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May,
2010 |
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John Shaban was officially endorsed as the Republican Candidate for State Representative for Connecticut's 135th District at the May 11, 2010 Convention of delegates from Weston, Easton and Redding. The general election will be held in November. |
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March,
2010 |
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Tony Macleod represented The Avon Water Co. in its application to the Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control for an increase in water rates. Based on a 10% return on equity, the highest retrun on equity awarded to a water company in the last two years, Avon received a 14.52% increase in rates on March 31, 2010. The proceeding also involved an innovative rate base true-up mechanism to address disparity between capital structure and rate base in a manner acceptable to both the company and its regulatory agency. DPUC Docket 09-10-08, Application of The Avon Water Co. to Increase Rates. |
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March,
2010 |
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Tony Macleod represented ISO New England Inc. ("ISO"), the independent system operator of the electric power grid serving the New England region, as an intervenor before the Connecticut Siting Council in a proceeding initiated by the Connecticut Light & Power Co. for approval of the Connecticut portion of an interstate project, known as the Greater Springfield Reliability Project (the "GSRP"), involving high voltage transmission upgrades to the electric system in western Massachusetts and north central Connecticut. The Connecticut portion of the GSRP, which ISO supported in preference to a competing generation proposal, was approved on March 16, 2010. Connecticut Siting Council Docket 370, CL&P Application for Certificates of Environmental Compatability and Public Need for Connecticut Valley Electric Transmission Projects. |
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January,
2010 |
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The Business Law Department, led by Harry Peden III, represented Consumer Financial Services, LLC ("CFS") and its principals in Atlanta Equity Fund, LP's acquistion of CFS. Southport, Connecticut-based CFS is a leading provider of delinquent secured accounts receivable resolution services, providing both secured commercial lenders and original equipment manufacturers nationwide with a variety of highly tailored debtor identification, account negotiation, and collateral recovery services in connection with delinquent account debtors located throughout North America. The transaction was structured as an asset purchase with the seller obtaining an interest in the continuing company. The Firm provided a range of advice and services to the seller and its members in connection with the sale, covering employment, consulting, membership, and tax issues, as well as the negotiation and documentation of the sale of the business. |
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December,
2009 |
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The Firm represented claimants in an arbitration against a charter jet broker on claims of breach of contract, negligence and breach of fiduciary duty. The arbitrator awarded claimants compensatory damages and attorneys' fees. This award was confirmed by a decision of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, which awarded claimants additional attorneys' fees incurred in connection with the application to confirm the award and respondents' cross motion to vacate. Loeb v. Blue Star Jets, LLC, 2009 WL 4906538 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 17, 2009). |
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December,
2009 |
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The Firm obtained summary judgment in favor of a client who was defending against claims of defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Mara v. Otto, 2009 WL 532202 (Conn. Super. Dec. 8, 2009). The Firm had previously prevailed on a motion to strike various claims from plaintiffs' complaint related to emotional distress and economic loss. Mara v. Otto, 48 Conn. L. Rptr. 448, 2009 WL 3285075 (Conn. Super. Sept. 9, 2009). |
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October,
2009 |
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Margaret Conboy has been named Chairwoman of the Greenwich Service Unit of the Salvation Army. |
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October,
2009 |
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Kristina
Kelly has been named a member of the Board of Directors of At Home in Greenwich, Inc., which is an aging-in-place nonprofit organization that offers its Greenwich resident members preferred access to social and cultural activities, household and maintenance services, and transportation and shopping assistance, as well as health care services and assisted living at home through partnerships with proven providers of services. |
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September,
2009 |
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Rod
Saggese has been elected President of the
Greenwich Bar Association. |
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Kristina
Kelly has been appointed Co-Chair of the
Greenwich Bar Association’s annual
Law Day luncheon. |
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September,
2009 |
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Donna
Castronovo began her local radio program,
"Older and Wiser," which airs
on 1490 WGCH every fourth Monday of the
month from 12:30-1:00 p.m. The program provides
the community with basic information on
all aspects of elder law, including nursing
and home care options, asset protection
and preservation, Medicaid (Title XIX) eligibility,
options for managing one's affairs through
conservatorships and powers of attorney,
and upcoming changes in estate tax laws.
