Brian Ward

Brian Ward

Brian is known for his comprehensive approach to achieve equitable and efficient solutions for clients faced with a variety of legal challenges, including business litigation, labor & employment, and other commercial litigation matters. 

While Brian primarily  represents individuals and businesses in litigation matters, he also handles plaintiff’s personal injury claims, probate litigation, and business transactions. Brian has both trial and arbitration experience where he’s tried multiple cases to verdict as lead litigator. He has also helped clients avoid trial by obtaining favorable decisions on numerous motions to dismiss and motions for summary judgment. While Brian finds great satisfaction in trial work, his primary focus is on proactively ensuring cost-effective and efficient outcomes for his clients. This is achieved through negotiated agreements and private mediation.

Brian has deep experience in business litigation.  Brian’s business litigation practice routinely involves representing both individuals and businesses in state and federal courts with intercompany disputes, consisting of claims for breach of fiduciary duty, minority oppression, and dissolution. He also prosecutes and defends clients involved in contractual disputes and business torts, including unfair trade practices, fraud and civil theft claims. Additionally, Brian’s practice encompasses labor and employment litigation, where he adeptly manages disputes related to restrictive covenants and other employment issues, including claims for unpaid wages and overtime, discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination.

On the transactional side of his practice, Brian utilizes his litigation experience to help both start-ups and mature businesses avoid future lawsuits by drafting clear yet comprehensive agreements. This entails the drafting of business governance documents—such as operating agreements, by-laws, shareholder agreements, and partnership agreements—all of which are meticulously tailored to meet the unique needs of each client. Brian further supports businesses in crafting employment agreements, general terms and conditions, and employee handbooks. As businesses approach the culmination of their life cycle, he represents both buyers and sellers in an array of business transactions. These include Asset Purchase Agreements, Membership Interest Purchase Agreements, Stock Purchase Agreements, and Dissolution and Separation Agreements, ensuring smooth transitions and safeguarding interests at every stage. Brian’s big picture goal for his business clients is to streamline their legal needs, allowing them to focus on what they do best: running their business.

Before his tenure at Aeton Law Partners, LLP, Brian graduated, magna cum laude, from Quinnipiac University School of Law, where he was recognized with several academic awards, including Outstanding Legal Achievement, Best Brief in the Terence H. Benbow Moot Court Competition, and Distinguished Academic Achievement in Lawyer’s Professional Responsibility. Brian earned his BA from the University of Connecticut, where he made his mark as a four-year starting pitcher on the baseball team, placing him among the all-time leaders in wins, games started, innings pitched, and strikeouts in UConn baseball history. Following the completion of his time at UConn, Brian was awarded UConn baseball’s Mrs. Mary Dropo Unsung Hero Award for his accomplishments during his senior season. 

Beyond his professional commitments, Brian is engaged with the local Connecticut community, drawing from his upbringing by educators who instilled the values of service and community involvement. Brian also dedicates a portion of his time to pro bono cases, to ensure that everyone, regardless of their financial situation, has access to quality legal representation. This often involves assisting small businesses navigate legal issues and dilemmas before they have the resources to retain reliable legal counsel. Outside the office, Brian loves traveling with his wife, Sarah, going on walks with his dog, and playing golf.

