Robert C. E. Laney
Rob has been a partner in the firm since 1997. He focuses his work on the defense of professional liability matters for lawyers, including legal malpractice cases and attorney disciplinary proceedings. Rob’s practice also includes the representation of individuals and entities in commercial litigation, construction claims, and lawsuits arising out of unfair trade practices, premises liability, and product liability.
Rob has tried more than 40 jury cases to verdict in state and federal courts in Connecticut, Virginia, and North Carolina and has also successfully argued more than three dozen appeals before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, the Connecticut Appellate Court, and the Connecticut Supreme Court. In addition, Rob has successfully defended approximately 200 legal malpractice cases and dozens of grievance matters filed against other attorneys.
Rob has held the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards (AV) from Martindale-Hubbell for more than 20 years and has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© in the area of legal malpractice defense every year since 2018. He has also been listed in Connecticut Super Lawyers® every year since 2008.
Rob is a frequent speaker at seminars and conferences on topics pertaining to trial tactics, civil practice and procedure, the defense of uninsured/underinsured motorist claims, the Medicare Secondary Payer Act, and other topics. He served as a Special Master for the Connecticut Superior Court from 2005 – 2015 and as a court-appointed Fact Finder and Attorney Trial Referee from 2007 – 2015. Rob was elected to membership in the American Board of Trial Advocates in 2018, the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel in 2017, and the National Retail & Restaurant Defense Association in 2013. He is a member of the Professional Liability Defense Federation and is a past president of the Connecticut Defense Lawyers Association, a former co-chair of the Fairfield Count Bar Association Civil Litigation Committee, and a former member of the Board of Directors of the Fairfield County Bar Association. He also served as the State Chair for the Association of Defense Trial Attorneys from 2005 until 2017.
Professional Affiliations
- Member of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel
- Elected to membership in the American Board of Trial Advocates
- Member of the Professional Liability Defense Federation
- Member of the National Retail & Restaurant Defense Association
- Connecticut Defense Lawyers Association (Chairman of the Board, 2011 – 2012; President, 2010-2011; Member of the Board of Directors, 2006-2010)
- State chair of the Association of Defense Trial Attorneys, 2005 to present
- Member of the Defense Research Institute
- Connecticut and Fairfield County Bar Associations
- Listed in Connecticut Super Lawyers (2008-2023)
- Selected to appear in The Best Lawyers in America®, (2018-2025)
- Listed in Moffly Media’s “Top Lawyers in Fairfield County”, Professional Malpractice Non-Medical Defense, 2024
Representative Experience
- Obtained dismissal of a fraud claim brought in federal court against the former vice president of finance of an investment bank that misappropriated a $4 million investment and transferred it for its own use. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the dismissal in a unanimous decision.
- Represented five directors of a closely-held corporation in connection with a suit brought by two of the founding shareholders seeking $9 million for alleged theft of intellectual property, unfair trade practices, breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract. Obtained a defense verdict for all five directors after an eight day trial.
- Represented a commuter railroad company against a $12 million wrongful death claim brought by the estate of a young woman who was killed when she was struck by a train while walking across trestle. Obtained a defense verdict in favor of the railroad company after an eight day jury trial.
- Obtained summary judgment on behalf of an excavation company and several of its employees in connection with wrongful death claims brought by the estates of two employees who asphyxiated while working in a manhole.
- Obtained defense verdict after a two week jury trial in federal court for a bail bondswoman charged with unlawful entry and civil rights violations.
- Representation of an institutional equity investment management company in defense of multi-million dollar claims for violations of software licensing and maintenance agreements and unfair trade practices.
- Has represented several trucking companies in connection with wrongful death and serious injury claims arising out of tractor-trailer accidents.
- Has successfully represented numerous lawyers in connection with grievances and legal malpractice lawsuits.
Reported Decisions
Jackson v. Prince, 231 Conn. App. 568 (2025) (affirming dismissal of case)
Dibrino v. Wocl, 351 Conn. 919 (2025)
Elwell v. Kellogg, 202 Conn. App. 822, cert. denied 348 Conn. 927 (2023) (affirming summary judgment for defendant)
Lampert v. Graber, 348 Conn. 930 (2023) (affirming dismissal of appeal from jury verdict for defendant)
Gianetti v. Neigher, 214 Conn. App. 394, cert. denied 345 Conn. 9634 (2022) (affirming summary judgment for defendant)
Tunick v. Tunick, 201 Conn. App. 512 (2020), cert. denied 336 Conn. 910 (2021) (affirming summary judgment for defendant)
Greene v. Keating, 197 Conn. App. 447 (2020) (affirming defense verdict)
Costello & McCormack, P.C. v. Manero, 194 Conn. App. 417 (2019) (affirming summary judgment for defendant on counterclaim)
Rendahl v. Peluso, 173 Conn. App. 66 (2017) (affirming jury verdict for defendant)
Stone v. Pattis, 159 Conn. App. 405, cert. denied 319 Conn. 929 (2015) (affirming summary judgment for defendant)
Kervick v. Silver Hill Hospital, 309 Conn. 688 (2013) (affirming jury verdict in favor of defendants)
Pin v. Kramer, 304 Conn. 674 (2012)
International Strategies Group, Ltd. v. Ness, 645 F.3d 178 (2nd Cir., 2011) (affirming dismissal)
Tirreno v. Mott, 375 Fed.Appx. 140 (2nd Cir. 2010) (affirming jury verdict in favor of defendants)
Sullivan, Adm’r. v. Metro-North Commuter Railroad Co., 292 Conn. 150 (2009)
Stearns & Wheeler, LLC v. Kowalsky Brothers, Inc., 289 Conn. 1 (2008) (affirming summary judgment for defendant)
Auster v. Norwalk United Methodist Church, 94 Conn. App. 617 (2006), aff’d 286 Conn. 152 (2008) (reversing jury verdict for plaintiff)
DaGraca, Admr’x. v. Kowalsky Brothers, Inc., 100 Conn. App. 781, cert. denied 283 Conn. 904 (2007) (affirming summary judgment for defendant)
Lin v. AMTRAK., 277 Conn. 1 (2006) (affirming jury verdict for defendant)
Smith, Adm’r. v. Mediplex of Westport, 273 Conn. 508 (2005) (dismissing plaintiff’s appeal from jury verdict in favor of defendant)
Coughlin v. Anderson, 270 Conn. 487 (2004) (affirming directed verdict in favor of defendants)
United States v. Tracy, 12 F.3d 1186 (2nd Cir., 1993) (vacating and remanding for resentencing)
United States v. Stephens, 7 F.3d 285 (2nd Cir., 1993) (vacating and remanding for resentencing)
