Connecticut Lawyers

Estate Planning Law

714 Hopmeadow St suite 9, Simsbury, CT 06070, USA

Ms. Watterworth was admitted to the practice of law in Connecticut in 1988. She maintains a membership in the Connecticut State Bar Association, and the Estate & Probate Section and the Elder Law Section of the Bar Association. She is also a member of the Simsbury Bar Assocaition. She practices in the areas of estate planning, trust and estate administration, asset protection planning, conservatorships, and elder law. She has more than two decades of experience with roles in major law firm private practice at Murtha, Cullina in Hartford, CT and Cummings & Lockwood in Stamford, CT, and Wall Street investment banking with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Gayle earned a Juris Doctorate Degree with High Honors from the University of Connecticut School of Law, where she served as Managing Editor of the Connecticut Journal of International Law. She graduated from Fairfield University in 1984, where she earned a B.A., cum laude, in Art History. In 2017, Gayle attended the Harvard University Graduate Program in Non-Profit Management. Prior continuing education studies included the FINRA Institute at Wharton. Gayle has been a long-time resident of Simsbury, CT, where she is currently a weekly activities volunteer at the McLean Home. She has previously served as a Co-leader in STEM Scouts and a volunteer chef for Church Street Eats, a local soup kitchen program in Hartford, CT. Gayle is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association, Hartford Bar Association, and Simsbury Bar Association. She is also a Board member of NAMI – Farmington Valley, CT.

Family and Divorce Law

5 North Main Street, Suite 5, Wallingford, CT 06492

Attorney Allen has extensive litigation experience including arbitrating, mediating, and trying family disputes. His family practice includes everything from amicable mediated property-only divorces to complex litigated divorce and custody matters. His real estate practice concentrates on residential real estate closings. Our firm has relationships with a number of local real estate agents and lenders. Attorney Allen is licensed to practice in all Connecticut State and Federal courts. Attorney Allen has been recently selected by the New Haven Register for inclusion in their list of the Best in New Haven series. He has also been recognized by the National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys, Inc. as one of the top 10 personal injury attorneys under age 40 in Connecticut. Attorney Allen has consistently been selected for inclusion on the Connecticut Super Lawyers List since 2010 and was selected for inclusion on the Connecticut and New England Super Lawyer List in 2013 and 2014. See selection process details here. He was selected for the Connecticut Law Tribune's 2012 Class of New Leaders in the Law and as a member of the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 under 40 in 2012, making him one of only 40 trial lawyers from the State of Connecticut to be selected for this group of accomplished young trial lawyers. Attorney Allen was also selected for inclusion as a Member of the Claims & Litigation Management Alliance in 2012.

Family and Divorce Law

5 Imperial Ave, Westport, CT 06880, USA

Prior to joining Rutkin Oldham Contratto LLC, India gained experience working in a fast-paced litigation firm representing health care providers in the defense of medical malpractice matters. During that time, she handled all aspects of pre-trial litigation, including case development, legal research, fact investigation and motion support. India was largely responsible for discovery oversight, including compliance management and review. She compiled relevant discovery and drafted various discovery motions, including demands and objections relative to discovery requests. India’s interest and passion for family law arose out of her experience working at a law firm in South Carolina during her undergraduate years. She helped the partners prepare for mediation and negotiations and was responsible for drafting and reviewing separation agreements. It was during this experience that India realized the importance of individualized, quality representation in family law matters. Having spent a great deal of time in law school studying corporate law and securities as well as her experience drafting chapters of a corporate finance textbook, India holds a unique knowledge and interest in the financial aspect of high net worth divorce. India graduated cum laude from Coastal Carolina University. There, she served as a member of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity and focused her studies on History and Political Science. India received her Juris Doctor from New York Law School, graduating cum laude. During her time in law school, India was a John Marshall Harlan Scholar and a member of the Dean’s Leadership Council. Additionally, she gained invaluable research and writing skills while serving as a Staff Editor of the New York Law School Law Review. India has spent a significant amount of time volunteering with Leaps of Faith, a non-profit organization in her hometown of Newtown, CT. The program is focused on providing adaptive waterski instructions to children with physical disabilities. Through the program, India had an opportunity to connect with children of all ages and provide a safe and memorable experience.

Workers Compensation Law

40 Stanford Drive, 1st Floor, Farmington, CT 06032

James F. Aspell is the principal and managing attorney of the firm which he started in 2006 following 20 years of litigation practice in a mid -size firm in Hartford, Connecticut. Jim focuses his practice in the areas of worker's compensation and personal injury litigation, insurance subrogation law, social security disability law, personal bankruptcy, and residential real estate. Recognized by judges, Commissioners, and attorneys, Jim has been Peer Rated for his legal ability and ethics by Martindale Hubbell and has successfully brought and defended hundreds of cases at the trial and appellate level before the Connecticut Worker's Compensation Commission, and in Connecticut State , Federal and Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Courts. Jim has been designated as a Board Certified Connecticut Worker's Compensation Specialists by the Standing Committee on Specialty Certification of the Connecticut Bar Association since the inception of the program. He has held the coveted Recommended Insurance Attorney designation from the A.M. Best Company since 2005 in recognition of his work in the defense of worker's compensation matters for various insurers, third party administrators and Connecticut municipalities. Jim was admitted to practice in the State and Federal Courts of Connecticut in 1986, The Mashantucket Tribal Court in 1991 and the United States Supreme Court in 1992. Jim is a 1986 graduate of Western New England College School of Law and a 1983 graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University. He has served as an adjunct faculty member in the field of Aviation Law at the University of New Haven . He is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association and a member of the Worker's Compensation Section of the Association. Jim is also a member of the Hartford County Bar Association and has served for many years on the Legal -Medical Committee. He is a member of the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, the National Association of Social Security Claimant's Representatives (NOSSCR) and the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys (NACBA). He is a past member of the Defense Research Institute. Jim is the Past- President of the Connecticut River Chapter of the Ohio Wesleyan Alumni Association and has served as President and in various other capacities in the Dynamic Networking Association. He has served the community as a coach and referee for the West Hartford Youth Soccer League and as Assistant Cub Master of Pack 145 in West Hartford. He is a USSF certified soccer referee and holds a 50-gross ton Master's license from the United States Coast Guard. He is a life-long resident of West Hartford where he resides with his wife and 3 children. Outside of the office Jim enjoys sailing, travel and cooking.

Personal Injury Law

280 Talcottville Rd, Vernon, CT 06066, USA

Attorney McCoy is a civil trial lawyer serving all matters that involve civil litigation. This includes bankruptcy, personal injury claims, and commercial litigation from defective premise actions, inadequate security cases, drug litigation, tractor-trailer wrecks, wrongful death actions, and motor vehicle accidents. He is also known for defending white-collar criminal cases and much more. Attorney McCoy received a diploma from the National Institute of Trial Advocacy and the Connecticut Bar Association for his completion of intensive professional training in the art and skill of Trial Advocacy. Attorney McCoy is licensed in State and Federal Court in Connecticut.