Michael F. Dowley
Michael F. Dowley was born in Hartford, CT. He graduated from Providence College magna cum laude in 1965 and from Villanova Law School in 1968. He was admitted to the bar in 1968. He has participated in the following Middlesex County organizations: Chairman of the Practice and Procedure Committee, Medical Legal Committee ( 1976-1988 ), Vice President of the Middlesex County Bar Association ( 1993-1994 ), President of the Middlesex County Bar Association ( 1995-1996 ), and former Director of the Middlesex Preservation Trust.
Some statewide associations with which he has been involved were the Executive Committee for the Civil Justice Section ( 1979 ), Professional Ethics Committee ( 1980-1985 ), American Bar Association, Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, the Panel of Arbitrators and the American Arbitration Association. Michael F. Dowley practices Civil Litigation, Environmental Law, Real Estate Development and Regulatory Law.
EDUCATION
J. D., Villanova Law School
B.A., Providence College, magna cum laude
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
American Bar Association
Connecticut Bar Association
Middlesex County Bar Association
Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce
Jennifer Gagosz Farrell
Jennifer Gagosz Farrell practices in the area of general civil litigation, including, but not limited to, land use law, residential real estate development, foreclosure defense, and personal injury. She is admitted to practice before the courts in the State of Connecticut and Texas, and also holds admission to the United States District Court of Connecticut.
Mrs. Farrell is experienced in all aspects of zoning and land use law, having represented and assisted clients in obtaining various approvals and permits from local planning authorities, and also having represented clients with any land use administrative appeals filed with the Superior Court of Connecticut. She has also assisted clients in opposing various applications made to local planning boards, helping to successfully defeat controversial applications in the Town of Portland and Durham for a propane storage tank facility and horse crematorium, respectively. In conjunction with her experience in land use law, Mrs. Farrell has substantial experience in residential real estate transactions, having prepared purchase and sale agreements, residential leases and escrow agreements, and declarations and bylaws for newly formed condominium associations for various clients. She is also experienced in representing clients in personal and real property municipal tax appeals.
Mrs. Farrell’s practice areas also extend to general civil litigation, where she has represented and counseled clients regarding Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities ( CHRO ) matters, environmental protection matters including various Form I-IV filings with the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, plaintiff’s personal injury litigation, collection actions, foreclosure defense including negotiating work-outs with various lending institutions, and boundary disputes.
In her free time, Mrs. Farrell is a member of the Farmington Valley Symphony Orchestra.
EDUCATION
J.D., Southern Methodist University, Dedman School of Law
B.A., Trinity College, Music and Economics
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
Connecticut Bar Association, 2005 - Present
Connecticut Bar Association, Planning & Zoning Section member, 2007- Present
Jody Pagano Benbow
Jody Pagano Benbow practices in the areas of corporate and business law and landlord tenant law. She represents individuals, partnerships, limited liability companies and corporations in the formation, restructuring, and dissolution of a wide variety of business entities. She represents both commercial and residential landlords in summary process actions, lease negotiations and collection actions. As part of her practice she drafts stock, membership and buyout agreements and assists business clients in a variety of matters, including trademark, real estate transfers and employment issues. She is admitted to practice in Connecticut and the United States District Court, District of Connecticut and is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association.
EDUCATION
J.D., Western New England School of Law, Cum Laude
B.A., University of Connecticut, Cum Laude
Melissa Harris
Attorney Melissa S. Harris is an Associate at Dowley & Associates. Atty. Harris practices in the area of civil litigation, with a concentration in tort law, land disputes, contract disputes, insurance litigation, employment law, probate matters and administrative appeals.
Atty. Harris is admitted to the bar in the State of Connecticut and is a member of the American Bar Association and the Connecticut Bar Association.
Atty. Harris is a graduate of Western New England College ( B.A., Magna Cum Laude ) and Western New England School of Law ( J.D. ). While attending Western New England College, Atty. Harris received Western New England College’s distinguished Skookum Award and was recognized in Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. While attending Western New England College School of Law, Atty. Harris received the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Race and the Law.
In her spare time, Atty. Harris enjoys kickboxing, hiking, and visiting her home state of Maine.
EDUCATION
J.D., Western New England School of Law
B.A., Western New England College, Magna Cum Laude
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
American Bar Association
Connecticut Bar Association
Jean M. Anderson
Jean M. Anderson was born in Ft. Monmouth, NJ. She attended Middlesex Community College, graduating in 1974. She attended Hartford College for Women, and was certified as a legal assistant in 1980. She was a member of the Central Connecticut Association of Legal Assistants. Her practice areas are Real Estate, General Office Management, and Bookkeeping. Jean has been associated with the Law Offices of Michael F. Dowley & Associates since 1981.
Brenda D. Noonan
Brenda D. Noonan, born in New Brunswick, Canada, received an Associates' Degree in Paralegal Studies from Manchester Community College in 1996. She is fluent in French and her practice areas are Estate Planning, Probate and Real Estate. She has been associated with the Law Offices of Michael F. Dowley & Associates since 1998. Her prior experience is three years in a solo general practice office in Eastern Connecticut. She has attended and continues to attend continuing education seminars in order to stay current with changing tax and real estate laws. In her spare time, she loves to hike, bike or kayak.
