City of Bristol

Office of the Corporation Counsel

Telephone:  860-584-6150; Facsimile:  860-584-6152

The Corporation Counsel’s office consists of one part-time Corporation Counsel, two full-time attorneys and two part-time attorneys, as well as a full-time legal secretary. The office is currently staffed as follows:

Noelle Bates        Legal Secretary

Ed Krawiecki Jr.          Corporation Counsel

Richard E. Lacey             Full-time Assistant Corporation Counsel

Tom Conlin                   Full-time Assistant Corporation Counsel

Melissa Simonik            Part-time Assistant Corporation Counsel

The Corporation Counsel’s office serves as the legal advisor to the Mayor and City Council and to all committees, boards, executive officers, and departments of the City. The scope of the duties of the office of Corporation Counsel includes all city matters referred to it including contracts, grants, disputes, opinions, various litigation which might include Workers’ Compensation, tax foreclosures, tax appeals, and collections.

The Corporation Counsel’s office conducts all civil matters, and brings action on and defends before all courts any matter pertaining to City affairs or in which the City may be interested.

The Corporation Counsel’s office keeps a complete record of all suits in which the City had or has an interest together with the status or disposition thereof, including all pleadings, publications and documents pertaining thereto.

The Corporation Counsel’s office keeps a complete record of all written opinions forwarded by it and all abstracts of title prepared by it in such form as to be readily accessible at all times.

The Corporation Counsel’s office keeps the City Council informed regarding the status of litigation and of other matters referred to it by the Council or the City officers.

During any session of the General Assembly, the Corporation Counsel’s office shall keep the City Council and Board of Finance fully informed on any measure or bill introduced into the General Assembly amending the Charter of the City and/or any other measure introduced by the General Assembly which the Corporation Counsel believes should be brought to the attention of either the City Council or the Board of Finance.

The Corporation Counsel’s office is prohibited from providing legal advice to the general public.