Experience and Case Results

• Obtained a permanent injunction against an employer from attempting to enforce a restrictive covenant against his client. After a full evidentiary hearing, the Court found the restrictive covenant to be unenforceable and issued an order prohibiting the defendant company from attempting to enforce the restrictive covenant. Shaw v. AA-MSA, Inc., No. CV22-6126271, 2023 WL 3071120 (Conn. Super. Ct. Apr. 18, 2023)
• Successfully moved to strike an action to partition a piece of commercial real estate which was owned by a limited liability company in Michaud v. Cray, No. CV-21-6022850-S, 2022 WL 14420428 (Conn. Super. Ct. Oct. 18, 2022)
• Obtained a dismissal in the Complex Litigation Docket at Hartford for lack of individual standing in an action brought by a 50% member of a limited liability company in Polinsky v. Trask, No. X07-HHD-21-6152602-S, 2023 WL 2495727, at *3 (Conn. Super. Ct. Mar. 10, 2023)
• Obtained a dismissal for lack of standing in matter brought by an individual who claimed the defendant-client breached his fiduciary duties to him as a co-member of a Connecticut limited liability company. The Court dismissed plaintiff’s claim after he failed to meet his burden of showing he became a member of the subject limited liability company in Rondinone v. Flynn, No. HHD-CV-20-6124303-S, 2022 WL 6381121 (Conn. Super. Ct. Sept. 23, 2022)
• Obtained a dismissal in a defamation and abuse of process matter in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut on the grounds that the federal court lacked diversity jurisdiction in Lewis v. S&S Nutrition Inc., No. 3:21-CV-00957 (SVN), 2023 WL 2837682 (D. Conn. Apr. 7, 2023)  
• Successfully argued against the dismissal of claims brought by his clients directly against another shareholder of a closely held corporation. The defendant-shareholder argued that the clients’ claims were derivative in nature, but Attorney Ward argued, and the Court agreed, that the claims were properly direct claims under the circumstances as the clients alleged they suffered individual harm in Pernas v. Triani, No. DBDCV206037532S, 2021 WL 5911657 (Conn. Super. Ct. Nov. 30, 2021)
• Obtained favorable settlement on behalf of a client who brought a civil action against fellow shareholder for breach of Shareholder Agreement, breach of fiduciary duties, civil theft, and other business torts. The defendant-shareholder did not offer any money prior to trial. However, after one day of jury selection, the defendant agreed to stipulate to a six-figure judgment which was paid in full.
• Successfully argued against summary judgment in probate appeal in superior court where the client brought a claim against a decedent’s estate for its wrongful denial of her probate claim. The claim stemmed from the decedent’s promise to give her a certain investment account prior to his death. The Court employed a rare probate law doctrine, gift causa mortis, in denying the estate’s motion for summary judgment. After surviving the summary judgment stage, the estate agreed to settle with the client for a substantial sum.
• Obtained a prejudgment remedy of attachment against an individual owner of a defunct for-profit education company to secure the recovery of his client’s unpaid wages after it went bankrupt and had no assets to pay its employees, including the client’s, wages in Kaczynski v. Trigram Educ. Partners, LLC, No. CV-21-5049753-S, 2023 WL 5697329 (Conn. Super. Ct. Aug. 29, 2023).
• Litigated one of Connecticut’s inaugural remote trials during the Covid-19 pandemic to verdict in Walker Grp., Inc. v. Hannaford, No. HHDCV206124382S, 2021 WL 3722709 (Conn. Super. Ct. July 15, 2021). The matter involved our client-plaintiff alleging that a former employee violated restrictive covenants in his employment agreement by accepting employment with a competitor.
• Obtained a personal injury settlement that was twenty-seven times greater than the client’s medical bills in a motor vehicle accident which contained an allegation of recklessness. The national insurance company noted the settlement was the highest multiple of medicals it ever settled for. 
• Obtained a $250,000 settlement on behalf of an employee who alleged he was racially discriminated against by his direct supervisor.
• Obtained a $325,000 unpaid overtime wage settlement on behalf of a live-in companion who was paid approximately minimum wage her entire adult life.

• Regularly represents both landlords and tenants in commercial and residential summary process (eviction) matters.
• Regularly represents both buyers and sellers in various business transactions, including Asset Purchase Agreements, Membership Interest Purchase Agreements, Stock Purchase Agreements.
• Regularly drafts business organization and governing instruments, including operating agreements, by-laws, and shareholder agreements.
• Regularly drafts and advises on restrictive covenant provisions contained employment or other agreements. 

News Articles and Media

• Judge to rule Thursday on Bridgeport primary challenge. Ken Dixon, CTPost, Oct. 30, 2019. 

Honors and Affiliations

• American Bar Association
• Connecticut Bar Association
• New Haven County Bar Association
• Lawyers for Children America, Inc.
• Rising Star, Connecticut Super Lawyers® – Business Litigation, 2022-2023
• Quinnipiac School of Law – Outstanding Legal Achievement
• Quinnipiac School of Law – Best Brief in the Terence H. Benbow Moot Court Competition
• Quinnipiac School of Law – Distinguished Academic Achievement in Lawyer’s Professional Responsibility

Bar Admissions

• Connecticut
• United States District Court (District of Connecticut)

Testimonials

“Brian Ward was extremely professional from the moment we phoned him. It was like working with your best friend that had the same interests and beliefs. I would recommend him everyone that needs an attorney.”

“Aeton Law Partners, and in particular Attorneys Kane Bennett and Brian Ward, have been a tremendous resource to my business & business growth over the last 10 years.  They’ve assisted in a wide range of areas – employee manuals, employee issues, lease negotiation and even business acquisition.  With each engagement, and no matter what the level of complexity, they give me their best.  They are responsive, thorough, and efficient – and are great at breaking down issues, providing clarity, and driving to results.  I’d recommend to anyone!”

“Fantastic firm for your business litigation or any other business-related needs. Top notch counsel. I specifically retained Brian Ward…. but the entire firm has been super helpful. Specific issues are discussed with the other partners to come up with the best plan for each client. They are very detail oriented, responsive, and look out for your best interests. Could not be happier to have found them.”

“Where do I start, I was initially very nervous and confused about this process but the team at Aeton Law was so helpful and communicative. Especially my point of contact Brian Ward. He always checked in and gave me status updates answered any of my questions and help set my expectations during every new phase. I’m so thankful that I found them to represent me in my case! Definitely give these guys the opportunity to help you with you and get the results you’re looking for.”