Deena R. Merlen is a Partner at the firm. She serves clients at both our New York and Stamford offices and heads the Connecticut practice. Her practice areas include intellectual property, employment and labor law, media and entertainment, general business law, commercial transactions and dispute resolution. In her employment practice, Ms. Merlen is a trusted “go to” problem solver and counsel to individuals, established name brand companies and startups alike. She has extensive experience representing clients in matters including general counseling, discrimination actions, mediations and dispute resolution, investigations by federal or state agencies, as well as wage and hour claims and other labor law matters. She also advises on and regularly negotiates employment and separation agreements, independent contractor arrangements and other services-related arrangements. Ms. Merlen also counsels clients on employment and business matters in response to a crisis or other unexpected business impact, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting business closures, including continuity plans, employee furloughs, reductions in force and other critical measures. In her intellectual property practice, Ms. Merlen helps her clients with the development, acquisition and protection of their valuable brands and other vital intellectual property assets. She manages and grows trademark portfolios in the U.S. and internationally; negotiates licensing, assignment, distribution and branding agreements; prosecutes trademark and copyright registrations; enforces intellectual property rights; and provides strategic counsel to safeguard brand platforms and expand the value of her clients’ intellectual property assets. Ms. Merlen’s media practice encompasses the development and protection of creative works in the fields of music, film, television, theatre, publishing, literary arts, performing arts, design and technology. She ran her own business in the entertainment industry for over a decade and brings that business experience and acumen to her legal practice. In addition, Ms. Merlen provides general business counsel and represents clients in company and transactional matters such as partnerships, joint ventures, licensing arrangements, the purchase or sale of businesses, and a wide range of other corporate matters, including company formation, capitalization and governance, compliance and contracts. Representative clients include technology companies, schools and other academic institutions, personal care and beauty companies, fashion and design companies, media, arts and entertainment companies, wholesalers, retailers and more. Prior to her work with RPJ, Ms. Merlen served as Law Clerk to The Honorable Roger J. Miner of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, after which she joined Debevoise & Plimpton, where she practiced for over five years in the areas of corporate law and intellectual property. Ms. Merlen is admitted to practice in Connecticut and New York.

Admitted to the Connecticut and New York bars, attorney Jeffrey L. Ment has 26 years of experience helping injured clients, defending and representing police officers with virtually every legal issue that an officer may encounter, representing travel companies and hospitality groups, representing and defending insurers, companies and manufacturers of equipment in personal injury and civil litigation. He has tried more than 34 cases to verdict, and many more proceedings that were resolved in arbitration and/or mediation. He is passionate about his clients’ rights, and will fight to ensure that you are informed every step of the way. With an undergraduate degree in management from the University of Connecticut and a Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law, attorney Ment is uniquely qualified to handle your legal needs. Attorney Ment has represented over 1,000 law enforcement officers in different parts of Connecticut, including Westport, West Hartford, Middletown, Coventry, New Britain, East Haven, UCONN, and more. He has defended members of the Connecticut State Police, the Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. With over 25 years of police practice, attorney Ment has assisted law enforcement officials involved in fatal shootings, providing thoughtful legal help to his clients.

Daniel is a decorated police officer who spent 9 years in law enforcement, where he received an academic award of excellence from the Milford Police Academy, as well as the Samuel Luciano Award and the Daniel S. Wasson Award. Daniel proceeded with his education, graduating Magna Cum Laude from the University of New Haven, Investigative Sciences, and was a Dean's Scholar Award Recipient at the Quinnipiac University School of Law. Afterward, he started Daniel A. Esposito Attorney at Law LLC.

Mr. Rodie is a lifelong Stratford resident. He proudly followed his father, Attorney Wilfred J. Rodie, Sr. into the practice of law. Mr. Rodie graduated Magna Cum Laude from Georgetown University in 1983. He received his Juris Doctorate degree from the Georgetown University Law Center in 1986. He was admitted to practice law in Connecticut in 1986 and over his career has appeared before Judges of the Superior Court in many courts throughout the State. Mr. Rodie has served as an Attorney Fact Finder/Arbitrator at the request of the Connecticut Chief Court Administrator for many years. He is a member of the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, the Greater Bridgeport Bar Association and the Connecticut Bar Association. Mr. Rodie has been recognized as a Connecticut Super Lawyer by Connecticut Magazine. He is rated AV Preeminent, the highest rating for legal ability and ethical standards by Martindale-Hubbell.

A native of Wellesley, Massachusetts, R. Richard Croce was admitted to the Connecticut bar in 1990 and The United States District Court for the District of Connecticut in 1991. Mr. Croce was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 2006 and is also admitted to practice before the First Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Croce earned his B.A. from Allegheny College and his J.D. from The University of Dayton School of Law. He is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association and The Middlesex County Bar Association and The National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys.

Attorney Gusmano was chosen for inclusion in 'Connecticut Magazine and New England Super Lawyers Magazine as a Super Lawyer in Personal Injury from 2013-2014, and each year since 2018." Super Lawyers is a rating service of lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process is multi-phased and includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations. Attorney Gusmano was recognized for his Personal Injury work on behalf of injured parties. Paul C. Gusmano joined the firm in February 1991. Gusmano currently concentrates in the area of civil/personal injury litigation and serves as the firm's managing attorney. Admitted to practice in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for Second Circuit and the United States Supreme Court, Gusmano is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association, the New Jersey Bar Association, the New York Bar Association, American Association for Justice, the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. He has served on the Board of Directors of various non-profit organizations, as well as various bar association committees. Gusmano also serves as an attorney trial referee for the Connecticut Superior Court, having been appointed by the Chief Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court. Gusmano received Bachelor's Degrees in Political Science and English from Rutgers University in 1987. He received his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Bridgeport / Quinnipiac College School of Law in 1990, while studying law at Queens College / Oxford University. Gusmano is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an organization whose membership is limited to attorneys who have obtained settlements or judgments of $1 million or more. (Please note past settlements or judgments are no indication of the value of your case.)

Robert A. Salerno attended Law School and received a B.S. from High Point University in 2005 and his Juris Doctor in 2009 from Touro Law Center. He was admitted to the Connecticut Bar in 2009 and was a Temporary Assistant Clerk working closely with judges in the Waterbury Judicial District for two and a half years before joining The Law Offices of Conti & Levy. He is a member of the American Bar Association, Connecticut Bar Association; Criminal Law and Young Lawyers Section. He is also the Court Liaison for the Connecticut Criminal Defense League Association for Litchfield County as well as Co-Chair of the Criminal Law Society for the Litchfield County Bar Association. Attorney Salerno was active in the Student Bar Association during his studies at Touro Law Center and received multiple awards, including Exemplary Contributions to the Quality of Student life, Exceptional Contribution to the Growth of the Law Center, and Exceptional Service to the Public and Community. He was also a founding member of the Criminal Law Society and the Student Bar Association's Vice President in his last year of school.

My name is Attorney Wm. Bradley Kellogg (Brad). I am an experienced matrimonial and family lawyer and divorce mediator, and practice law and divorce mediation in Fairfield, Connecticut.

For over 20 years I've handled well over a thousand cases all with the same goal of guiding my clients through the process and maximizing their results. There are few issues I have not seen and handled successfully.

Marc Krasnow is a practicing lawyer in the state of Connecticut. Attorney Krasnow received his J.D. from the Quinnipiac University.