Connecticut Attorneys Profiles
Practicing Personal Injury Law, Claims, Real Estate Closings, Contracts & Divorce Law
Our Bridgeport, Connecticut firm comprises knowledgeable and highly-competent attorneys who are trusted partners in our clients’ legal matters. We pride ourselves on the caliber of our attorneys. We hire only the best so that clients are assured of unparalleled representation.
Each of our attorneys draws on a broad base of legal knowledge and has experience in several practice areas. This enables us to address a wide spectrum of issues. Our attorneys work on matters as a cohesive team. Each attorney contributes a unique perspective. Please click on a name below to learn more about our team.
Charles J. Willinger, Jr., the founding member of the firm, handles the negotiation and closing of substantial commercial real estate transactions for national, regional, and local clients. Known for his ability to bring disparate interests to consensus, Mr. Willinger’s experience in commercial transactions, zoning, and land use, has earned him an AV peer-review rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
Mr. Willinger has represented developers and municipalities in some of the largest real estate developments and municipal redevelopments in New Haven and Fairfield Counties. These are some of his past and current projects in Connecticut:
- $900 million Steel Point redevelopment on the Bridgeport harbor
- $350 million Stratford Army Engine Plant base closure and redevelopment in Stratford
- $300 million redevelopment of downtown Derby
- Bridgeport Greyhound Racetrack
- Shelton Heights Joint Venture residential development
- The NASDAQ Operations Headquarters
- $550 million Schiavone Corporation Downtown Bridgeport Redevelopment
- Sacred Heart University campus residential hall development
- Many United Properties and Starwood-Ceruzzi commercial real estate developments
Mr. Willinger also represented the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, an American Hockey League team and affiliate of the New York Islanders.
His (and the firm’s) reputation for responsiveness and prompt and courteous delivery of legal services lead to the firm’s selection as the Connecticut provider law firm for Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc., where it has over 8,500 participant families.
Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, February 11, 1949, Mr. Willinger graduated from Fairfield University and the University of Miami, School of Law. Mr. Willinger is admitted to practice in Connecticut and Florida state courts, and before the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut. Mr. Willinger sits on the Panel of Arbitrators, American Arbitration Association, and is a member of the Greater Bridgeport, Connecticut, Florida, and American Bar Associations.
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E-Mail: cjwillinger@wwblaw.com
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Ann Marie Willinger, a member, working with her husband and partner, represents clients in administrative law related to land use, including zoning, inland wetlands, historic, environmental, and coastal permits and approvals. She is known for her ability to investigate, prepare, and coordinate all aspects of the application, approval, and appellate process. Ms. Willinger is the managing partner of the Prepaid Legal Services Department in the law firm and oversees the provision of comprehensive legal services to its members.
Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, November 20, 1954, Ms. Willinger attended Wellesley College and graduated from Fairfield University, Magna Cum Laude. She attended St. John’s University School of Law, achieving a position on its Law Review and graduated from the University of Bridgeport School of Law, summa cum laude in 1981. Ms. Willinger is admitted to practice in Connecticut and before the U. S. District Court for the District of Connecticut and the U. S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals. Ms. Willinger is a member of the Greater Bridgeport, Connecticut and American Bar Associations, and the American Prepaid Legal Institute.
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E-Mail: amwillinger@wwblaw.com
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Thomas W. Bucci is a founding member of Willinger, Willinger & Bucci, P.C. Mr. Bucci’s practice includes trial and appellate work, employment and discrimination law, and corporate law. Mr. Bucci also represents many financial institutions in foreclosure and creditor’s rights matters. His reputation has earned him an AV peer review rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
He represents clients in all levels of state and federal courts and has advocated for clients before the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, the Connecticut State Board of Labor Relations, and the Connecticut Board of Mediation and Arbitration. Mr. Bucci served as Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Bridgeport, and was Mayor of the City of Bridgeport from 1985 through 1989.
Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut on April 17, 1948, Mr. Bucci received his BA from Sacred Heart University and his law degree, cum laude, from the University of Connecticut School of Law. He is admitted to practice before the courts of the State of Connecticut, the U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut, the U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court.
