Our Practice Areas

 
Compo Beach | Westport, Conn.
 
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FLB Law’s Appellate Practice Group is staffed with experienced attorneys who argue appeals before state and federal courts including the Connecticut Supreme Court, Connecticut Appellate Court, Federal Circuit Courts, and Mohegan Gaming Disputes Court of Appeals. The firm also has had cases argued before the United States Supreme Court. FLB Law’s appellate attorneys partner with clients to overturn unfavorable decisions, defend positive outcomes, and when appropriate, prepare amicus curiae briefs when a third-party’s appeal affects their interests.

FLB Law handles appeals of matters of varied complexity and areas of law, including but not limited to tort and commercial litigation. Our deep bench of skilled attorneys understands that compelling and persuasive writing supported by relevant case law are key to a successful appeal. Strong oral advocacy and an understanding of the technical procedures unique to appellate practice are also cornerstones of positive outcomes. As with all engagements, our attorneys zealously advocate on behalf of our clients and work to resolve cases with solutions aligned with their goals. back to top

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Local, regional, and national businesses of all sizes rely on FLB Law’s Corporate & Business Transactions attorneys to serve as their general counsel or to provide senior management with a full complement of services to help establish, grow, and operate their organizations. FLB Law’s Corporate & Business Transactions Practice provides our clients with a broad range of services to assist throughout their lifecycle, from formation through expansion, mergers and acquisitions, succession planning, governance, and employment-related matters, as well as others.

FLB Law’s Corporate & Business Transactions attorneys review and negotiate contracts including vendor, licensing, franchise agreements, and purchase and sale agreements, and assist with developing protocols and procedures that promote a prosperous work environment. FLB Law attorneys audit our clients’ employment agreements, employee handbooks, and payroll practices to ensure they comply with best practices and wage and hour laws to avoid fines, penalties, and costly litigation.  Our mission is to protect our clients’ interests and to help their businesses flourish and grow. back to top

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Criminal Defense

Brian E. Tims

 

In addition to having robust civil and commercial litigation practices, FLB Law’s experienced attorneys represent individuals in criminal matters. Our attorneys draw on their vast experience analyzing complex situations to devise optimal resolutions that are both appropriate and practical for each particular client. We represent clients before and after charges are filed, interacting with authorities if/when our clients are being investigated, and then appearing before the various state courts if charges ultimately are filed.

Our attorneys approach criminal cases holistically, considering not only the charges against our client, but also the potential collateral consequences and the cost-effectiveness of a given approach. Creating and pursuing solutions that address criminal charges and enable our clients to move forward beyond them is paramount to our process.

FLB Law handles a wide variety of criminal and motor vehicle matters, including DUIs, evading responsibility, reckless driving, speeding, following too closely, driving with a suspended license, breach of peace, criminal mischief, trespassing, identity theft, larceny, and assault.

Our attorneys understand that being accused of a criminal or motor vehicle offense may seem daunting and devastating, but we are here to protect your rights and advocate on your behalf. We are committed to resolving these matters so our clients can return to their lives. back to top

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FLB Law’s Hospitality Practice represents restaurants of all sizes, from small, local family-owned establishments to mid- and large-size regional and national companies, such as bartaco, Barcelona Wine Bar, Hawkers Asian Street Food, and Sixty Vines. Clients look to us to help negotiate favorable lease terms that will allow them to grow regionally or nationally, and to establish companywide business practices to ensure compliance with local laws and regulations.

The firm draws on its extensive complement of services to provide integrated solutions to meet the needs of our hospitality clients, from transactional matters and site development to operational concerns. These include business formation, real estate acquisition, lease negotiation, development, zoning, land use, vendor agreements, employee contracts, hiring practices, tax law, and more.

Our vast experience serving hospitality clients enables us to develop best practices that promote thriving businesses and mitigate litigation. If litigation does arise, our attorneys defend matters including general liability, premises liability/slip and falls, dram shop/liquor liability, wage and hour, workers’ compensation, sexual harassment, discrimination, and accessibility defense under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act. No matter what the situation, the attorneys at FLB Law have the experience and skills necessary to protect our clients’ interests. back to top

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Family Law

Alan S. Rubenstein

 

FLB Law's Family Law Practice boasts one of Fairfield County's most accomplished family lawyers, Alan Rubenstein. He has practiced family and divorce law for more than 30 years. During this time, he has served as counsel for approximately 1,200 divorces, involving more than 250 divorce mediations, 150 collaborative/cooperative divorces, and numerous hearings and trials. 

Alan's background includes a Master of Science in counseling psychology with a specialization in marriage and family therapy. He approaches divorce from a perspective that differentiates him from many divorce lawyers, recognizing that divorce consists of "problems to be solved and not battles or a war to be fought." 

Alan strives to resolve divorces expeditiously, thoroughly, and efficiently. His breadth of professional experience enables him to quickly recognize obstacles and determine a reasonable range of outcomes for each issue. He engages in efficient and effective settlement discussions to affect equitable and forward-looking resolutions to all divorce matters. While most divorces reach settlement, if that is not possible, Alan has the necessary experience, skill set, and tenacity to successfully advocate on his clients' behalf in the courtroom. back to top

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FLB Law’s Insurance Practice Group defends leading insurers, their insureds, and self-insured entities against claims of personal and catastrophic injury and wrongful death arising from defective premises; automobile, trucking, and construction accidents; and large-loss subrogation matters. The firm also represents directors and officers, in addition to, professionals -- lawyers, accountants, actuaries, realtors, architects, engineers, insurance agents and brokers -- in malpractice cases in state and federal courts and disciplinary matters before licensing boards.  

