WEST HARTFORD'S THOMAS B. MOONEY RECEIVES PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARD

Thomas B. Mooney, a School Law Partner at Shipman & Goodwin LLP, has been named a recipient of The Connecticut Law Tribune’s second annual Professional Excellence Awards.

Mr. Mooney is recognized along with about two dozen other lawyers in the state for outstanding service to the legal profession during their long careers, according to The Connecticut Law Tribune, which, “looked for lawyers from a wide range of practice areas; from big and small firms; and from the public sector and academia.” A panel of judges considered not only success in the courtroom, but law firm and bar association leadership, advocacy roles, pro bono contributions and service on state and federal bar panels, among other factors.

Thomas Mooney is Co-Chair of the firm’s School Law Practice Group, which represents: more than 125 local and regional public school districts, including charter schools and magnet schools; over 30 independent schools and religiously affiliated schools; and 20 public and private colleges and universities, including professional schools, medical schools, research universities, and performing and visual arts schools across the U.S. Mr. Mooney and the firm’s attorneys work with school officials on a broad range of issues – including governance, employment, union negotiations, constitutional rights, student matters and crisis management – that affect a school’s relationship with its students, parents, faculty, staff and the community.

Mr. Mooney has taught school law at the UConn School of Law since 1985, and has served as Professor in Residence at the Neag School of Education at the University of Connecticut since 2001. He is the author of A Practical Guide to Connecticut School Law (8th Edition, 2014), a comprehensive treatise on Connecticut school law, published by the Connecticut Associations of Boards of Education (CABE) and used by teachers, administrators and board of education members throughout the state. He also writes two monthly columns, "See You in Court!" for the CABE Journal, and "Legal Mailbag" for the Connecticut Association of Schools (CAS) Bulletin. He has been honored by CABE with its Friend of Public Education award, and by the Connecticut Association of Schools with the Distinguished Friend of Education Award, its highest award for persons not directly involved in public education.

Mr. Mooney received his J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School, and his undergraduate degree from Yale College, with both magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa honors. He resides in West Hartford, Conn. with his wife of 43 years, Marlee Denis Mooney.