Helping You Do Business Right

Jim has extensive experience in many aspects of real estate, administrative law and litigation with a particular focus on zoning, environmental and related land use development matters.

He represents many clients in the real estate development and construction fields throughout the state. A major portion of his work is on referral from other attorneys and land use professionals.

Jim has represented the Darien Environmental Protection Commission, Planning and Zoning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals for many years, and has also served as special counsel for the Town of Weston and the Town of Westport. Jim has settled many land use disputes and has been appointed as a Special Master and Mediator for the resolution of land use matters pending in the Superior Court.

Jim served as President of the Fairfield County Bar Association in 2005-2006. He is the founder and Co-chair of the FCBA Land Use Committee, and is a frequent lecturer at FCBA and Connecticut Bar Association seminars. In 2015 he was appointed to the Norwalk Mayor’s Task Force on Zoning.

Jim also has represented private landowners and developers in Stamford, New Canaan, Darien, Norwalk, Bridgeport, Wilton, Westport, Weston, Brookfield and Newtown, and has managed large scale projects in New Hampshire and Vermont.

He has also has been a volunteer litigator for Connecticut Legal Services from 2012 to the present, and serves as Trustee for a number of clients nationwide.

Jim holds his 50 Ton U.S. Coast Guard Master’s License and with his wife Kristin and their three children enjoys skiing, sailing, offshore racing and building houses.

Areas of Practice

  • Land Use, Planning & Zoning
  • Environmental
  • Residential Real Estate
  • Commercial Real Estate
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Construction Law

Bar Admissions

  • Connecticut, 1978
  • New York, 1979
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit, 1995
  • U.S. District Court District of Connecticut, 1978
  • U.S. Supreme Court, 1989
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of New York
  • Vermont, 2015

Education

  • Fordham University School of Law, New York, New York
    • J.D. - 1978
  • Manhattanville College, Purchase, New York
    • B.A. - 1975
    • Major: Economics

Classes / Seminars

  • Fairfield County Bar Association and Connecticut Bar Association land use seminars, , Lecturer, 1998 to Present

Honors and Awards

  • AV® Preeminent Peer Review Ratings from Martindale-Hubbell®

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • Fairfield County Bar Association, President, 2004–2005
  • Fairfield County Bar Association, Director, 1999–2006
  • Fairfield County Bar Association, Co-chair, Land Use Committee, 1997 to Present
  • Connecticut Bar Association, Member, Executive Committee Section on Planning and Zoning, 1998 to Present
  • Connecticut Bar Association
  • Fairfield County Bar Association
  • Westchester County Bar Association
  • Superior Court Special Master Mediator, 2005–present
  • Darien Planning and Zoning Commission, Environmental Protection Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals, Counsel, 1980 to 2007
  • Weston Planning and Zoning Commission, Member, 1989–1993

Past Employment Positions

  • Curtis, Brinckerhoff & Barrett, P.C. in Stamford, Partner, 1984 to 2005
  • Darien Planning and Zoning Commission, Environmental Protection Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals, Counsel, 1980 to 2007
  • Weston Planning and Zoning Commission, Member, 1989 to 1993
  • Curtis, Brinckerhoff & Barrett, P.C. in Stamford, Associate, 1978 to 1983

Pro Bono Activities

  • Volunteer Attorney, Connecticut Legal Services, Inc., 2014 to 2018
  • Member, Weston Planning & Zoning Commission, 1989–1993
  • Member, City of Rye, NY Conservation Commission/Advisory Council, 2019 - Present