FIRM’S PRIVATE CLIENTS PRACTICE EXPANDS

From left to right: Joanne Butler and Lori E. Romano.

Joanne Butler and Lori E. Romano, two former partners at Shipman & Goodwin LLP, have recently joined Cummings & Lockwood, which has been recognized by “Chambers High Net Worth Guide” as a “leading Tier 1 practice in Connecticut,” as principals in its private clients group. 

Heather J. Rhoades, chairman of the private clients group, said, “They will be a valuable addition to our team of highly respected private clients attorneys and fiduciary accountants who serve high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices and closely held businesses in Connecticut and Florida.”  

Butler, who is based in the Stamford office, has 23 years of experience developing estate planning strategies for individuals and families, as well as representing individual and corporate fiduciaries in all aspects of estate and trust administration. She has represented both individual and corporate fiduciaries before the Internal Revenue Service, the New York County Surrogate”™s Court and  the Fairfield County, Connecticut, Probate Courts.

Butler earned her LL.M. from New York University School of Law, her Juris Doctorate, magna cum laude, from Brooklyn Law School and her Bachelor of Science degree from Seton Hall University.  She is admitted to practice law in Connecticut and New York.

Romano is based in the Greenwich office and has 30 years of experience practicing in the areas of estate planning and estate and trust administration.  

She represents a wide variety of clients, including professional and corporate fiduciaries, business owners, executives of public and private companies, professionals, retirees, philanthropists, private investors, and individuals and families across multiple generations.

Romano earned her Juris Doctorate, magna cum laude, from the University of Bridgeport School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude, from Fairfield University.  She is admitted to practice law in Connecticut and New York.

Founded in 1909, Cummings & Lockwood provides sophisticated legal counsel to individuals and families, family offices, closely held businesses, other commercial enterprises and private foundations. The firm has nearly 200 attorneys, fiduciary accountants, paralegals and staff, as well as six offices located in Stamford, Greenwich and West Hartford, Connecticut; and in Naples, Bonita Springs and Palm Beach Gardens in Florida.