Thomas P. Parrino

THOMAS P. PARRINO is a partner and co-founder of PARRINO|SHATTUCK, PC. He has handled some of the most complicated and high-asset family law litigation in Connecticut over the course of more than 25 years practicing family law. He represents clients in all aspects of family law, including divorce, alimony, child support, property division, and child custody. Considered a top lawyer in his field, Parrino is a tenacious negotiator and litigator. In 2013, Best Lawyers named Parrino “Lawyer of the Year” based on peer review.

Parrino is admitted to practice in the State of Connecticut and the U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut. He is a member of Connecticut’s Family Law Commission. The commission develops proposed reforms and new initiatives meant to improve family law in Connecticut, and examines the state’s Rules of Court, decisional law, and legislation that concern family law. Connecticut superior court judges and select attorneys who have been invited to serve as members comprise the commission.

In addition, Parrino is a fellow and past president of the Connecticut Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. He chairs the chapter’s Rules (O’Brien), Sunbury, and Arbitration committees; serves on the Amicus Committee; and served on the Examining Committee. He is also a member of the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, as well as the American, Connecticut, and Fairfield County bar associations.

Parrino recently served as a delegate to the National Board of Governors of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, after previously serving as the chair of the National Admissions Committee and a member of the National Test Subcommittee. He is a fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers as well.

Parrino co-authored a chapter in Family Law Jurisdictional Comparisons, Second Edition 2013, a book published by European Lawyer/Thomson Reuters. This book was born out of the rising significance of international family law and is a much-needed definitive guide to family law in core jurisdictions around the world. The jurisdictions include six U.S. states and 37 countries. Parrino covered numerous subjects that typify Connecticut family law, including finances/capital, property, pre- and post-nuptial agreements, surrogacy and adoption, child maintenance, civil partnership/same-sex marriage, and financial relief after foreign divorce proceedings, among others.

Moreover, Parrino has been a prominent lecturer on family law matters throughout his distinguished career. He received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut and his juris doctor degree from the University of Bridgeport, and attended law school at the Quinnipiac University School of Law.

Parrino has earned the following awards/recognitions:

• Martindale-Hubbell AV-rated attorney
• Best Lawyers in America since 2006
• Best Lawyers in New England 2018
• Top One Percent of America’s Most Honored Professionals in 2018
• New York Area’s Best Lawyers, New York Magazine since 2006
• Top Super Lawyer, Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers since 2006*
• Thomson Reuters Connecticut Super Lawyers: Top 50 Attorney (2015)*
• U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firms in Category of Family Law
• Top 30 Outstanding Lawyers of Fairfield County as recognized by Greenwich Magazine
• New England Super Lawyers, Connecticut Magazine since 2007
• Top-Rated Lawyers within Greater Boston Area by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell and ALM Media in Area of Family Law
• Lawyer of the Year selected by peer recognition and published by Best Lawyers (2013)
• Top 10 Family Law Attorney in Connecticut in 2018 by Attorney and Practice Magazine
• Distinguished Professional by Noticed (formerly known as Expert Network)

LANDMARK CASES

Tanzman v. Meurer – A trial court that determines a financial support order based on a party’s earning ability must determine the specific dollar amount of the party’s earning ability.

Powell-Ferri v. Ferri – Pursuant to Massachusetts law, it was proper for trustees to move funds from one trust that let the party husband withdraw principal to a second trust from which he could not withdraw principal. The husband was not obligated by the automatic orders to sue his family member trustees for return of the funds.

Kendall v. Pilkington – The appellate court abused its discretion by dismissing the defendant’s appeal from assorted contempt and pendente lite orders based on his alleged contemptuous conduct, even though the defendant purged himself of the contempt findings and the trial court vacated the contempt findings, thereby mooting the issues raised in the motion to dismiss.

Brant v. Brant – The highest-reported temporary support award in the nation granted by a court after hearing.

Ramin v. Ramin – The seminal case in which court authority granted counsel fees due to litigation misconduct, discovery abuse, and fraudulent concealment of assets.

*Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a research-driven, peer-influenced rating service of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The mission of Super Lawyers is to bring visibility to those attorneys who exhibit excellence in practice.