SUSMAN, DUFFY - Key Persons
Jim has been managing partner of Susman, Duffy & Segaloff since joining the firm in 1985. He is a graduate of Syracuse University and the University of Connecticut School of Law. Jim practiced with United States Senator Joseph Lieberman from 1972 until 1985.
His practice emphasizes real estate development and commercial matters. Some of his most recent development projects include a major portion of Yale New Haven Hospital Smilow Cancer Center, a proposed rehabilitation of 700,000 square foot building at Science Park in New Haven, a transformative 300,000 square foot building along the New Haven-Hamden border, zoning ordinance amendment for the construction of a 325,000 square foot IKEA retail facility, the conversion of a twelve floor building on the Historic New Haven Green from commercial uses to 145 residential units, and the successful implementation of a zone change and site plan approval to permit the construction of a mixed use development, including 299 residential units and commercial space on a site within walking distance of the New Haven Green and a medical center along the Connecticut shoreline. Jim is listed in Best Lawyers in America in Real Estate Law.
Jim and his wife live in New Haven where he has served as president of Friends of the Children's Hospital at Yale-New Haven, president of Camp Laurelwood, president of the New Haven Rowing Club, and Chairman of the Civil Service Commission of the City of New Haven, for the past decade. A world-renowned coxswain, Jim is also the proud father of Steven, a world champion United States coxswain and a former member of the United States Olympic Team.
Joseph E. Faughnan joined Susman & Duffy in 1981 and has been a partner in the firm since 1983. The emphasis of Joe's practice is the representation of businesses and financial institutions in civil litigation, debt restructure, financing and bankruptcy. Joe has substantial experience in the trial and arbitration of commercial disputes before all State and Federal Courts, mediators and arbitration panels.
Joe holds a bachelor's degree from Fordham University, and received his law degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law, graduating with honors.
Joe resides in Northford and serves as an elected member of the North Branford Town Council. He has previously served on the North Branford Planning & Zoning Commission, where he acted as Chairman for five years and the Rural Preservation Committee. He has also served as a member of the North Branford Inland Wetlands Commission and served as a member of the Committee on Professional Grievances for the Waterbury Judicial District from 1998 to 2004.
Job Titles:
- Principal
- General Counsel and Development Counsel to Connecticut
Karen has been practicing for over twenty-two years, and is a member of the Connecticut state and federal bars and New York state bar. Karen has argued before state appellate courts and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. Before joining the firm, she prepared and argued criminal appeals in Hempstead, New York.
Karen serves as general counsel and development counsel to Connecticut housing authorities, private housing providers and developers across the state in all aspects of affordable housing operations including development, regulatory compliance, procurement, personnel, board governance, FOI and meeting law, fair housing, evictions, construct and contract administration and litigation.
Karen also represents municipalities in a variety of matters including general advice, contract administration, litigation and land use and tax assessment appeals. Karen has represented elected and appointed officials, police officers and educators in defense of constitutional and statutory claims, defamation actions and wrongful death claims. In addition, she has defended attorneys and nursing care facilities against claims of professional negligence and commercial property owners in premises liability and security claims. Her experience in these matters has contributed to the Litigation Practice Group's successful defense of a number of high exposure cases in both state and federal trial and appellate courts.
Karen received her Bachelor's Degree from Cornell University and her law degree from Hofstra University School of Law. While at Hofstra, she served as Managing Editor of Articles for Volume 25 of the Hofstra Law Review and received the Hofstra Service to the School and Excellence in Advocacy and Litigation Awards.
Karen is listed in Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America for Litigation - Municipal.
Karen lives in Woodbridge with her family where she has served as President of the Woodbridge Child Center Board of Directors, a member of the Woodbridge Board of Education (2013-2017) and currently serves as member (2017-present) and Chair (2020-present) of the Woodbridge Fire Commission.
Since 1980, Laura has been actively involved in the representation of commercial borrowers and lenders in real estate acquisitions, financing and refinancing transactions. Such representation has included asset-based financings, state and federal grant and loan programs, tax credit developments and multi-million dollar Connecticut projects undertaken by out-of-state developers.
