Dennis M. Carnelli

Dennis M. Carnelli is an experienced civil litigation attorney who focuses his practice principally upon:

• Business litigation
• Civil rights actions
• First Amendment litigation
• Appellate matters

He represents people and businesses in private disputes, matters where their constitutional rights have been violated, and in challenging laws that abridge their constitutional rights. In so doing, Dennis draws on his prior experience representing clients in state and federal civil actions, administrative proceedings, and pre-suit investigations that spanned a multitude of practice areas. He has tried cases to verdict, defended and prosecuted appeals, and orchestrated numerous favorable settlements for his clients. Dennis’ litigation background includes public service as an Assistant Attorney General in the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General. In that role, he represented numerous government agencies and officials, including the Governor of Connecticut, the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, the Commissioner of Correction, and the Chief State’s Attorney in state and federal legal proceedings.

Dennis earned his J.D., cum laude, from Western New England University School of Law, where he was a Note Editor for the Western New England Law Review and recipient of the law school’s oldest award, the Benjamin D. Novak Award, for outstanding legal writing. Thereafter, he proudly served as a law clerk for the late Justice Barry R. Schaller at the Connecticut Appellate Court.

Dennis is a U.S. Army combat veteran of the Iraq War, where he served as a forward observer with the 3d Infantry Division. He is the current Chairman of the Veterans & Military Affairs Section of the Connecticut Bar Association. He is on the Executive Committee of the Appellate Advocacy Section of the Connecticut Bar Association. Dennis is one of only three Connecticut members of the First Amendment Lawyers Association.