Mr. Bucci is a past president of the Greater Bridgeport Bar Association, and is currently a member of the Greater Bridgeport, Connecticut and American Bar Associations.
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E-Mail: tbucci@wwblaw.com
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Bradd S. Robbins, a member, has been with Willinger, Willinger & Bucci, P.C. since the firm’s founding in 1990. Mr. Robbins' practice areas include residential real estate development, commercial real estate and leasing, commercial finance, and corporate law. Mr. Robbins represents developers, small businesses, and institutional lenders throughout Fairfield and New Haven Counties. He has been instrumental in the development of such projects as Stone Ridge at Fairfield, The Village at Black Rock in Bridgeport and Great River Golf Club in Milford.
Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, April 24, 1963, Mr. Robbins received his undergraduate degree from Brandeis University and law degree from Boston University. Mr. Robbins is admitted to practice before the bars of the states of Connecticut and Massachusetts and is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut. Active in community affairs, Mr. Robbins has served on the Trumbull Land Acquisition Committee, the Trumbull Senior Tax Relief Review Committee, and is past treasurer, past vice president, and current member of the Board of Trustees of Congregation Rodeph Sholom. Mr. Robbins is past Chairman and current assistant cub master of Cub Scout Troop 261, and is a member of the Greater Bridgeport, Connecticut and American Bar Associations.
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E-Mail: brobbins@wwblaw.com
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Matthew D. Newman, a member, joined the firm in 1999, practicing in the areas of civil litigation, domestic relations (including custody and post-divorce motions practice) and criminal defense.
Born in New Haven, Connecticut, October 21, 1957, Mr. Newman graduated from Connecticut College in 1979 and received his law degree from Quinnipiac College School of Law in 1985, where he was a member of the Law Review. Mr. Newman was admitted to practice in the State of Connecticut in 1985, and before the U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut in 1986. Mr. Newman currently serves as a Family Special Master for the Superior Court, District of Bridgeport (2002–present).
Mr. Newman’s community service includes appointments to the Town of Woodbridge Plan and Zoning Commission (1999–2001), and the Board of Directors of Temple Beth David, Cheshire (2006–present). Mr. Newman is a member of the Greater Bridgeport, Connecticut and American Bar Associations, and was selected by the Connecticut Law Tribune as one of the "Dozen who Made a Difference- 2009.".
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E-Mail: mnewman@wwblaw.com
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Toni Marie Gelineau’s practice areas include real estate transactions, commercial and residential purchases, sales, financing, zoning, planning and land use, and probate.
Ms. Gelineau has represented builders and developers in both New Haven and Fairfield Counties on projects including residential condominium and affordable housing developments, municipal redevelopment, low income housing tax credit developments; and commercial, residential, and industrial construction and leasing.
Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Ms. Gelineau was admitted to practice before the bars of the State of Connecticut and the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut in 1980. A graduate of Fairfield University and the University of Connecticut School of Law, Ms.Gelineau was appointed by Governor William O’Neill to the State of Connecticut Advisory Board for the Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities. Ms. Gelineau has served as both an Inland-Wetlands Commissioner and Human Services Commissioner for the Town of Orange, and as a member of the Orange Town-Wide Building Committee. Ms. Gelineau has presented professional seminars on topics including commercial leasing, landlord/tenant law, and affordable housing.
Ms. Gelineau is a member of the Greater Bridgeport Bar Association (Real Estate Law Section) and the Connecticut Bar Association (past member, Speaker’s Bureau; current member, Real Estate and Commercial Law Sections).
Practice Areas:
E-Mail: tgelineau@wwblaw.com
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Athan S. Mihalakos has been associated with the firm since 1999, engaging in general practice, special education/school law, and transportation law.
