Continuing to bolster its standing as one of Connecticut’s foremost law firms, Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey LLP has elected three new partners – Deborah R. Brancato, Liam S. Burke and Todd R. Michaelis effective January 1, 2019. Our new partners represent a diversity of practice areas and geographies; their election will allow us to continue to serve our clients well. “Deborah, Liam and Todd represent the future of Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey, and we couldn’t be more pleased to have them join the partnership,” said Managing Partner Ann Zucker.
About Deborah R. Brancato –Deborah practices in Carmody’s Real Estate Practice group, focusing in the areas of Environmental and Real Estate & Land Use law. Deborah has broad experience representing developers, institutions, and property owners in a wide range of development projects and real estate matters. She also represents banks, commercial lenders, landlords, tenants, condominium and cooperative associations, and individuals in a variety of commercial and corporate transactions. She applies her background at a prominent environmental organization in her environmental practice to advise businesses, municipalities, and individuals in regulatory compliance matters, and regarding environmental aspects of commercial, corporate, and real estate transactions.
Deborah has served on the board of the Mutual Housing Association of Southwestern Connecticut, Inc. and was selected for inclusion in Connecticut Super Lawyers in 2017.
Deborah resides in Norwalk and works in the Stamford office. Deborah earned her J.D. from Pace University School of Law, magna cum laude, and her B.A. from Fairfield University, summa cum laude.
About Liam S. Burke – Liam practices in the areas of complex civil and commercial litigation in Connecticut’s state and federal courts. Liam has experience in a wide range of areas including securities litigation, complex commercial contract litigation, products liability litigation, construction litigation, business torts, restrictive covenants, unfair competition claims, intellectual property litigation, tax appeals, commercial foreclosures, class actions and white-collar criminal defense. Liam has experience representing lawyers in grievance defense, ethics and professional responsibility matters. Liam routinely serves as local counsel for out-of-state attorneys on matters pending in Connecticut. Liam is an active leader in the legal and business communities as he serves on the Board of Directors and is a volunteer Preemie Father Mentor at The Tiny Miracles Foundation. He also serves on the Board of Directors at Michigan State University College of Law Alumni Association and volunteers at Lawyers for Children America. Liam has been selected for inclusion in Connecticut Super Lawyers- Rising Starsedition from 2010-2011 and again from 2013-2018.
Liam resides in Trumbull and works in the Stamford office. Liam earned his J.D. from Michigan State University College of Law and his B.S. from The University of Montana.
About Todd R. Michaelis – Todd practices in Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey’s litigation group. Todd represents clients in complex matters involving a wide variety of business and commercial disputes including contract litigation, products liability litigation, insurance coverage litigation, employment and restrictive covenant litigation, corporate governance disputes and business torts, and personal/reputational injury litigation. He regularly practices in Connecticut’s state courts and the Federal District Courts in Connecticut and New York. He has also handled appeals before Connecticut’s Supreme and Appellate Courts and before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. Todd has represented the region’s major electric utilities; chemical companies; insurance companies, agents, and brokers; physician groups; individual tort victims; financial institutions; municipalities; and closely-held businesses and their owners.
Todd is an active leader in the legal and business communities as the Treasurer of the Waterbury Bar Association, Secretary of the Waterbury Symphony Orchestra, and a Member of the Task Force Committee for the Waterbury Regional Chamber of Commerce, Young Professionals section. Todd has been selected for inclusion in Connecticut Super Lawyers – Rising Stars in the area of Civil Litigation, Defense from 2014-2018.
Todd resides in Oakville and works in the Waterbury office. Todd earned is J.D. from Boston College Law School and his B.S. from the University of Connecticut.
About Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey LLP – Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey LLP is a Connecticut-based law firm serving a wide range of businesses, utilities, governmental entities and individuals. With more than 75 attorneys and offices in New Haven, Stamford, Waterbury, Litchfield and Southbury, we practice in nearly 30 specific areas of law.