Robert L. Holzberg

Robert L. Holzberg, Connecticut Superior Court Judge (Ret.), leads the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) practice at Pullman & Comley, which is comprised of four retired judges and six AAA certified attorney arbitrators. He possesses extensive experience serving as a mediator and arbitrator in complex civil matters in state and federal court including personal injury, employment, construction, environmental, probate, insurance, intellectual property and commercial disputes. He retired from the bench in September 2012 after more than two decades of service as a Superior Court judge.

Judge Holzberg has earned a reputation for his skill in crafting settlements in some of Connecticut’s highest profile and most complex cases and is one of the state’s most sought-after mediators by both local and national counsel.  He is widely regarded as creative and persistent in devising practical solutions to difficult legal problems, and is respected for his ability to establish relationships of trust with counsel and their clients.  As an arbitrator, Judge Holzberg brings the same patience, organization and legal and analytical skills that were his hallmark for almost 23 years as a trial judge and he has been consistently recognized for his skills as a mediator and arbitrator.  Since 2022, he has been ranked in the Mediators - USA - Nationwide category by Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers to Businesses.  The Best Lawyers in America named Judge Holzberg Hartford "Lawyer of the Year" in the area of Mediation in 2018 and 2022; Hartford Lawyer of the Year - 2021 in the area of Arbitration; and Hartford Lawyer of the Year - 2024 in both the Arbitration and Mediation categories. He is equally proud that under his leadership, Pullman & Comley’s ADR practice has been recognized for its accomplishments, including as 2023 Litigation Department of the Year - Arbitration and Mediation by ALM/Law.com New England Legal Awards; and as the top ADR provider in New England in 2020 by ALM publications.

Judge Holzberg also has significant experience in leading internal investigations, often sensitive and high profile in nature. He was retained by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport to conduct a year long investigation into alleged clerical sexual abuse of minors and the Diocese's response to those allegations. He also led an internal investigation on behalf of one of Connecticut’s largest municipalities into alleged failure of city’s board of education, teachers and administrators to report alleged student sexual abuse and other misconduct by a teacher.

Retired Judge Holzberg was appointed to the Superior Court in 1990 by Governor William O'Neill. While on the bench he served as the presiding judge for civil matters in the Middlesex, New Britain and Waterbury judicial districts. He has received several awards, including the Connecticut Defense Lawyers Association 2019 President’s Award for Excellence. In 2018, the Middlesex County Bar Association held a formal recognition ceremony and unveiled Judge Holzberg’s portrait to honor his years of service on the bench and acknowledge the respect he earned among the state’s top legal officials. He was also honored with the 2011 Connecticut Bar Association's Henry J. Naruk Award, given to a member of the judiciary who epitomizes long-term, dedicated and conscientious service to the community, possesses the highest integrity, and has made substantial contributions to the administration of justice in Connecticut. In 2005 he received the Hon. Robert F. Zampano Award for Excellence in Mediation and in 1998 received the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association Judicial Award.

Before his appointment to the bench, he was on the faculty of the University of Connecticut School of Law and also served as an Assistant Public Defender in the Office of the Chief Public Defender.

Retired Judge Holzberg is a frequent speaker and author on the topic of mediation and arbitration and internal investigations. He has been an invited speaker on ADR strategies for the Practicing Law Institute, the Connecticut Bar Association, Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, the Connecticut Defense Lawyers Association and the Hartford County Bar Association.

Office

Professional Affiliations

Middlesex County Bar Association - past president

Community Involvement

Connecticut Legal Services - former member, Board of Directors

Connecticut Law Tribune - former editorial board member

Middlesex County Bar Association - past president and former member, Board of Directors

Honors & Recognitions

Listed in Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers to Businesses in the area of Mediators - USA - Nationwide since 2022

Named Hartford "Lawyer of the Year" by The Best Lawyers in America in the area of mediation in 2022 and 2024; Named in the area of arbitration in 2021 and 2024

Connecticut Defense Lawyers Association President's Award recognizing his outstanding and distinguished service to the bar - 2019

Selected by The Best Lawyers in America as the 2018 Hartford "Mediation Lawyer of the Year"

Listed in The Best Lawyers in America in the area of mediation since 2016; listed in the area of arbitration since 2017

In 2016, was voted "The Best" Individual Arbitrator by the readers of the Connecticut Law Tribune

Selected to the Connecticut Super Lawyers list since 2014 in the area of alternative dispute resolution

Professionalism and Civility Award from the Connecticut Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates - November 2014

Connecticut Bar Association Henry J. Naruk Award - 2011

Hon. Robert F. Zampano Award for excellence in mediation - 2005

Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association Judicial Award - 1998

News

Speaking Engagements

Publications

Press Releases