Erick M. Sandler

Andrew Garza is a co-founder and the lead trial attorney at Claggett, Sykes & Garza, LLC ("CSG"), in Connecticut. He grew up in public housing, bartended his way through college and law school, and opened his own law firm in 2013. He has tried cases to 7-, 8-, and 9-figure jury verdicts as lead counsel. In 2022, he obtained a $100 million verdict on behalf of a paralyzed man and his wife, which was the largest verdict in Connecticut history. Garza and his team speak nationally to plaintif...

Michael J. Walsh is a founder and principal of the Walsh Woodard LLC law firm. He has dedicated his practice to the representation of individuals in personal injury actions. Mr. Walsh was admitted to the Connecticut Bar in 1987 and the New York Bar in 1988. He is also admitted to practice in the Federal District Court of Connecticut, the Eastern District Court of New York, the Southern District Court of New York and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. From 1988 through 1989, Mr. Walsh served...

Johanna Zelman’s unique background in health and mental care and in school law results in highly competent, in-depth and knowledgeable advice and representation for her clients. While she has represented a wide variety of private and public sector employers from various industries, Johanna has a specific strength and hands-on experience in the health and mental health fields. Prior to her legal career, she worked for Harvard University’s affiliate hospitals, where she had direct c...

Grant M. Ehrlich is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Patent Law. Grant M., who practices law in West Hartford, Connecticut, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Grant M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Willard F. Pinney, Jr. serves of counsel at Harris Beach Murtha in Hartford, Connecticut, contributing to the firm's Corporate Practice Group. He provides insightful representation, drawing from over four decades of experience with public and private companies in Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, and Securities/Capital Markets Law. Willard brings valuable experience to a wide range of legal matters including mergers and acquisitions, contracts, private equity transactions, and gene...

James F. Shea is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. James F., who practices law in Hartford, Connecticut, has been recognized since 2017. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which James F. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jack G. Steigelfest is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice. Jack G., who practices law in Hartford, Connecticut, has been recognized since 2006. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jack G. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

For more than 30 years, Andy has been representing people in Connecticut who have suffered life-changing events through no fault of their own. He has represented clients injured as a result of aviation accidents, catastrophic automobile and truck collisions, medical malpractice, defective products, including prescription and over the counter medications, premises liability and police misconduct. Over those years, Andy has tried numerous cases in State and Federal Court, obtaining multi-millio...

For nearly three decades, the emphasis of Mr. Escalera’s practice has been labor and employment law and litigation. Initially, Mr. Escalera served with the Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps for nine years where he engaged in extensive criminal and civil litigation. Mr. Escalera was last stationed at the Pentagon where he acted as lead counsel for the Army Litigation Division defending the Department of the Army in employment discrimination suits brought by civilian employees in ...

From the onset of a legal career that has spanned three decades and yielded millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for injured people, John J. Houlihan, Jr. has always taken a personal interest in the concerns of his clients. Long after his cases are resolved, he often remains involved in the lives of his clients, considering it the highest honor that he receives a significant percentage of referrals both from former clients and other attorneys. Mr. Houlihan has obtained numerous mil...