.

Robert J. O’Brien practices in the areas of construction, surety and specialized banking and commercial litigation. With more than three decades of construction law experience, he handles a broad range of construction-related matters on behalf of contractors, public and private owners, subcontractors, sureties, architects, engineers and condominium associations.  Bob’s banking litigation experience relates to check fraud liability and financial institution bonds. He has conducted numerous jury and bench trials, and has extensive experience with arbitration and mediation as dispute resolution alternatives.

Mark Ostrowski has over 25 years of experience defending chemical and product manufacturers, public utilities, retailers, pharmaceutical companies, and business and medical professionals in complex tort and product liability actions. Armed with the latest case management and courtroom presentation technology and with ready access to many of the northeast’s leading scientific, engineering and medical experts, Mark regularly handles cases in all courts throughout Connecticut and has appeared pro hac vice in many other jurisdictions.

Lexus Perry is a guest columnist for this week’s “Legal Mailbag” column.

Damian Privitera advises clients on the design and implementation of data privacy and cybersecurity compliance strategies. He regularly counsels businesses across sectors on data breach identification, investigation and response, internal policy and procedure development, contracting procurement, and website privacy policies and terms of use. Damian helps clients comply with specific data privacy and cybersecurity rules including the GDPR, New York DFS cybersecurity regulations, and HIPAA. His privacy and cybersecurity-related interests include data subject rights, workforce education and compliance, and international data collection, use and transfer. Damian’s complete biography can be found here.

Matthew Ranelli’s practice includes environmental, energy and land use law. Matt represents schools, municipalities, developers and other end-users regarding clean energy projects, green building standards, energy conservation and efficiency projects, energy savings performance contracts, electric and natural gas purchasing, and managing energy options.

Julie Jaquays is a member of the firm’s School Law Practice Group. She advises public school districts on a variety of general education, special education and labor and employment issues. Julie focuses her practice on special education matters and disputes, student discipline, and the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). She also serves on the firm’s Model Policy Committee, which provides a comprehensive set of model policies and administrative regulations, as well as model notifications and forms, for Connecticut boards of education and charter schools.

Jessica represents schools in a variety of education, labor relations and employment law matters.  She negotiates certified and non-certified collective bargaining agreements on behalf of numerous public boards of education.  Jessica also represents school districts in labor and employment disputes, freedom of information hearings, teacher tenure proceedings, student disciplinary matters, election law matters, and other legal proceedings arising in the education context.  In addition, Jessica advises schools on education policies and practices, compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act, and other legal matters arising in the education context.

Jessica is co-chair of Shipman’s Education Department, where she represents boards of education in both general and special education matters, as well as labor disputes and employment litigation arising in the education context. Jessica has negotiated certified and non-certified collective bargaining agreements on behalf of numerous boards of education and has represented public employers in arbitrations and in a wide variety of administrative proceedings before various state agencies.

Morgan Rueckert practices in the areas of criminal defense, government investigations, internal corporate investigations, tort litigation, and complex business litigation.

Rebecca assists many school districts with labor relations, employment and education matters. She serves as the chief negotiator for a number of school districts in contract negotiations with non-certified units as well as teacher and administrator negotiations and represents districts in interest arbitration proceedings.

Kelsey Scarlett is a member of the firm’s School Law Practice Group, where she advises public and independent schools and colleges and universities on a variety of general education and labor and employment issues. Kelsey’s practice focuses on student discipline, Title IX and sexual misconduct, policy drafting, the rights of transgender and gender-minority students, complaints from the Office of Civil Rights (OCR), and employee and student investigations. She regularly attends Title IX seminars and has received ATIXA training.

Louis Schatz is a partner in Shipman’s Tax and Employee Benefits Practice Group, and Chair of the State and Local Tax Group. From 2007 to 2017, Lou served on the firm’s seven-person Management Committee. He is the past Chair of the Tax Section of the Connecticut Bar Association.

Lou practices in the areas of federal and State of Connecticut tax with attention to the representation of closely held businesses organized as limited liability companies, partnerships and S corporations; real estate joint ventures; and the representation of taxpayers involved in federal and Connecticut tax controversies (at the audit, appellate and court levels). He is a frequent lecturer on federal and State of Connecticut tax, partnership and limited liability company issues.

Dan represents employers in various employment law matters such as employment discrimination, restrictive covenants, human resources, retaliation and whistle blowing, and wage and hour issues. He has extensive trial and litigation experience in both federal and state courts in a variety of areas, including commercial litigation and trade secret enforcement. Dan is the author of the independent Connecticut Employment Law Blog. The blog discusses new and noteworthy events in labor and employment law on a daily basis.

Erin Shaffer handles special education, regular education, disciplinary issues and school accommodation matters.

Natalia Sieira Millan advises public school districts on all aspects of school law, and she also teaches school law at the Neag School of Education at the University of Connecticut as well as the Quinnipiac University School of Education.  Prior to joining the firm, Attorney Sieira Millan was an Assistant Agency Legal Director with the Connecticut Department of Children and Families.

Kelly Smith Hathorn advises public and private sector employers on a variety of employee benefits issues. Kelly has experience with qualified plan design, drafting, administration/compliance, and termination. She also has experience with non-qualified deferred compensation arrangements, including drafting and reviewing executive employment agreements and incentive plans for Code Section 409A compliance.

Chris represents public school districts in all areas of school law, and has a particular experience regarding special education, education reform, and budgetary matters, including issues related to Connecticut’s statutory “Minimum Budget Requirement.”

Sarah is the Chair of Shipman’s Cannabis Industry Team and a Partner in our Employment and Labor Practice Group. She advises clients on formation and management of a cannabis business, interpretation of state and federal cannabis laws and regulations, social equity qualifications and partnerships, business-related disputes, employment matters and contracts. Sarah also counsels clients on a wide variety of employment matters, including discrimination, medical leave, sexual harassment, compensation, termination, severance, and workplace safety.  She has significant experience litigating cases in state and federal court and before administrative agencies.  Sarah also serves as the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for Simply Smiles, Inc., a not-for-profit organization that builds villages of foster homes for Native children in the United States and Mexico.

Julia Wilde advises public school districts on a variety of general education, special education and labor and employment issues. Prior to joining Shipman & Goodwin, Julia served as Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Hartford, where she advised the City on a variety of legal matters, with an emphasis on public education, special education and labor and employment. In addition, she has worked for several law firms in Massachusetts.

Linda has more than 25 years of experience advising public and independent schools and colleges on education matters. Linda has worked with many school districts throughout the state on general education, litigation and special education matters. She currently focuses her practice in the areas of special education, investigations of discrimination claims including Title IX, sexual harassment or race discrimination, and representation of schools in administrative and court litigation matters involving such areas as First Amendment rights, student discipline, or contract disputes.

Gwen represents boards of education in relation to special education, Section 504, restraint and seclusion, student discipline, board policy development and revision, and general education matters. Gwen frequently speaks on education issues, including privacy and confidentiality of student information, bullying and Section 504.