Local practitioners in various areas, such
as long term care insurance, reverse mortgages
and home care, join Donna on the program
each week. |
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August,
2009 |
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The
Firm successfully negotiated a tax certiorari
settlement for an office park in excess
of 750,000 square feet in Westchester County,
New York, with an overall thirty percent
reduction in taxes and a tax refund in excess
of $800,000. |
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July,
2009 |
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The
Firm obtained dismissal of all claims, which incuded breach of contract and related claims, brought by a purchaser of residential property against a relocation company. Schiff v. Van Wyk, 2009 WL 2450755 (Conn. Super. July 6, 2009). |
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June,
2009 |
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The
Firm successfully represented a commercial
real estate developer in two separate lawsuits,
both of which derived from the collapse
of a large commercial development. One lawsuit
was a foreclosure action by a bridge financier
on a loan in excess of $20 million, the
other lawsuit was the foreclosure of a six-figure
mechanic's lien. Over the plaintiffs' objections,
the Firm consolidated the actions and transferred
the matters into the complex litigation
docket. The Firm then effected a settlement
that transferred the property, released
the liens and relieved the client of significant
personal liability. |
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June,
2009 |
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The
Business Law Department represents many
nonprofit corporations and foundations.
In particular, the Firm's attorneys work
with "homeowner association" entities,
including tax districts. Recently, Harry
Peden III advised members of an historcially
significant waterfront association with
regard to expanding and updating use and
other property restrictions for homeowners
in the community, a measure designed to
maintain the quality of life and ultimately
the value of properties within the association. |
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June,
2009 |
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The
Firm was recently engaged to represent a
national commercial office portfolio valued
in excess of $250,000,000 in connection
with its lease and lease restructure transactions. |
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March,
2009 |
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The
Firm represented an individual whose medical
insurance company refused to cover his preferred
treatment for prostate cancer. The firm
filed an ERISA lawsuit in federal court
to press for coverage of the treatment.
The insurance company immediately requested
settlement discussions, and the matter was
resolved out of court with reimbursement
to the client of a majority of his out-of-pocket
expenses for the cancer treatment. |
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February,
2009 |
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Whitman Breed Partners have been named “ Connecticut
Super Lawyers” for 2009. |
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Super
Lawyers, limited to five percent of Connecticut
attorneys, are selected through peer nominations
and independent research and evaluation
by Law & Politics. Terry Coates (Estate
Planning/Trusts) and Charles Pieterse (Business
Litigation) were again named Super Lawyers
as they were in 2006, 2007 and 2008. |
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January,
2009 |
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The Business Law Department, led by Tony Macleod, represented a Delaware corporation in a private placement under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, involving the issuance and sale of shares of convertible preferred stock and warrants to purchase common stock. The transaction also included amendments to various corporate documents, a shareholders agreement and executive employment agreements. |
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November,
2008 |
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The
Firm prevailed on claims brought by the purchaser of residential property against the seller for fraud, breach of contract and related claims. The Firm obtained an award for the client that included compensatory damages and attorneys' fees. Failla v. Kripki, 2008 WL 5216298 (Conn. Super. Nov. 10, 2008). |
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November,
2008 |
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Whitman Breed Partners have been named “ New England
Super Lawyers” for 2008. |
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Terry
Coates (Estate Planning/Trusts) and Charles
Pieterse (Business Litigation) were named
New England Super Lawyers in the same year
that they were also named Connecticut Super
Lawyers. |
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October,
2008 |
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Whitman Breed is pleased to announce that Christopher
J. Holland has joined the Firm as an associate
in the Litigation and Real Estate Departments. |
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Chris
graduated, cum laude, from Syracuse
University College of Law in May 2008. |
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September,
2008 |
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Rod
Saggese has been elected Vice President
of the Greenwich Bar Association. |
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Kristina
Kelly has been appointed Co-Chair of the
Greenwich Bar Association’s annual
Law Day luncheon. |
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June,
2008 |
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The
Firm represented a large Greenwich developer
in a commercial loan transaction related
to the redevelopment of a parcel of land
in the Byram area of Greenwich from commercial
use to residential condominiums. The Firm
also represents the developer in the ongoing
formation and development of the same residential
condominium complex, which includes a marina
and boardwalk. |
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June,
2008 |
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Kevin
A. Walsh, a member of the Board of Directors
of Family Centers, Inc., represented Family
Centers on a pro bono basis in
connection with the merger of HealthCare
Connections, Inc. into Family Centers effective
July 1, 2008. Family Centers is a
non-profit organization headquartered in
Greenwich, CT offering education and human
services to children, adults and families
living in Lower Fairfield County. HealthCare
Connections, a nonprofit organization based
in Stamford, CT, maintains four programs
– the School Based Health Centers,
Stamford CARES, Care to Care and the TLC
Health Center at Kids in Crisis –
which will remain intact. HealthCare
Connections was represented on a pro
bono basis by David Salm from Oracle
Corp. |
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March,
2008 |
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The
Firm, led by Tony Macleod, successfully defended sellers of a payphone business against claims, arising out of the contract of sale, for damages and injunctive relief at the Connecticut state trial and appellate court levels.