Laura has considerable experience in the area of multifamily and affordable housing. In 1995, she represented six (6) syndicated limited partnerships in closing the first HUD refinancings in the United States under the Preservation Loan Program. She has continued to represent clients in the development, management and disposition of multifamily housing, and in particular has served as counsel in all facets of capital opportunities for rental properties whose initial affordability restrictions have expired. Laura regularly represents for-profit and not-for-profit owners working with HUD, State Housing Finance Authorities, local Housing Authorities, municipal development agencies, private equity lenders, tax credit investors and banks.
Now acting as Counsel to the firm, Laura continues to assist clients in pursuing opportunities to acquire, rehabilitate, repurpose, and finance multifamily properties throughout the state of Connecticut.
I am pleased to announce that I have become "of counsel" to the prominent New Haven law firm of Susman Duffy & Segaoff, PC.
As many of you may know I am currently serving as a state probate judge and as town counsel to the Town of Guilford. My private practice clients are, however, very important to me and I have enjoyed providing personal legal services for your benefit for many years. My affiliation with Susman Duffy & Segaloff, PC will now allow me to continue to provide legal representation in the community. So if you need representation, I encourage you to contact Susman Duffy & Segaloff, PC. located at Granite Square, 700 State Street, Suite 100, in New Haven; phone number: (203) 624-9830 and mention that you are a client of mine.
And to contact me there directly, please use: (203)654-2611 pbarrett@susmanduffy.com I think you will be impressed by the experience and breadth of services available. I look forward to collaborating with my colleagues at Susman Duffy & Segaloff, PC in serving your legal needs.
Job Titles:
- Principal
- Member of the American Bar Association
Phil is a member of the American Bar Association, The Connecticut Bar Association and the New Haven County Bar Association, where, for four years he served as an active co-chair of the Public Service Committee and remains an active member. Phil also serves as a current Board Member of the Foundation of the New Haven County Bar, is a Board Member of the New Haven County Bar Association, and has been an active member of the New Haven Inn of Court for several years. He has previously served as a public member of the Heating, Cooling and Sheet Metal Licensing Board of the Department of Consumer Protection.
Thomas is admitted to practice in Connecticut and New York State Courts. Before joining the Susman, Duffy & Segaloff, P.C., Thomas worked as in-house counsel for a mortgage lender working on licensing and compliance issues before opening his own law office where he worked on real estate purchases and foreclosures as well as representing cell phone providers to work on cell phone installation sites.
After receiving his undergraduate degree from Gettysburg College, Thomas worked for local banks and mortgage companies as a loan officer assisting borrowers with purchase and refinancing home mortgages before going to law school. Thomas received his law degree from Quinnipiac University School of Law.
Thomas represents residential home buyers and commercial clients, as well as working for municipal clients. Thomas is a member of the New York State, New Haven and Connecticut Bar Associations. He also serves as a board member and member of local and national not-for-profit organizations.
Thomas is a long-time resident of Fairfield County and currently lives in Norwalk.
As head of the firm's Litigation Department, Tom brings over twenty years of litigation experience to Susman, Duffy & Segaloff in both the state and federal courts. Tom's primary areas of concentration are professional liability and municipal defense. He has defended public liability claims ranging from police misconduct and civil rights violations to competitive bidding disputes and personal injury suits arising from automobile accidents and defective roadways. Tom also focuses on corporate and commercial litigation particularly claims of unfair trade practices, as well as the representation of financial institutions in defensive lender liability matters. He has personally represented Connecticut manufacturers in the defense of products liability claims and has participated with other members of the Litigation Practice Group in the defense of mass tort claims.
Tom has successfully defended legal malpractice claims in federal court with claimed damages exceeding $65,000,000.00. He has successfully handled appeals from professional liability cases before the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit Court and recently obtained a defense verdict in a legal malpractice case in state court which the plaintiff was claiming damages exceeding $4,000,000.
Tom is a member of the Professional Liability Section of the Defense Research Institute as well as its Business Litigation Section, the Professional Liability Underwriter's Society, and has lectured on insurance coverage and professional malpractice issues for the National Business Institute.
In addition to his participation in the various facets of the Litigation Practice Group's defense focus, Tom has had extensive involvement in pro bono representation of the indigent in matters ranging from civil rights litigation to the representation of consumer debtors before the United States Bankruptcy Court. In addition to his pro bono service, Tom has served as a member of the North Branford Economic Development Commission and as a member of the Board of the Gateway Community College Foundation. He is currently serving as a member of the North Branford Zoning Board of Appeals.