David P. Atkins is a member of the firm’s Litigation Department and chair of its Professional Liability Section. He practices in the areas of professional liability, commercial litigation, appeals and administrative proceedings. He regularly represents professionals, including attorneys and law firms, in malpractice, business dissolution, licensing, court sanctions proceedings, ethics and disciplinary (grievance) matters. David also is frequently engaged by law firms and corporate legal departments for risk management consultations and as an expert witness on legal ethics and professional liability issues.

David has written and spoken widely on attorney discipline, legal ethics and law office management. He co-authored “Attorney Advertising in Connecticut: Everything You Need to Know about the New Era of Oversight and Regulation,” (Connecticut Lawyer); “Conflict Waivers: When in Doubt, Spell It Out,” (Connecticut Lawyer); “Responding To a Disciplinary Complaint: The Do’s and Don’ts,” (Connecticut Law Tribune); and “Advancing Client Costs: Pitfalls and Changes in Rule 1.8(e),” (Connecticut Law Tribune). He authored “The Duty To Report Client Misconduct and The Client Veto,” (Connecticut Law Tribune) and “Contacts With An Opposing Party’s Employees: When Is A Witness Off Limits?” (Connecticut Law Tribune).

David is a regular speaker for the Connecticut, Fairfield County, Greater Bridgeport, New Haven County and Westport Bar Associations; the Connecticut and Westchester County chapters of the American Corporate Counsel Association; University of Connecticut School of Law; Yale Law School; and Quinnipiac College School of Law.

Professional Affiliations

• Connecticut Bar Association -Task Force on Grievance Procedures; Special Committee on In-House Counsel Certification
• U.S. District Court Grievance Committee, District of Connecticut - former special counsel
• Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers - former director
• State of Connecticut Judicial Branch Committee on Uniformity of Court Procedures (2009)

Honors & Awards

• Listed in The Best Lawyers in America in the areas of commercial litigation and legal malpractice law
• Selected to the Connecticut Super Lawyers list in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 in the areas of business litigation and professional liability (defense)