Firm Names New Partners

Shipman & Goodwin LLP has promoted these attorneys to Partner: Kelly Smith Hathorn, Katie P. Kasinskas, Matthew J. Monteith, Jessica Richman Smith and Latonia C. Williams.

Kelly Smith Hathorn advises public and private sector employers on a variety of employee benefits issues, using her extensive experience with qualified plan design, drafting, administration/compliance and termination. She advises clients on the design and administration of welfare benefit and cafeteria plans, and is a frequent speaker on topics related to employer-provided health benefits. Kelly also has represented employers in pension and benefit claims disputes. In addition, she handles non-qualified deferred compensation arrangements, including drafting and reviewing executive employment agreements and incentive plans for Code Section 409A compliance. Connecticut Super Lawyers has listed Kelly as a “Rising Star” in Employee Benefits/ERISA. She is also a former Assistant to an Adjunct Professor in Employee Benefits Law at the University of Connecticut School of Law.

Katie Kasinskas is a commercial finance attorney advising clients on the structuring, negotiation and closing of complex lending transactions, loan restructurings and the purchase and sale of existing loans. She represents national banks, regional banks, insurance companies, private lenders and corporate borrowers in a range of secured and unsecured commercial financing transactions across numerous industries and markets, including manufacturing, retail, real estate, health care, clean energy and fine art. Katie also advises lenders and borrowers in loan workouts, and guides clients through post-default restructuring of distressed debt and the exercise of out-of-court remedies. She has been recognized by Connecticut Super Lawyers as a “Rising Star” in Banking and received the “40 Under 40” Award from the Fairfield County Business Journal. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Mill River Park Collaborative.

Matthew Monteith is a member of the Business and Finance Practice Group, where he has a broad transactional practice. He represents venture capital and private equity firms in connection with portfolio company investments, acquisitions and dispositions and other debt and equity financings. Matt regularly helps to form, finance and advise high-growth companies in the software, mobile application, pharmaceutical and biotechnology, cybersecurity, consumer products and financial services industries through all stages of their growth. He also represents commercial banks, mezzanine lenders, other lending institutions and corporate borrowers in connection with complex commercial finance transactions. Matt is a frequent presenter on issues relating to entity formation, convertible debt, preferred equity investment and commercial lending. He has been recognized as a Connecticut Super Lawyer “Rising Star” in Business/Corporate Law since 2013. In addition to his practice, Matt serves on the Board of the Crossroads Venture Group’s Hartford Chapter, and is on the Board of Directors and Finance & Investment Committee of Vista Life Innovations.

Jessica Richman Smith represents schools in a variety of education, labor relations and employment law matters. She negotiates certified and non-certified collective bargaining agreements on behalf of numerous public boards of education. Jessica also represents school districts in labor and employment disputes, arbitrations, freedom of information hearings, teacher tenure proceedings, business contract matters, student disciplinary matters, election law matters and other legal proceedings involving Connecticut school districts. In addition, she advises schools on education policies and practices, investigations concerning students and employees, compliance with various laws impacting schools (such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act, background check laws and mandated reporting) and other legal matters affecting educational institutions. In addition to her practice, Jessica has taught at the University of Connecticut’s Neag School of Education. Previously, Jessica served as Deputy Executive Director with the New York City Department of Education.

Latonia Williams is a commercial litigator with a focus on bankruptcy and creditors’ rights matters, representing secured and unsecured lenders, insurance companies, equipment lessors, health care businesses and franchisors. She represents creditors in all aspects of bankruptcy proceedings throughout the United States, including defending against avoidance actions brought by debtors and trustees. In addition, Latonia advises clients on a variety of debtor-creditor disputes outside of bankruptcy in Connecticut federal and state courts. She also counsels clients on breach of contract actions, commercial mortgage foreclosures and landlord-tenant actions. Latonia has been named a Connecticut Super Lawyer “Rising Star” in the areas of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights since 2013, and was selected to the Next Generation Program Class of 2017 by the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges. She is a James W. Cooper Fellow of the Connecticut Bar Foundation. Latonia also serves on the Board of Directors of the Hartford County Bar Association and the Statewide Legal Services of CT, Inc.