Denise V. Zamore

Associate

Denise Zamore is a senior associate in the Firm’s Hartford office where her practice focuses on complex commercial litigation.

Ms. Zamore has litigated and arbitrated a wide range of complex commercial disputes, including nationwide class actions, before courts and arbitrators across the United States. Although her practice is a diverse one, Ms. Zamore primarily represents insurance companies, oil and chemical companies and financial institutions. Her litigation experience spans from inception through decision, and has included formulation of case strategy, crafting of claims and defenses, depositions and e-discovery management, briefing and oral argument at various critical pre-trial stages, and settlement evaluation and negotiations.

Ms. Zamore has also conducted internal investigations for corporations, boards of directors, and special litigation committees.

Ms. Zamore most recently successfully argued for summary judgment on behalf of Brown & Brown Insurance, Inc. obtaining dismissal of a multimillion dollar action in a case arising from the alleged breach of an insurance program agreement. She also played an integral role in the defense of UnitedHealth Group in one of the largest class action/multi-district litigation (“MDL”) proceedings involving a class of approximately 600,000 physicians alleging claims for violations of, among other things, RICO, ERISA and state prompt pay statutes. She also served as part of a team of attorneys that defended Health Management Associates against an action alleging breach of contract, fraudulent transfer, constructive trust, unjust enrichment, conspiracy to commit breach of fiduciary duty and aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty and claiming over $450 million in damages.

Ms. Zamore served as an integral part of the successful trial defense team in a nationwide class action brought on behalf of a Exxon Mobil’s nationwide dealers. Ms. Zamore also represented a an international investment bank and its affiliate in an arbitration brought against her client for breach of contract and fiduciary duty arising from a commercial real estate development in Florida. After a full evidentiary hearing, her team successfully obtained an award rejecting all of the claims brought against her client and granting it attorney’s fees, expenses and costs incurred in the matter.

On behalf of a global chemical company, Ms. Zamore recently asserted breach of supply contract claims before the American Arbitration Association based on improper force majeure invocation by a global oil company, obtaining a favorable settlement for the client. Ms. Zamore also recently litigated state and federal actions and assisted in the successful Seventh Circuit appeal on behalf of an international chemical company based on claims of breach of chemical supply contract and the applicability of right of first refusal clause.

Ms. Zamore has previously litigated multiple securities, unfair business practices and deceptive trade practices class action matters.

Ms. Zamore is an active member of her community. She is a member of the State of Connecticut Insurance and Risk Management Board and has been involved in various pro bono matters for Connecticut Fair Housing Center and Lawyers for Children. She is a member of Connecticut Women’s Council, The Junior League and has been a Big Brothers, Big Sisters volunteer.

Noteworthy

• Connecticut Law Tribune High Achiever, 2009
• Panelist, Connecticut Federal Practice and Procedure, Connecticut Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division, November 2009
• Judge Maxwell Heiman Memorial Award, Hartford County Bar Association, 2009
• Member, State of Connecticut Insurance and Risk Management Board
• Recipient, Award for Outstanding Newsletter and Outstanding Newsletter Editor, 2007-2008, ABA Section of Litigation Minority Trial Lawyers Newsletter
• Table Captain, YWCA In the Company of Women Annual Luncheon, 2009, 2010
• Editorial Board Member, ABA Section of Litigation Minority Trial Lawyers Newsletter

Clerkships

• Law Clerk to the Honorable Donald L. Graham, United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, 2002-2004
• Legislative Intern, Congresswoman Corrine Brown (D-FL), 1995
• Staff Assistant, Congressman Ronald V. Dellums (D-CA), 1995 -1996

Bar & Court Admissions

• Connecticut
• Florida
• New York
• U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida

Education

• Columbia Law School, New York, New York, 1999 J.D. Honors: NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Earl Warren Legal Training Scholar, 1996-1999.
• Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 1996 B.A. Honors: Thurgood Marshall Scholar; NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Herbert Lehman Scholar; Congressional Black Caucus Scholar.

Publications

Social Media and Our Judicial System, The Minority Trial Lawyer Newsletter, The Section of Litigation of the American Bar Association, Spring 2010

Web Editor, American Bar Association Section of Litigation Minority Trial Lawyers Newsletter

Professional Activities

• American Bar Association, Section of Litigation
• American Bar Association, Committee on Corporate Counsel
• George W. Crawford Bar Association
• Connecticut Women’s Council