John T. Cigno ’17 joins the firm as an associate in the Labor, Employment Law and Employee Benefits practice.

US Air Force veteran Thomas M. Brockett ’91 has been inducted into the CT Veterans Hall of Fame. “The Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame celebrates the many veterans from Connecticut who have gone above and beyond in their service to our nation by continuing to contribute to our communities in so many ways, even after leaving the military,” Governor Lamont said.

Aaron Baral ’16 has been promoted to partner in Shipman’s Business and Corporate Practice Group, and Sarah Dlugoszewski ’16 has been promoted to partner in Shipman’s Litigation Practice Group. The promotions follow Shipman’s recent expanision in the Northeast.

Josef B. Volman ’91 has been named a Co‑Chair of the Corporate, M&A, and Securities Practice Group at Blank Rome LLP. Blank Rome announced the appointment as part of a broader leadership update marking the firm’s 80th anniversary.

Elizabeth A. Alquist ’94, Intellectual Property Partner at Day Pitney LLP, was named Intellectual Property Practitioner of the Year at the Second Annual Connecticut Distinguished IP Practitioners’ Dinner, held on November 13. Alquist was nominated for her “exceptional skill in managing complex intellectual property disputes, proven record of success in high-stakes litigation, and steadfast dedication to serving clients and the broader legal community.”

Deborah Witkin ’86 will receive the Charles J. Parker Legal Services award at the Connecticut Bar Association’s annual awards ceremony, Celebrate with the Stars, on Thursday, March 12. Attorney Witkin is the former Executive Director of Connecticut Legal Services (CLS). She retired in January 2026 after 39 years of distinguished service.

The Charles J. Parker Legal Services Award is presented to a member of the Connecticut Bar who has a deep and abiding interest in and dedication to the delivery of legal services to the disadvantaged in Connecticut.

Robin Kahn ’80 passed away in early December following a battle with cancer. Her obituary and tribute are available online.

Ashley Membrino Fote ’16 has been elevated to partner at Day Pitney, where she handles a wide range of commercial real estate transactions. Fote has extensive experience in real estate finance and represents a range of clients from individual investors to financial institutions, lenders, and private equity real estate funds.