860-606-1712 | scott@shipmanlawct.com
C. Scott Schwefel practices in the area of litigation and represents clients in a wide range of matters including real estate, business, and employment-related disputes.
He represents litigants in state and federal courts in Connecticut and Massachusetts as well as representing clients in mediation and arbitration. He serves as a member of the American Arbitration Association’s national panel of lawyer neutrals.
Mr. Schwefel represents clients in a broad range of real estate disputes, including litigation involving contract disputes concerning real estate transactions, boundary disputes, claims of adverse possession, landlord-tenant disputes, foreclosures, and property valuation litigation including government eminent domain and regulatory takings, and property tax appeals.
Mr. Schwefel has an extensive practice in property tax litigation, encompassing work in all counties in Connecticut and Massachusetts, and handles tax appeals and abatements for various types of retail, office and industrial properties. He litigates Superior Court tax appeals on behalf of major retailers and financial institutions, including numerous Fortune 500 companies, and is a frequent lecturer with the American Bar Association and the Appraisal Institute on property valuation.
In the area of employment law, Mr. Schwefel counsels employers on developing and applying employment policies; negotiating and drafting employment, noncompetition and nondisclosure agreements; and advises employers on hiring, disciplining and terminating employees. Mr. Schwefel has significant experience in litigating and defending claims of harassment; retaliation and discrimination on the basis of age, race, sex and disability; wrongful discharge and breach of contract. He also advises employers regarding compliance with the American with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act and other federal and state statutes governing employment.
Mr. Schwefel is admitted to practice in the State of Connecticut (admitted in 1997), the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (1999), the United States District Court in the districts of Connecticut (1998) and Massachusetts (2000), the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (2012), and the Supreme Court of the United States (2014).
Mr. Schwefel holds numerous leadership positions in state and national bar associations and currently serves on the House of Delegates for the Connecticut Bar Association and the House of Delegates for the American Bar Association as a bar delegate.
Mr. Schwefel serves as a judge for Yale University’s Mock Trial Association. Mr. Schwefel also volunteers at the Friendship Service Center of New Britain (CT).
Professional Affiliations:
-
- Member, House of Delegates, Elections Committee, and Legislative Policy and Review Committee; Connecticut Bar Association
- Past Chair, Nominations Committee and Membership Committee; Connecticut Bar Association
- Member, House of Delegates, and Committee on Issues of Concern to the Legal Profession; American Bar Association
- Member, Council; Vice Chair, Continuing Legal Education Committee; Vice Chair, Membership Committee; American Bar Association, Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law
- Fellow of the American Bar Foundation
Speaking Engagements:
-
- “Expert Witness Preparation and Testimony for Attorneys and Appraisers” (American Bar Association and Appraisal Institute) Continuing Legal Education, December 2022
- “The Great Debate in Valuing Big Box Stores – A Collaboration with the Appraisal Institute” (American Bar Association, Section of Real Property, Trust & Estate Law), National CLE Conference, April 2022
- “COVID-19 Infects Real Property: The Impact on the Real Estate Market and its Implications for the Real Estate Attorney – A Collaborative Program with The Appraisal Institute” (American Bar Association, Section of Real Property, Trust & Estate Law), National CLE Conference, April 2021
- “COVID-19 and Real Property: What Lenders and Borrowers Need to Know“
(American Bar Association, Business Law Section), Business Law Spring Meeting, April 2021 - “Red Flags in Appraisals – What the Savvy Lawyer Can Spot in Appraisal Reports” (American Bar Association, Section of Real Property, Trust & Estate Law), National CLE Conference, May 2020
- “Understanding Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act – Places of Public Accommodation” (American Bar Association, Section of Real Property, Trust & Estate Law), National CLE Conference, May 2020
- “Ethical Considerations When Using Appraisers in Transactions and Litigation” (American Bar Association, Section of Real Property, Trust & Estate Law), National CLE Conference, May 2019
- “Hot Topics in Appraisals Utilized For Transactions and Litigation” (American Bar Association, Section of Real Property, Trust & Estate Law), Spring Symposia, May 2018
Publications:
“The Same-Actor Inference: A Look at Proud v. Stone and its Progeny” Employment & Labor Relations Law (American Bar Association, Section of Litigation), Spring 2008 (Vol. 6, No. 3)
Media:
-
- C. Scott Schwefel quoted in Washington Post article: “What to do if your landlord raises your rent” (Washington Post, July 9, 2024)
- C. Scott Schwefel quoted in U.S. News & World Report article: “Home Improvement Contractor Scams: The Red Flags to Watch for” (U.S. News & World Report, September 27, 2023)
- C. Scott Schwefel quoted in Yahoo! News article: “What Tumbling Property Values at Neshaminy, Oxford Valley Malls Mean For Your Taxes” (Yahoo! News, January 23, 2023)
- C. Scott Schwefel quoted in MSN article: “What is adverse possession in real estate?” (MSN, November 10, 2022)
- C. Scott Schwefel featured in the New England Real Estate Journal 2021 Year In Review (New England Real Estate Journal, December 2021)
- C. Scott Schwefel quoted in Forbes Magazine article: “Florida Condo Collapse Shows Need For Businesses To Conduct Crisis Audits” (Forbes Magazine, June 2021)
- C. Scott Schwefel featured in the New England Real Estate Journal 2020 Year In Review (New England Real Estate Journal, December 2020)
- C. Scott Schwefel quoted in Bankrate article: “What is Adverse Possession?” (Bankrate, November 17, 2020)
- C. Scott Schwefel featured in the New England Real Estate Journal 2019 Annual Review Spotlight (New England Real Estate Journal, December 2019)
- C. Scott Schwefel featured in the New England Real Estate Journal, Hartford County Spotlight (New England Real Estate Journal, March 2019)
- C. Scott Schwefel quoted in N.P.R. article: “Litchfield Historic District Asks U.S. Supreme Court to Dismiss Synagogue Dispute” (National Public Radio, February 18, 2015)
- C. Scott Schwefel quoted in Connecticut Law Tribune article: “Rocker’s Fans Say They Were Scammed” (Connecticut Law Tribune, February 16, 2009)
Representative matters:
- Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities v. Boston Vernon, LLC, et al., 59 Conn. L. Rptr. 17 (2014) (CV14 6007478-S ~ Superior Court, Judicial District of Tolland, (September 14, 2014, Sferrazza, J.))
- R&F Norwalk, LLC v City of Norwalk, 2013 WL 4873465 (CV09 4017126-S ~ Superior Court, Judicial District of Stamford/Norwalk, (August 27, 2013, Aronson, J.))
- Chabad Lubavitch of Litchfield County, Inc. v. Borough of Litchfield, 853 F. Supp. 2d 214 (2012) (United States District Court, D. Conn., 3:09 cv 01419 (JCH))
- Branhaven Properties, LLC v. Town of Monroe, 2011 WL 5925089 (CV10-6006210-S ~ Superior Court, Judicial District of New Britain (November 7, 2011, Aronson, J.))
- Pinard v. Dandy Lions, LLC, 119 Conn.App. 368, 374, 987 A.2d 406, cert. denied, 295 Conn. 921, 991 A.2d 566 (2010)
- Allison v. Health Care Reliance, LLC (United States District Court, D. Conn., 3:06-cv-01826(SRU))
- The Altus Group v. Building Technology Engineers, Inc. 2007 WL 587117 (HHD-CV04-4000029-S ~ Superior Court, Judicial District of Hartford (February 6, 2007, Satter, J.))