About the Award

The objective of the Edward F. Hennessey Professionalism Award is to recognize and honor a member of the bar of this state whose career has manifested a dedication to the highest ideals and standards of the legal profession, so as to provide inspiration to other members of the bar and to honor the memory of Edward F. Hennessey, whose 41 years at the bar exemplified the criteria of this award. The recipient must be a lawyer who has demonstrated such integrity, character, competence, ethics, civility, and mentoring over the course of his or her career as to inspire greater professionalism among lawyers and pride in their profession and who has enhanced the public’s perception of the legal profession.


Criteria

  • Career has shown dedication to the highest ideals and standards of the legal profession
  • Inspired other members of the bar and to honor the memory of Edward F. Hennessey
  • Demonstrated integrity, character, competence, ethics, civility, and mentoring over the course of his or her career
  • Enhanced the public’s perception of the legal profession
  • Practiced at least 20 years and is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association



Past Recipients

2004   William R. Davis

2008   Jacob D. Zeldes
2010   Thomas J. Groark, Jr
2011   James R. Greenfield
2013   Francis J. Brady
2014   Margaret P. “Penny” Mason
2015   Albert “Al” Zakarian
2016   William F. Dow III
2017   Louis R. Pepe
2018   James A. Wade
2019   Mark A. Dubois
2020   Hon. Kenneth L. Shluger
2021   Patricia R. Kaplan (posthumously)
2022   Ernest J. Mattei
2023   Hon. Terence A. Zemetis (Ret.)

About Edward F. Hennessey (1934-2003)

Edward F. Hennessey was a trial attorney for more than 30 years. He graduated of Dartmouth College and Boston College Law School. He served as the first law clerk to U.S. District Judge M. Joseph Blumenfeld and was a senior partner at Robinson+Cole. His practice took him to courts across the nation, including the Supreme Court of the United States.

Attorney Hennessey was a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a board certified in Civil Trial Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He was a sustaining member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and a member of the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association. He has also served as chairman of the Connecticut Public Defenders Services Commission and as a member of the CBA’s Board of Delegates. He was a former member of the Town Council of the Town of Wethersfield and also served as Mayor.


Attorney Hennessey is remembered for his professionalism, respect and civility in and out of the courtroom. He was a champion of gender equality in the legal profession and mentored numerous female attorneys.