CHOOSING THE RIGHT LAWYER CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE
WE STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS
If you’ve been charged with a disciplinary violation by a college or university, or if you’ve been arrested or charged with a crime by either federal or state authorities, you need a highly experienced attorney on your side to immediately begin protecting your rights and tirelessly fight for your exoneration.
The same is true if you’ve been the victim of an assault or gender discrimination under Title IX but then run into local or school authorities not handling your claim properly.
Our lawyers zealously use every resource and explore every option to protect your rights and defend your reputation. We fight with tenacity, commitment, creativity and a deep understanding of the judicial and university disciplinary process on behalf of every single one of our clients.
Call our office today to learn how our team can help you with:
Title IX actions – Standing up for the rights of students and employees at educational institutions who have suffered unlawful gender discrimination, harassment, or retaliation
College conduct code defense – Protecting college students accused of violating their school’s conduct code against serious charges such as sexual assault, hazing and drug distribution
State criminal defense – Zealously guarding the rights of individuals charged with state and federal crimes from fraud to serious sex offenses and violent crimes
Federal criminal defense – Defending against serious allegations on the federal level involving white collar fraud, drugs, weapons, and other charges
MEET OUR ATTORNEYS
Felice Duffy
Felice Duffy served as an Assistant United States Attorney for ten years after beginning her legal career at two prestigious firms (one in CT and one in NY) and then clerking for two federal judges. As an undergraduate, she brought a legal action under the then-new Title IX statute against UCONN to compel the creation of its women’s varsity soccer program. She went on to become a first-team Division I All-American, was selected to be on the first U.S. National Women’s Team, and spent 10 years as Head Coach of the Yale women’s soccer team (while at the same time earning her Ph.D. in Education/Sports Psychology).
Justin Smith
Justin Smith has 21 years of experience vigilantly defending the rights of the accused, having spent seven years as Criminal Defense Investigator both in private practice and in the Washington State Federal Defender’s Office, and 14 years here in Connecticut as a Criminal Defense Lawyer. He has extensive experience in both State and Federal criminal courts including trying several cases all the way through to jury verdict. From analyzing crime scene and forensic evidence to evaluating police reports to constructing creative legal defense theories, he brings to every case and client, regardless of the charges, the rigorous attention to detail he honed as an Investigator.
Christine Brown
Christine Brown has a comprehensive understanding of Title IX and how it impacts students, faculty, and staff on college campuses. Before joining Duffy in January of 2020, Christine held the dual roles of Director of Legal Services and Title IX Coordinator at Fairfield University, where she was responsible for developing the school’s Title IX policies and due process procedures. She presided over hundreds of university matters including dozens of Title IX hearings and conduct code violation claims ranging from sexual assault to hazing to racial bias.
Paul Thomas
Paul Thomas served for 18 years as an Assistant Federal Defender representing individuals charged with serious crimes throughout Connecticut. Prior to his appointment to the Federal Defender’s Office, he spent two years clerking for a federal judge and 14 years as an associate and then partner in a top Connecticut firm. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a recipient of the Champion of Liberty Award from the Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. Since 1996, Attorney Thomas has served on the Faculty of the Yale School of Medicine where he lectures on the topic of Law and Psychiatry.