Jonathan Shapiro joined Aeton Law Partners LLP as a partner in 2019. From 2014 to 2018, Attorney Shapiro was recognized as a Connecticut Super Lawyer, and from 2017-2018, he was named to the Top 100 attorney list in New England. He is the Immediate Past President of the Connecticut Bar Association after serving as the 95th president of the CBA from 2018-2019.
Attorney Shapiro represents individuals and businesses on a wide variety of litigation and corporate matters. He also provides outside general counseling services for small and mid-sized, privately held companies including medical practices, technology companies, restaurant groups and contractors.
Attorney Shapiro is very involved in the community. He is the current President of Congregation Adath Israel in Middletown and is a Corporator and Philanthropy Advisory Counsel Member of Middlesex Health. He is a past Chair of the March of Dimes Connecticut Chapter State Board.
Litigation & Trial Experience
On the litigation side, Attorney Shapiro has extensive experience in federal and state courts in Connecticut and New York, and before arbitration and mediation panels. He has tried numerous cases to verdict. His litigation practice focuses on commercial and complex matters including trade secrets, copyright, trademarks, securities, partnership and shareholder disputes, noncompetition, tax, employment, business torts, insurance coverage, securities, 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. Representative matters include:
- 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 (under appeal);
- 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.
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 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.
Attorney Shapiro is admitted to practice in Connecticut and New York, as well as before the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York and the District of Connecticut. He was honored by the Fairfield County Business Journal at the 2011 40-Under-40 Awards Dinner, and was named as a “New Leader in the Law” by the Connecticut Law Tribune in 2012.
In the media
Attorney Shapiro’s cases have been featured in various news media, including:
Seminars
- Moderator, Succession Planning and Leaving the Practice of Law, Connecticut Legal Conference 2019
- Moderator, What is Blockchain, and Why Should I Care, Connecticut Legal Conference 2018
- Moderator, Executive Orders: The Good, the Bad, and the Constitution, Connecticut Legal Conference 2017
- Moderator, The Battle Behind the Scenes: Handling Difficult Clients, Hostile Judges and Unethical Attorneys During Litigation, American Bar Association Litigation Section Annual Conference (New Orleans 2015);
- Co-Author, “Hold It! Avoiding Electronic Discovery Disasters with Effective Litigation Holds” (Elizabeth S. Fenton & Diana Rabeh, Reed Smith) and moderator on corresponding program at American Bar Association, Litigation Section Annual Conference.
- Author, “Extra-Territorial Application of Unfair Trade Practice Claims,” American Bar Association Business Torts Journal
- Moderator, Going Commando: Lessons from the Field on Starting Your Own Practice, Connecticut Bar Association Young Lawyers Section
- Panelist, Career Transitions, University of Connecticut School of Law Alumni Association
- Panelist, CAPABA Lunar New Year/Networking, Connecticut Asian Pacific Bar Association
- Panelist, Contract Negotiations, Meeting Planners International-Connecticut River Valley Chapter
Education
Attorney Shapiro earned his B.A. in History from Boston College in 1998 and his J.D. degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law in 2001. He lives in Middletown with his wife and children. In his spare time, he enjoys running, biking, reading, and spending time with his family.
Bar Admissions
Connecticut State Bar