The Chabad House of Greater Hartford announced the appointment of Lee Gold ’97 as their new chairman of the board. Gold has been a part of the Chabad’s board since 2018, and his family has supported the organization for nearly 40 years. Gold currently practices law at Butler, Norris & Gold in Hartford, where he primarily focuses on criminal and civil litigation.
Alumni
In Memoriam: Hubert J. Santos ’69
Hubert J. Santos ’69, dean of Connecticut’s criminal defense bar and a Connecticut criminal defense giant, died June 22, 2021. Read his obituary.
Cindy Cieslak ’12 Appointed as the CBA’s Assistant Secretary-Treasurer
The Connecticut Bar Association has announced the appointment of Cindy Cieslak ’12 as the organization’s assistant secretary-treasurer for 2021-22. Cieslak is a partner at Rose Kallor, where she focuses on labor and employment litigation in state and federal courts.
Amy Lin Meyerson ’94 Appointed as the CBA’s Immediate Past President
The Connecticut Bar Association has announced the appointment of Amy Lin Meyerson ’94 as the organization’s immediate past president for 2021-22. Meyerson is a solo practitioner at The Law Office of Amy Lin Meyerson, where she specializes in several areas of domestic corporate law. She previously served as the CBA’s president (2020-21), president-elect (2019-20), and vice president (2018-19). She has also participated in CBA activities such as the Board of Governors and Women in the Law Section.
Omar A. Williams ’02 Nominated to the U.S. District Court for CT
The White House announced that President Joe Biden nominated Judge Omar A. Williams ’02 to serve on the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut. In 2016, Judge Williams began serving as a Superior Court Judge in Hartford, where he was involved with the New England Regional Judicial Opioid Initiative, the Sentence Review Division, and the Wiretap Panel. Judge Williams also served as a Superior Court Judge in New London from 2014 to 2016. Prior to his tenure as a state court judge, Judge Williams served as an Assistant Public Defender for the State of Connecticut Division of Public Defender Services from 2003 to 2014.
Cecil J. Thomas ’06 Appointed as the CBA’s President
The Connecticut Bar Association has announced the appointment of Cecil J. Thomas ’06 as the organization’s president for 2021-22. Thomas is an attorney at Greater Hartford Legal Aid, Inc., where he specializes in representing low-income clients. Thomas previously served as the CBA’s vice president in 2019-20, and has been involved in numerous activities for the organization, such as the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic Task Force and the Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
Francesco C. Mioli ’17 Joins Robinson & Cole
Francesco C. Mioli ’17 has joined the law firm Robinson & Cole LLP as an associate in the firm’s Real Estate + Development Group. Mioli, who will work out of the firm’s Stamford, CT office, was previously an associate at Zeldes, Needle & Cooper, P.C. and Day Pitney LLP. Mioli is licensed to practice in both Connecticut and New York.
Christopher Droney ’79 Hired as NFL Arbitrator
The National Football League announced the hiring of Christopher F. Droney ’79 as league arbitrator. In this role, Droney will be responsible for resolving all contractual employment and salary conflicts between players and the league. Previously, Droney was appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on Dec. 1, 2011, and sat on the court for eight years before joining Day Pitney, LLP as a partner in 2020. In addition to the new, part-time role with the NFL, Droney will remain a partner in the firm’s Hartford office.
Silvia Schaffer ’12 Promoted to Senior Counsel
The law firm Wood Smith Henning & Berman LLP. announced the promotion of Silvia Schaffer ’12 to senior counsel, effective June 1, 2021. Schaffer, who works out of the firm’s Orange County, California, office, was previousy an associate focusing on complex catastrophic injury, product liability, transportation, and medical malpractice.
Michael DiTommaso ’18 Joins Fox Rothschild
The national firm Fox Rothschild, LLP. announced the hiring of Michael DiTommaso ’18 as an associate in the firm’s real estate practice group. DiTommaso, who will join the firm’s Greenville, South Carolina office, was previously a clerk for the Honoral Alfred V. Covello of the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut.