- Boston University, B.A., 1982 ~ magna cum laude
- Boston University School of Law, J.D., 1985
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Bar Admissions
- Connecticut ; 1985 Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut; 1986
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York; 1993
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York; 1993
- U.S. Supreme Court; 2011
- U.S. Tax Court; 1986
- Overview
- Experience
- Distinctions
- News & Media
- Events
- Affiliations
Overview
Tom Sansone is a litigator representing individuals and companies in a wide variety of business-related and personal disputes. He practices in various fields of civil litigation, including commercial, construction and insolvency litigation.
He has tried more than 90 cases to conclusion in Connecticut Superior Court, United States District Court and United States Bankruptcy Court and has argued before both the Connecticut Supreme and Appellate Courts. Much of his trial work involves complex banking issues, including lender liability cases, contested foreclosure/collection matters and representation of creditors in adversary bankruptcy proceedings. Tom’s skill at cross-examining adverse witnesses has often turned the tide in hotly-contested commercial cases, especially those involving complex financial documents.
Clients appreciate Tom’s responsiveness and creativity in devising solutions to seemingly intractable issues. He takes the time to learn about his clients’ businesses, and in approaching their legal challenges, adopts an approach that is both cost-effective and practical.
Tom has long been engaged in the community in which he works, playing a leading role in promoting the mental health and well-being of children and families with the Clifford W. Beers Guidance Clinic, the oldest continuously-operated mental health clinic in the country, on whose board he has served for the past 11 years. In 2009, he created a non-profit, WIKS-USA, that raised funds to build, equip and operate a residential school for children orphaned by AIDS in rural Western Kenya. Today, that school provides a high quality education to more than 400 students in one of the most impoverished areas in sub-Saharan Africa. Tom continues to support this all-volunteer organization, serving as its Vice President for Resource Development & Donor Engagement. From 1998 – 2011, Tom served as a director of the United Way of Greater New Haven, chairing that organization from 2006 – 2008, during which time he was instrumental in transforming the organization from a federated fundraiser into an active agent for positive community impact.
Experience
- Successfully negotiated a six-figure settlement in a mediation in which he represented a homeowner asserting a faulty construction claim against the general contractor
- Obtained dismissal of a federal court RICO action on behalf of an individual who had been sued by a Bankruptcy Trustee who had claimed that the client was a fraudulent transferee of assets formerly held by a party engaged in a Ponzi Scheme
- Successfully defended a commercial tenant in an eviction proceeding, by demonstrating that the landlord had failed to establish the tenant’s liability for unpaid rent
- Negotiated a seven-figure settlement on behalf of union members whose employer-nursing home had gone into bankruptcy and whose administrator had absconded with the members’ pension funds and health insurance premiums
- Successfully litigated utility company’s request for security deposit against commercial debtor in contested bankruptcy court proceeding in one of the first test cases under the revised Bankruptcy Code
- Represented a utility company that was victimized by a customer’s theft of natural gas services, ultimately negotiating a six-figure settlement for the company as part of the customer’s criminal plea agreement
- Successfully argued a case of first impression before the Connecticut Supreme Court, which held that a right of first refusal was not applicable in the context of an involuntary foreclosure sale
Before Carmody
While in law school, Tom completed an internship with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, working on behalf of victims of employment discrimination. He also volunteered for Greater Boston Legal Services as a student attorney, representing indigent persons in a variety of matters, including landlord/tenant disputes and Social Security Administration appeals.
Distinctions
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America, in the area of Commercial Litigation, 2022
- Honored by the New Haven County Bar Association with its annual Yale Sappern Civility Award, 2021
- Selected as a Litigation Star in Benchmark Litigation, 2021
- Selected for inclusion in Connecticut Super Lawyers® in the area of Business Litigation, Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights and Utilities, 2008-2016, 2018-2019
- Selected for inclusion in New England Super Lawyers® in the area of Business Litigation, 2008, 2010 and 2012, 2016
- Honored by the Connecticut Boy Scouts Council with Good Scout Award, 2019
- Honored by the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce with annual Community Leadership Award, 2016
- Honored by United Way of Greater New Haven with annual Alexis de Tocqueville Award for service to the community, 2014
- Honored as the Business New Haven 2013 “Citizen of the Year” for his outstanding contributions to both the Greater New Haven community and abroad
News
- Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey LLP Hosts Lawyers Collaborative For Diversity Intern in New Haven Office
- Thomas J. Sansone
- Thomas J. Sansone
- Thomas J. Sansone
Publications
Events
- How to Develop Ethical Competence: Key Considerations and Effective Strategies
- What I Wish I Knew As a Young Attorney
- A Comprehensive Ethics Guide for Lawyers: What You Should Know and Do
- The Probate Process from Start to Finish
- The Basics of Bankruptcy
- Criminal and Civil Procedures in Theft of Utility Services Cases
- Probate and Trust Administration Seminar
- Bankruptcy 101
Affiliations
- Connecticut Bar Association
- New Haven County Bar Association
- Waterbury Bar Association
Community
- Chairman, Bylaws Revision Committee, New Haven County Bar Association, 2021 – present
- Treasurer, Board of Directors, Clifford W. Beers Guidance Clinic, Inc., 2021 – present
- Vice President of Resource Development & Donor Engagement and Director, WIKS-USA, Inc., Connecticut non-profit supporting the operation of a residential school for children orphaned by AIDS in rural Western Kenya, 2017 – present
- Chairman, Alexis de Tocqueville Society, United Way of Greater New Haven, 2012 – present
- Member, Executive Committee, Commercial Law & Bankruptcy Section of the Connecticut Bar Association, 1994 – present
- Member, Board of Governors, The Graduate Club Association
- Immediate past Chairman, Commercial Law & Bankruptcy Section of the Connecticut Bar Association, 2018 – 2020
- Vice Chairman, Commercial Law & Bankruptcy Section of the Connecticut Bar Association, 2016 – 2018
- Secretary/Treasurer, Commercial Law & Bankruptcy Section of the Connecticut Bar Association, 2014 – 2016
- President of the Board of Directors, Clifford W. Beers Guidance Clinic, 2016 – 2020
- Vice President, Board of Directors, Clifford W. Beers Guidance Clinic, 2013 – 2016
- Member, Board of Directors, Clifford w. Beers, 2011 – present
- Chairman, Board of Directors, United Way of Greater New Haven, 2006 – 2008
- Vice Chairman, Board of Directors, United Way of Greater New Haven, 2002 – 2006
- Secretary, Board of Directors, United Way of Greater New Haven, 1999 – 2002
- Member, Board of Directors, United Way of Greater New Haven, 1998 – 2011
- Member, Statewide Grievance Committee, 2012 – 2018
- Lector, eucharistic minister, prayer leader, preacher, Christ Episcopal Church of Bethany
- Member, Nominations Committee, New Haven County Bar Association, 2009 – 2011
- Horse show announcer Connecticut Dressage & Combined Training Association
- Annual road race announcer, Town of Bethany Parks & Recreation Department
- Announcer, Town of Bethany Harvest Festival
- National Anthem Soloist, New Haven County Cutters, New Britain Rockcats and Cooperstown Hawkeyes baseball clubs
- Trustee, Bethany Library Association, 1997 – 2006
- Member, Board of Directors, Bethany Library Association, 1997 – 2006
- Member, Executive Committee of the Young Lawyers Section of the Connecticut Bar Association, 1991 – 1992
- President, Waterbury Young Lawyers Bar Association, 1991 – 1992
- President, Southington Historical Society, 1990 – 1992
Testimonials
