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| (From L to R) Attorneys Olivia Benson, Thomas Sansone, and Nancy Bohan Kinsella |
Attorneys Thomas Sansone, Nancy Bohan Kinsella, and Olivia Benson received CLABBY awards from the Connecticut Bar Association’s Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section on June 4 during a section meeting held in New Haven. The CLABBY awards, established in 2016, are presented by the section each year to honor the professional achievements of section members.
Thomas Sansone received the 2025 Career Achievement Award, which is presented to a member of the section who has been practicing for 35 years and has an exemplary record in the field of bankruptcy law. “Tom conducts himself as the consummate gentlemen attorney, acting respectful and courteous to colleagues and litigation adversaries alike,” stated Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section Chair Kevin McEleney. “Tom takes time to mentor young attorney both at his firm of Carmody & Torrance and beyond.” Over the course of his forty year career, Attorney Sansone hast tried more than 100 cases in the Connecticut Superior Court, United States District Court and the United States Bankruptcy Court. He also works with several charitable and community organizations including serving as president of the Clifford Beers Community Health Partners, president of the Graduate Club Association, and having been a past president of WIKS-USA, a non-profit supporting the operation of a residential school for orphaned children in Kenya.
Nancy Bohan Kinsella received the Service to the Profession Award, which is presented to a member of the section who has been practicing for at least 10 years and has undertaken significant efforts to develop and implement educational programs, pro bono policies, and/or public service initiatives, which elevate the profile of the profession, while also promoting the general public good. Section Chair Kevin McEleney praised Attorney Kinsella for her stewardship of the section’s annual bankruptcy conference. “Not only did Nancy provide outstanding leadership for this section, she also mentored numerous other lawyers on the committee to ensure the ongoing success of our conference for years to come even after she passed the torch from her leadership role in the conference,” stated McEleney. Attorney Kinsella has practiced commercial law and bankruptcy with Neubert, Pepe & Monteith since joining the firm in 1993. She is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute and the Connecticut Chapter of the International Women’s Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation. She has also served on the faculty of Post University in Middlebury, teaching classes in business law and bankruptcy.
Olivia Benson received the Rising Star Award because of the notable impact she has made upon the section in her three years practicing as an attorney. “Olivia is part of a very impressive group of newer lawyers that have joined our section post-COVID and bonded together to support each other and this section as a whole.” Stated Section Chair McEleney. “Our future remains bright because of the contributions of active young members like Olivia.” Attorney Benson serves on the Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section executive committee and planned and hosted the section’s annual joint meeting with the Young Lawyers Section.