With decades of experience, our attorneys know firsthand what keeps claims professionals and risk managers up at night. We anticipate their needs and provide clients with vital information to keep them informed throughout litigation. Our attorneys approach each matter with the goal to resolve it in the most efficient, cost-effective manner with litigation strategies that minimize our clients’ exposure, including looking for ways to dispose of cases early or diffuse risk among other potential parties.  

Highly regarded for our effective lawyering and attention to client service, FLB Law attorneys have been recognized by leading organizations such as Martindale-Hubbell, Super Lawyers, and the Connecticut Law Tribune and are members of prestigious, invitation-only organizations including the American Board of Trial Advocates and the American College of Trial Attorneys. back to top

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FLB Law’s Employment Law Practice represents businesses across all industry sectors, helping them manage and navigate the dynamic legal and regulatory landscape of labor and employment law. The firm provides clients with advice and counsel, sharing best practices that support strong business operations. Our attorneys work with senior management and human resource executives to create policies and procedures that help mitigate litigation, such as reviewing and drafting employee handbooks, employment and termination agreements, and severance packages. We also audit and develop our clients’ sensitivity training programs and ensure compliance with the American Disabilities Act (ADA), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and other federal and state labor laws.

If litigation arises, our experienced trial attorneys work with clients to resolve matters as efficiently and cost effectively as possible. We resolve claims related to age discrimination, FLSA, ADA, Family Leave Act, and many others. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Our attorneys partner with clients to create outcomes that meet their individual short- and long-term goals. back to top

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FLB Law’s Litigation Practice handles commercial and civil litigation for individuals and national, regional, and local businesses in nearly all areas of the law. Much of the firm’s civil litigation is derived from self-insureds and insurance carriers seeking counsel for their insureds in general, premises, professional, product, and liquor liability matters with claims of negligence, personal and catastrophic injury, and wrongful death. No matter how complex the case, our attorneys assess each one to establish potential exposure and to determine the optimal path to resolution: settlement, motions practice, mediation, or trial. In addition to being admitted in state and federal court, our attorneys are admitted to practice in the Mohegan Gaming Disputes Trial Court and the Mohegan Gaming Disputes Court of Appeals.

The firm also represents clients in commercial litigation in breach of contract cases, partnership and joint venture disputes, class actions, business torts, breach of fiduciary duty allegations, unfair trade practices, and shareholder issues. We represent businesses of all sizes, from established multinational companies to local startups, nonprofits, municipalities, condominium boards, and schools. Our attorneys are known for their keen ability to evaluate cases and devise pragmatic, business-driven solutions that align with our clients personal and professional goals. Our attorneys are admitted to practice in Connecticut and New York, and regularly appear before state and federal courts in those jurisdictions. back to top

 

FLB Law’s Real Estate & Land Use Practice represents prominent developers, national hospitality groups, local businesses, municipalities, individuals, and lenders who require counsel in commercial real estate acquisitions and dispositions, leases, financing, and land use matters. Experienced with residential and commercial transactions, our lawyers structure and close deals to protect our clients’ short-term and long-term goals, efficiently and cost effectively. We deliver practical solutions to the most complex development projects, financing matters and lease agreements.

Essential to our practice is our ability to resolve zoning and land use issues for commercial and residential development projects of all sizes and complexity. We are particularly adept at understanding these obstacles and solving them to the satisfaction of both our clients and the commissions and boards that approve them. Our reputation for having a sophisticated understanding of the needs of these boards and the plausible constructs of a deal lead to efficient and affirmative outcomes for our clients. Accordingly, FLB Law attorneys have worked on some of Fairfield County’s high-profile development projects including the SONO Collection, Westport Weston Family YMCA, Maplewood Senior Living Westport, and the new Garavel Subaru Dealership. back to top

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FLB Law’s Tax Law Practice assists high-net-worth individuals and businesses throughout Fairfield County preserve their financial interests using creative solutions that comply with ever-changing tax laws. Led by Leslie Grodd, a seasoned attorney with more than 45 years’ experience problem solving and customizing plans that minimize his clients’ tax exposure, FLB’s tax attorneys work with clients across the firm’s practice areas, including Corporate & Business Transactions, Family Law, Real Estate and Trusts & Estates to provide tax structuring counsel on transactions involving joint ventures, business and real estate acquisitions and dispositions, and investment funds and other financial products, and provide advice on how to optimally utilize plans that makes sense for each client. They also provide clients with advice on discrete tax issues.

FLB’s Tax Practice provides a variety of services including tax planning for individuals and businesses, compliance with rules, requirements, and regulations on a federal level from the Internal Revenue Service and on state and local levels with the respective taxing agencies, dispute resolution when adverse determinations have been made by federal, state or local authorities, and obtaining private letter rulings on our clients’ behalf when tax consequences are unclear and require clarification. back to top

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FLB Law’s Trusts & Estate Practice is staffed with seasoned attorneys with more than 100 years of combined experience. They represent individuals throughout Connecticut with estate and tax planning and probate administration, developing creative and effective solutions to preserve and distribute clients’ personal and generational wealth in ways that comply with local and federal tax laws. Services include drafting wills, creating trusts, providing tax advice, and probate administration. Clients encompass a broad spectrum of people, from high-net-worth individuals and CEOs on the Fortune and Forbes lists to local Fairfield County business owners. In several cases, we have represented four generations from the same family.

Attorneys with FLB Law’s Trust & Estate Practice leverage their years of experience and network to address complex tax matters, changes in tax law, and related concerns. When probate is required, our attorneys efficiently manage probate proceedings and estate administration during what can be an emotional time in their clients’ lives. back to top