Skip to Main Content
Services Talent Knowledge
Site Search
Menu

PennyMason

She | Her | Hers

Of Counsel

"Building trust with my clients and seeing them follow my legal advice with positive results are the most satisfying parts of my job as an attorney."

Overview

Biography

With over 35 years of trial experience in state and federal courts, Penny has handled matters involving complex litigation, medical-malpractice defense, and employment law. She has defended clients against age, sex, and race discrimination claims, breach of employment contracts, and related torts and has provided day-to-day advice on employment issues for both small and large businesses and institutions. She has also represented medical and legal professionals in administrative proceedings before licensing boards.

Penny is an independent investigator of sexual-misconduct and Title IX claims at academic institutions and other organizations and investigates and reports on organizational cultures and structures with the goal of preventing discrimination and other forms of misconduct.

In addition to her own practice, Penny serves as a member of the firm's Diversity Partner Committee.

Bar Associations

  • American Bar Association
  • Connecticut Bar Association, Federal Judiciary Committee Member; Federal Practice Section Executive Committee Member and Former Co-Chair; Experienced Lawyers Committee Co-Chair
  • New Haven County Bar Association, Executive Committee Member and Former President

Selected Memberships & Affiliations

  • American Law Institute, Restatement of the Law Third, Torts: Concluding Provisions Advisor
  • Connecticut Bar Foundation, Fellow and Education and Program Committee Member
  • Federal Bar Council
  • Federal Grievance Committee, Former Counsel
  • CT Statewide Grievance Committee, Former Chair and Member

Experience

Prior Experience

  • LeClairRyan, Partner
  • Tyler Cooper & Alcorn, LLP, Assistant Managing Partner

Selected Community Activities

  • The John B. Pierce Foundation and Laboratory, Board of Directors President 
  • The Club at Mory’s, Secretary Pro Tem
  • Cultural Competency Task Force, Former Board Officer
  • Whitney Center, Quality of Life Committee Member
  • New Haven Legal Assistance Association, Inc., Former Board President

Selected Honors

  • The Best Lawyers in America®: Employment Law – Management, 2014–2025; Labor Law – Management, 2020–2025; Litigation – Health Care, 2020–2025; Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants, 2011–2025; Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, 2011–2025
  • The Best Lawyers in America®: New Haven "Lawyer of the Year": Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, 2022; Litigation – Health Care, 2023
  • New Haven County Bar Association, Lifetime Achievement Award, 2021
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Review-Rated for Very High to Preeminent Ethical Standards and Legal Ability, 1987–2021; Judicial Edition Rating, 2022
  • Connecticut Bar Association, Edward F. Hennessey Award for Professionalism, 2014
  • Friends of New Haven Legal Assistance Association, Inc., Equal Access to Justice Award, 2010
Knowledge

Selected Speaking Engagements

  • New Haven County Bar Association, “Federal Court Grievance Process” Ethics CLE
  • New Haven County Bar Association, “Federal Court Grievances and How to Avoid Being Grieved” Ethics CLE
  • Benchers, “Reflections on Rule of Professional Conduct 1.8(e) and the Humanitarian Exception”
  • Benchers, “Lawyer Jokes: Modern Trickster Folklore”

Selected Media

Selected Alerts & Blog Posts

Featured Media

Alerts

Second Circuit Upholds New York State's Ivory Law, but Holds Display Restriction Unconstitutional

Alerts

$175 Million of Federal Funds Available for Electric Vehicle Chargers in New York State

Alerts

USFWS Issues Final Guidance on Northern Long-Eared Bat and Tricolored Bat

Alerts

IRS Guidance Excludes VA Service-Connected Disability Benefits From Certain Income Determinations for Qualified Residential Rental Projects

Alerts

Second Department: Objective Evidence Required to Establish Trivial Defect Defense

Alerts

NYS Department of Health Issues Consumer Protection Guidance on Payments for Health Care Services

This site uses cookies to give you the best experience possible on our site and in some cases direct advertisements to you based upon your use of our site.

By clicking [I agree], you are agreeing to our use of cookies. For information on what cookies we use and how to manage our use of cookies, please visit our Privacy Statement.

I AgreeOpt-Out