Pullman & Comley, LLC is pleased to announce the return of Judge William J. Wenzel (Ret.) to the firm as a member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), Family Law and Litigation practices. His focus will be on the mediation and arbitration of family law and business disputes. He will be based in the firm’s Westport and Bridgeport offices.
Judge Wenzel was appointed to the Connecticut Superior Court in early 2009 and retired from the bench in June 2022. During his more than 13 years of service, including time spent as a trial judge to the Family Division of the Superior Court, he gained extensive experience in the litigation and mediation of all aspects of family disputes including alimony, child support and custody and the impact these disputes can have on closely held businesses.
“In his 13 years on the bench, Judge Wenzel was widely regarded as extraordinarily fair, reasonable and knowledgeable,” says Judge Robert L. Holzberg, who chairs Pullman & Comley’s ADR practice. “He brings a truly comprehensive perspective on the areas of family and business law to our team.”
As a litigator, Judge Wenzel practiced for over 30 years in courts and arbitration tribunals throughout the nation in matters as diverse as intellectual property, medical malpractice, ERISA and securities litigation. He draws upon the experience of his acclaimed career to bring a practical approach to alternative dispute resolution with the goal of “getting to yes” and achieving an acceptable outcome for all.
Before becoming appointed to the Connecticut Superior Court, Judge Wenzel practiced at Pullman & Comley from 1988 – 2009 and served as the chair of Pullman & Comley’s Litigation Department and as a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. Prior to joining Pullman & Comley in 1988, he was a partner in two commercial law firms.
“We couldn’t be happier to welcome Judge Wenzel back to Pullman & Comley,” says James (Tim) Shearin, chair of the firm. “The vast experience he has, both as a litigator and on the bench, is invaluable to our firm and to our clients.”
Judge Wenzel also served as police commissioner of the Fairfield Police Department from 1989 to 1999 and was the director of the Connecticut Counseling Center from 1997 to 2009. He received his B.A. from Colgate University and his J.D. from the University of Tulsa College of Law, where he was editor-in-chief of the Law Review.
About Pullman & Comley’s ADR Practice
The Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) practice group at Pullman & Comley offers mediation and arbitration services in complex civil matters in state and federal court, including commercial, construction, employment, environmental, health care, insurance, personal injury and probate disputes. In addition, the ADR practice offers services in all family and matrimonial matters including financial, custody and parenting disputes. In addition to Judge Wenzel, the ADR team includes retired judges Anne C. Dranginis, Robert L. Holzberg (chair), and Michael E. Riley, as well as several AAA-qualified attorneys. Pullman & Comley’s ADR practice is consistently recognized as a leader in the field. In 2020, Pullman & Comley was named the top ADR overall provider in ALM’s Best of New England Survey. The firm’s ADR Practice was also ranked by Best Lawyers “2022 Best Law Firms” in the highest tier of arbitration practices in the Hartford metropolitan area.
About Pullman & Comley
Pullman & Comley is one of Connecticut’s largest firms and, for more than 100 years, has provided a wide range of legal services to clients in the New England region, as well as throughout the United States and internationally. Pullman & Comley’s major practice areas include business organizations and finance; government finance; health care; labor, employment law and employee benefits; litigation; property tax and valuation; real estate, energy, environmental and land use; and trusts and estates. The firm has offices in Bridgeport, Hartford, Waterbury and Westport, Connecticut; White Plains, New York; Springfield, Massachusetts; and Wakefield, Rhode Island. The firm is an active member of the Law Firm Alliance, an international affiliation of law firms. For more information, please visit www.pullcom.com.