After trial, the Superior Court denied all of the plaintiff's claims and found that he had not tendered funds that would entitle him to a reduced payoff provision in the promissory note provided as part of the purchase price. The plaintiff was therefore found to not be entitled to damages or a judgment that he was no longer liable to defendants for further payments under the note. The Appellate Court affirmed this holding in a decision released March 11, 2008, thus enabling payment to the defendants of the balance due on the note plus accrued interest.
Curcio v. Bax, 106 Conn. App. 307
(2008). |
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February,
2008 |
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Whitman Breed Partners have been named “ Connecticut
Super Lawyers” for 2008. |
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Super
Lawyers, limited to five percent of Connecticut
attorneys, are selected through peer nominations
and independent research and evaluation
by Law & Politics. Terry Coates (Estate
Planning/Trusts) and Charles Pieterse (Business
Litigation) were again named Super Lawyers
as they were in 2006 and 2007. |
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February,
2008 |
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John
Shaban was appointed Chairman of the Redding
Water Pollution Control Commission, which
is currently overseeing the construction
of a $12 million, 245,000 gallons per day
plant being constructed as part of the Georgetown
Wire Mill Redevelopment project headed by
Greenwich developer Stephen Soler. |
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January,
2008 |
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Whitman Breed is pleased to announce that Rod Saggese
has been named a partner in the Litigation
Department of the Firm. |
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Rod joined
the firm in 2004 as an associate, and he
practices in the areas of commercial litigation,
general civil litigation and intellectual
property. |
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January,
2008 |
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The Firm represented a seller in a purchase
and sale transaction of a $30 million residential
property in Greenwich, which to that date
was the highest priced sale of a single
parcel of residential property in Greenwich. |
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September,
2007 |
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Rod
Saggese has been elected Treasurer of the
Greenwich Bar Association. |
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September,
2007 |
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WHITMAN BREED HAS MOVED TO NEW OFFICES IN GREENWICH !
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Please note that our Greenwich office
is now located at 500 West Putnam Avenue.
Whitman Breed has moved to newer and larger
offices with more convenient client access.
Please click for
directions.
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Whitman Breed is pleased to announce that Donna Castronovo
has joined the Firm as a partner in the
Real Estate and Trust and Estates Departments.
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Donna brings
to the Firm and its clients twenty years
of experience gained in running her own
successful law practice in Greenwich.
She has particular expertise in real estate
law, probate matters and elder law, and
she has been recognized by the American
and Greenwich Bar Associations for both
her pro bono work and her volunteer efforts
on behalf of the legal profession.
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The Firm represented the owners of Public Energy Solutions
(“PES”) in a sale of PES to Comverge,
Inc., a public company involved in energy
conservation and load management businesses.
Kevin Walsh was assisted by Katherine
Dowd in closing the $13.4 million transaction,
which also provides for further cash payments
and stock distributions if future revenue
and earnings targets are met.
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Whitman Breed Partners have been named “ Connecticut
Super Lawyers” for 2007. |
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Super Lawyers,
limited to five percent of Connecticut
attorneys, are selected through peer nominations
and independent research and evaluation
by Law & Politics. Terry Coates (Estate
Planning/Trusts) and Charles Pieterse
(Business Litigation), both of whom were
also Super Lawyers in 2006, have repeated
as Connecticut Super Lawyers for 2007,
as listed in Connecticut Magazine.
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