Jeff’s practice is focused on representing businesses and individuals with complex financial litigation needs including: bankruptcy/bankruptcy litigation, creditor/debtor litigation, tax litigation, pension and employee benefit litigation and commercial litigation.  He regularly tries cases and appeals before Connecticut’s state and federal courts.  Jeff has particular experience regarding the interplay between and among bankruptcy law, tax law and ERISA.

Jeff regularly serves as counsel to clients experiencing a wide of array of financial challenges.  Representative engagements include:

Financial Restructuring and Bankruptcy

• Counsel to the debtor-in-possession in numerous industries of industries including: finance, real estate, aero space, medical and medical devices, construction, specialty mill working, real estate, hospitality and recreation, legal profession, manufacturing, energy and industrial
• Counsel to unsecured creditors committees/liquidating custodians/liquidation trustees in reorganization and post-confirmation liquidation and litigation matters
• Counsel to ad hoc committee of creditors in bankruptcy proceedings and out of court restructurings/wind down/liquidations
• Counsel to debtors in workouts (out-of-court restructuring)
• Prosecution and defense of preference, fraudulent transfer and avoidance actions
• Counsel to the Chapter 7 Trustee in prosecution of avoidance actions, sale of assets and other matters involving a major ponzi scheme

Tax Litigation

• Successful resolution of criminal tax investigations
• Successful abatement of penalties for employment taxes assessed against a company on account of internal fraud by controller
• Successful abatement of penalties for federal excise taxes on behalf of major fuel installation
• Resolution of refund litigation related to trust fund recovery penalties with Department of Justice Tax Division
• Successful resolution of sales tax liability owed out-of-state consulting firm with Connecticut Department of Revenue Service
• Workout and resolution of tax shelter matters

Commercial Litigation

• Counsel to plaintiff in Fine Home Builders v. Perrone, concerning the proper method of service on estate style homes
• Prosecution and defense of fraudulent transfer matters
• Successful resolution of cases involving lawsuits against long-term disability insurers
• Successful defense of medical products manufacturer in a replevin action
• Successful defense of lessee and establishment of significant case law concerning damage mitigation requirements in commercial leasing
• Counsel to note holders in cutting edge litigation involving improper use of “personal goodwill” as an asset protection tool.

Jeff received his B.A. in government from Colby College, his J.D. from the University of Connecticut, School of Law and his LL.M. (Taxation) from Boston University, Graduate Tax Program.

Jeff  is a 2005 recipient of the Connecticut Law Tribune’s New Leaders of the Law Award (Overall Achievement, Fairfield County) and has been listed by New England Super Lawyer® as a Super Lawyer (Business Litigation) since 2010 (Rising Star 2010-2013), and was named a Fellow of the American Bar Association, Business Law Section (2011 – 2013).   Jeff holds many positions with local and national bar organizations and is a frequent writer and lecturer on topics involving bankruptcy, tax litigation and commercial litigation.  Current positions include: Chair of the Government Powers Sub-Committee of the American Bar Association, Business Law Section, Business Bankruptcy Committee and Education Director of the American Bankruptcy Institute, Bankruptcy Tax Committee.  He is a member of the New Haven Jewish Community Center Board of Directors. In his spare time, Jeff enjoys playing with his kids and swimming, biking and running.