With over 40 years’ experience in planning, zoning, and related land use matters, as well as real estate transactions, including purchases, sales, leases, financings, and tax appeals, Bill is a leading figure in the southwest Connecticut business community. Bill has considerable experience on issues of municipal law primarily related to land use and real estate development and continues to guide many of the major development projects approved or currently proposed in Stamford and other lower Fairfield County communities.
Prior to Carmody, Bill was a founding partner of Sandak Hennessey & Greco LLP and from 1981 to 1984 was Assistant Corporate Counsel for the City of Stamford.
“William Hennessey is respected for his expertise in challenging permitting matters. He is frequently involved in large-scale development projects and zoning disputes.”
“Bill is the best and has a super manner before clients.”
Chambers USA Guide 2025
Adjunct Professor – Land Use Law, University of Connecticut School of Law, 2024 – present
American Bar Association, Section of Real Property, Probate and Trust Law
Connecticut Bar Association, Planning & Zoning Executive Committee, Real Property Section
Best Lawyers® – Real Estate Law, 2026, Land Use and Zoning Law, 2026, Litigation: Trusts and Estates, 2026
Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers® in Stamford, Connecticut – Land Use and Zoning Law, 2022, 2023, 2025
Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers® in Stamford, Connecticut – Real Estate Law, 2020
Top tier ranking in Chambers USA Guide – Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use, 2020 – 2025
AV Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell®, 1999 – present
Connecticut Super Lawyers® – Land Use/Zoning and Real Estate, 2006 – present
American Cancer Society Honoree, 2024
City of Stamford Citizen of the Year Award, Jewish War Veterans, 2023
Fairfield County Real Estate Award, March of Dimes, 2016
Boy Scouts of America Connecticut Yankee Council Good Scout Honoree, 2013
CTE, Inc. Honor for Service to the Community, 2010
Stamford Chamber of Commerce Member of the Year, 2010
Stamford Downtown Special Services District Certificate of Appreciation, 2010
State of Connecticut Office of Treasurer Public Leadership Citation, 2010
Zoning counsel for Harbor Point – a conversion of Stamford’s 163-acre South End peninsula, resulting in 4,000 housing units, 300,000 sq. ft. commercial office, 72,000 sq. ft. of retail and 6.61 acres of parkland.
Led the land use entitlement process for Brookfield Properties’ Class A 750,000 sq. ft. Sono Collection mall in Norwalk, Connecticut.
Lead counsel for Charter Communications (Spectrum) 700,000 sq. ft. new headquarters in Stamford.
Involved in multiple multi-family housing developments in lower Fairfield County, which combined total more than 10,000 housing units.
Lead counsel in property acquisition and site development for North American headquarters building for RBS (now NatWest Markets).
Zoning and real estate counsel for redevelopment and expansion of Stamford Hospital’s $500,000,000 redevelopment.
Represented Target in permitting a unique multi-story vertical urban department store and a 600-space parking garage.
Zoning counsel for conversion of a portion of Stamford Town Center Mall into lifestyle center.
Led successful efforts to convert former manufacturing facility into Chelsea Piers, an indoor sports and recreational center and adjacent television network sports video production facility anchored by NBC Sports Group.
Counsel for several financial service firms in establishing and permitting trading floor operations throughout the Stamford area.
Lead zoning counsel in permitting Connecticut’s largest transit-oriented, mixed-use development adjacent to the Stamford Transportation Center.
Represented many schools, churches, non-profit organizations and social and recreational facilities throughout Fairfield County in development and redevelopment.