Trial Experience

On the litigation side, Attorney Shapiro practices in the federal and state courts in Connecticut and New York, and before arbitration and mediation panels.  He has extensive trial experience bringing numerous cases to verdict including the defense of Connecticut’s longest trade secret trial and the first remote trial conducted in Connecticut.  His litigation practice focuses on commercial and complex matters including trade secrets, copyright, trademarks, securities, partnership and shareholder disputes, noncompetition, tax, employment, software, business torts, insurance coverage, contract and property disputes.  Attorney Shapiro also regularly serves as “local counsel” for non-Connecticut-based firms that are admitted to practice pro hac vice in Connecticut State and Federal Courts.  

Representative matters include:

• Obtained judgment in favor of multiple defendants in the longest trade secret trial in Connecticut history spanning over 100 days of evidence, including an award of attorneys’ fees for bringing claims in bad faith; obtained reversal by the Connecticut Supreme Court for additional defendants finding the trial court incorrectly determined that the plaintiff was not required to establish that defendant had knowledge of the trade secrets resulting in a new trial. Dur-A-Flex, Inc. v. Dy et al., 349 Conn. 513 (2024).

• Appointed as co-lead class counsel in litigation against multiple defendants alleging conspiracy to artificially inflate prices for assisted reproductive services that resulted in $2.85 million stipulated judgment, Kent v. Women’s Health USA, INC. ET AL., Connecticut Superior Court, FST-CV-21-6054676

• Obtained partial summary judgment in favor of private equity firm in suit brought by its placement agent, NovaFund Advisors, LLC v. Capitala Group, LLC et al. resulting in favorable settlement;

• Obtained judgment on behalf of business owners following sale of their business based on the alleged breach of the representations and warranties in the asset purchase agreement, RPA Acquisition, Inc. v. Exec. Caterers, Ltd., No. MMX-CV-22-6033984-S, 2024 WL 5135596 (Conn. Super. Ct. Dec. 13, 2024);
• Obtained FINRA arbitration award in favor of a client based on breach of a separation agreement by his former business partner which was affirmed by the Superior Court;

• Obtained judgments of dismissal on behalf of Stephen King accused of copyright infringement in Acker v. King, 46 F.Supp.3d 168 (D. Conn. 2014), appeal dismissed, 14-3908 (2d Cir. Feb. 26, 2015) and 2019 WL 1558623;

• Obtained judgment on behalf of taxpayer challenging tax assessments issued against him by Department of Revenue Services in Sobel v. Nicholson, 2017 WL 1240119 (affirmed after appeal to the Connecticut Supreme Court);

• Obtained judgment on behalf of insured in case brought by insurer seeking a declaratory judgment that it had no duty to defend its insured in Seneca Insurance Company v. Q Sono et al., 2018 WL 2760356;

• Obtained judgment on behalf of in-store couponing business in claim that it breached the terms of a $3.9 million promissory note by continuing to engage in couponing business which was the subject of a sale, Alerion Investment Partners I, LP v. Valassis Communications, Inc., 2013 WL 5969059;

• Obtained six-figure arbitration award in favor of claimant for breach of contract claims against former employer; 

• Obtained $5,000,000 judgment on behalf of client in breach of contract dispute; 

• Liaison counsel in In Re Revolution Lighting Technologies, Inc. Stockholder Derivative Litigation, Docket No.: 3:19-cv-00621-JBA;and

General Counsel and Corporate Work

On the corporate side, Attorney Shapiro regularly represents and advises clients in the purchase and sale of businesses, contract negotiations, corporate governance, intellectual property matters, employment matters, risk management, succession planning and blockchain technologies. As outside general counsel for numerous companies, Attorney Shapiro is available to provide day-to-day input on the many legal issues businesses encounter on a daily basis. 

Representative matters include:

• Counsel to technology company in sale of its core business, including international business interests to private equity firm;
• Co-counsel to medical group in connection with purchase of surgical center;
• Counsel to individual in connection with purchase of 100% stock of specialty aviation parts manufacturer.
• Counsel to company in connection with sale of intellectual property for dietary supplements to private equity firm.

• Regular representation of closely held businesses in managing various aspects of business, including succession planning.

• Negotiation of agreements for implementation of blockchain technology for international exchange.