Born in Waterbury, Connecticut, May 23, 1952, Mr. Mihalakos graduated from Fordham University in 1974, and received his law degree from Loyola Law School in 1977. Mr. Mihalakos was admitted to practice before the Connecticut bar in 1983, the Pennsylvania bar in 1984, the U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut in 1984 and the U. S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania in 1984. Mr. Mihalakos is also admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Mr. Mihalakos has served as a member of the Connecticut Higher Education Advisory Council (1989–1990), a zoning commissioner for the City of Waterbury, Connecticut (1990–1991), as Assistant to Corporation Counsel for the City of Waterbury, Connecticut (1992–1996), as a hearing officer for the State of Connecticut Special Education Due Process Unit (1999–2001); and as a small claims commissioner, Superior Court Housing Session, Waterbury (1988–1993).
Mr. Mihalakos is a member of the Greater Bridgeport, Waterbury, and Connecticut Bar Associations.
E-Mail: wwbfacts@wwblaw.com
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Linda R. Christiani engages in general practice, including worker’s compensation, insurance defense, and product liability. A Bridgeport native, Ms. Christiani received her undergraduate degree from Fairfield University and her Juris Doctor Degree from Quinnipiac University College of Law. Ms. Christiani was admitted to practice before the Connecticut bar in 1983. Prior to entering private practice, Ms. Christiani clerked for Administrative Judge Burton Jacobson, at Bridgeport Superior Court. Ms. Christiani is a member of the Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity, and a member of the Bridgeport, Connecticut and American Bar Associations.
E-Mail: wwbfacts@wwblaw.com
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Diane M. Lord represents developers and individuals with all aspects of land use planning throughout Fairfield County. Ms. Lord appears before various municipal planning and zoning agencies to obtain necessary approvals for construction, redevelopment, and other land use requirements. Ms. Lord also prosecutes and defends land use decision appeals in Connecticut’s Appellate Courts.
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, July 10, 1956, Ms. Lord received her undergraduate degree from Southern Connecticut State University and her Juris Doctor degree from Quinnipiac University School of Law. Ms. Lord was admitted to the Connecticut bar in 1985, and the bar of the U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut in 1987. Ms. Lord is a member of the Greater Bridgeport and Connecticut Bar Associations.
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E-Mail: dlord@wwblaw.com
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James A. Lenes has represented individuals and businesses since 1991 in the areas of commercial litigation, bankruptcy law, landlord/tenant disputes, foreclosures and collections, real estate litigation, employment litigation and personal injury litigation.
Mr. Lenes received his undergraduate degree from Lehigh University and his law degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law, where he was an Associate Editor of the Connecticut Law Review. Mr. Lenes is a member of the Connecticut and New York bars, and the bar of the U.S. District Court, for the District of Connecticut and the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. Mr. Lenes is a member of the Greater Bridgeport and Connecticut Bar Associations.
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E-Mail: jlenes@wwblaw.com
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Mark H. Middlen has been associated with the firm since 2003, practicing in the areas of civil litigation, including personal injury matters, matrimonial and family law, and criminal defense.
Born in Gardner, Massachusetts, Mr. Middlen graduated summa cum laude from Fitchburg State College in 1991 and earned his law degree from Western New England College School of Law in 1994. Mr. Middlen is admitted to practice in the States of Connecticut and Massachusetts, and before the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts and the District of Connecticut. In 2004, Mr. Middlen received the Members Choice Award from Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. Mr. Middlen is a member of the Greater Bridgeport and Connecticut Bar Associations.
Practice Areas:
E-Mail: mmiddlen@wwblaw.com
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Eric M. Desmond recently joined the firm and engages in general practice. A graduate of Purdue University (1995) and the Vermont Law School (Juris Doctor, Master of Studies in Environmental Law, 1998), Mr. Desmond is admitted to practice in the states of Indiana (1998), Texas (1999), Illinois (2002), and Connecticut (2004); and before the U.S. District Courts, Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana. Mr. Desmond is a member of the Greater Bridgeport, Connecticut, and American (Member, Section on Environment, Energy, and Resources) Bar Associations.
E-Mail: wwbfacts@wwblaw.com
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Willinger, Willinger & Bucci, P.C. is a full-service law firm representing individual and business clients throughout Fairfield and New Haven counties and across Connecticut. Contact the CT real estate lawyers and attorneys for legal help with your case.
