Thomas P. Parrino is a partner and co-founder of PARRINO|SHATTUCK, PC. He represents clients in all areas of family law, including divorce, alimony, child custody, child support, and property division. With more than 25 years of experience practicing family law, Parrino is considered a top attorney in his field, handling some of the most intricate and high-asset family law litigation in Connecticut. He is a tenacious negotiator and litigator. He was named “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers, a recognition determined by his peers and repeatedly named Top 50 Lawyers in Connecticut by Super Lawyers and America’s Most Honored Professionals.
Parrino is a Diplomate of the American College of Family Trial Lawyers. The American College of Family Trial Lawyers is a select group of the 100 of the top family trial lawyers from across the United States. Diplomates, all members of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers are chosen based upon their recognized litigation skills and courtroom abilities. Nomination to membership is by Diplomate invitation only.
Parrino is admitted to practice in the State of Connecticut and the U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut. He is a Fellow and Past President of the Connecticut Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Parrino currently chairs the Chapter’s Amicus Committee and previously chaired the Chapter’s Rules, Arbitration committees and Examining Committee. Parrino is a member of the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, as well as the American, Connecticut, and Fairfield County bar associations.
Parrino recently served as a delegate to the National Board of Governors of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. He previously served as the chair of the National Admissions Committee and a member of the National Test Subcommittee. He is also a fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers.
Parrino co-authored a chapter in Family Law Jurisdictional Comparisons, Second Edition 2013, a book published by European Lawyer/Thomson Reuters. This book developed out of the increasing significance of international family law and addresses the need for a definitive guide to family law in core jurisdictions around the world. Six U.S. states and 37 countries compose the jurisdictions. Parrino wrote about many subjects that exemplify Connecticut family law, including finances/capital, property, pre- and post-nuptial agreements, child maintenance, surrogacy and adoption, civil partnership/same-sex marriage, and financial relief after foreign divorce proceedings, among others.
Moreover, Parrino has lectured extensively on family law matters throughout his prominent career. He received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut and his juris doctor degree from the University of Bridgeport, then succeeded by Quinnipiac University School of Law.
Parrino has earned the following awards/recognitions:
- Lawyer of the Year selected by peer recognition and published by Best Lawyers (2013)
- Super Lawyers: Top 50 Attorney 2013 – 2015; 2018 – 2021, Thomson Reuters Connecticut *
- Martindale-Hubbell AV-rated attorney
- Best Lawyers in New England since 2018
- Top One Percent of America’s Most Honored Professionals since 2016
- Top 50 Lawyers by America’s Most Honored Professionals 2019
- Best Lawyers in America since 2006
- Super Lawyer, Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers since 2006*
- New York Area’s Best Lawyers, New York Magazine since 2006
- Top 30 Outstanding Lawyers of Fairfield County as recognized by Greenwich Magazine
- U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firms in Practice Area of Family Law 2018; 2020 – 2021
- New England Super Lawyers, Connecticut Magazine since 2007
- Top 10 Family Law Attorney in Connecticut in 2018, Attorney and Practice Magazine
- Distinguished Professional, Noticed (formerly known as Expert Network)
- 10 Best family Law Attorneys for Client Satisfaction in Connecticut by the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys 2021
- Lawyers of Distinction since 2018
- 500 Leading Family Lawyers by Lawdragon
LANDMARK CASES
Kendall v. Pilkington – The appellate court abused its discretion in its dismissal of the defendant’s appeal from several contempt and pendente lite orders based on his alleged contemptuous conduct, despite the defendant purging himself of the contempt findings and the trial court vacating the contempt findings, thereby mooting the issues raised in the motion to dismiss.
Ramin v. Ramin – The seminal case where court authority awarded counsel fees due to litigation misconduct, discovery abuse, and fraudulent concealment of assets.
Tanzman v. Meurer – A trial court that bases a financial support order on a party’s earning ability must determine the specific dollar amount of the party’s earning ability.
Powell-Ferri v. Ferri – Under Massachusetts law, it was proper for trustees to move funds from one trust that allowed the party husband to withdraw principal to a second trust from which he could not withdraw principal. The husband was not obligated by the automatic orders to sue his family member trustees for return of the funds.
Brant v. Brant – The highest-reported temporary support award in the United States granted by a court after hearing.