Christopher Smith has an extensive legal practice administering zoning, planning and wetlands matters before municipal land use agencies. He is experienced in litigating land use, environmental matters, exclusionary zoning and wetlands claims, and has argued numerous matters before the Connecticut Supreme Court and the Appellate Court. Specifically, Chris has participated in over 250 land use appeals in the Connecticut courts. Chris represents real estate developers, lenders, businesses, manufacturers, neighborhood associations and municipalities in land use matters. His practice includes due diligence, land use application preparation, filing and processing, and all associated court-related proceedings.
Chris served as a law clerk to the Honorable Antoinette L. Dupont, Judge of the Connecticut Appellate Court.
Distinctions
· BV Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
· Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers: Environment; 2007-2009 and Real Estate; 2010-2011
· Listed as a Connecticut Super Lawyer®: Land Use/Zoning ; 2006-2012
· Special Master, Connecticut Superior Court
· James W. Cooper Fellow, Connecticut Bar Association
Professional Affiliations
· American Bar Association: Urban, State and Local Government Law Section; Energy and Environmental Law Section; Natural Resources Section
· Connecticut Bar Association: Chair, Planning and Zoning Section, Executive Committee (1997-2000); Conservation and Environmental Quality Section; Administrative Law Section
· Bridgeport Bar Association: Chair, Land Use and Environmental Section (1995-1996)
· New Haven County Bar Association
· American Planning Association, Connecticut Chapter: Executive Committee
Community Involvement
· Connecticut Chapter of the American Planning Association, Executive Committee (2000-2012)
· Connecticut General Assembly's Blue Ribbon Commission on Property Tax Burdens and Smart Growth Incentives (2002-2003)
· Connecticut General Assembly's Blue Ribbon Commission to Study Affordable Housing (1999-2000)
· Connecticut General Assembly's Inland Wetlands Task Force (1995-1996)
· State of Connecticut Ethics Commission (2001-2004)
· State of Connecticut Southwest Corridor Action Council (1996-2000)
· Town of North Branford: Member and Chair, Conservation and Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency (1991-2003)
· Town of North Branford: Town Council; Zoning Board of Appeals; Economic Development Commission (1983-1991)
Experience
Real Estate Development Litigation
Publications
March 12, 2012, A Landmark Ruling On Property Inspections
February 17, 2012, Connecticut Supreme Court Clarifies Procedures for Property Inspections by Zoning Enforcement Officers
October 3, 2011, Legislative Relief For Connecticut's Development Community
October 2011, Connecticut Land Use Practice: Update on Recent Significant Changes
September 21, 2011, Our Amended Performance Bond Law: Sensible Changes, But More Needed
June 2, 2011, New Law Allows Extensions of Land Use Approvals
January-March 2010, Connecticut Planning Quarterly. A Planner's Resolution for the New Year: Create Opportunities for Our Communities
October 5, 2009, Making The State More Competitive
July 24, 2008, Guidance Document for HOMEConnecticut Technical Assistance Grants
December 2002/January 2003, Property Tax Burdens and Smart Growth
News
July 15, 2011, James Ruggeri Receives National Recognition from "Chambers USA America's Leading Lawyers"
October 28, 2010, "Super Lawyers" Recognizes 47 Lawyers From Shipman & Goodwin LLP
June 11, 2010, Shipman & Goodwin Recognized by Chambers USA 2010
October 27, 2009, Shipman & Goodwin Attorneys Named 2010 Connecticut Super Lawyers & Rising Stars
June 22, 2009, Shipman & Goodwin Recognized by Chambers USA 2009
March 2, 2009, Shipman & Goodwin Attorneys Named 2009 Connecticut Super Lawyers & Rising Stars and Featured in Connecticut Magazine
November 7, 2008, Shipman & Goodwin Attorneys Named 2009 Connecticut Super Lawyers & Rising Stars
July 15, 2008, Shipman & Goodwin Recognized by Chambers USA
April 25, 2008, Attorneys Named By Super Lawyers®
June 15, 2007, Shipman & Goodwin Ranked in Chambers USA
February 1, 2006, Thirty-Five Shipman & Goodwin Attorneys Named Connecticut "Super Lawyers®"
Events
December 9, 2011, Public Act 11-79, "An Act Concerning Bonds and Other Surety for Approved State Plans and Subdivisions" Where do we go from here?
December 7, 2011, Overview of CT Land Use Law
October 20-21, 2011, Innovative Planning in the New Economy
October 18, 2011, Basic Land Use Law
June 10, 2011, Hot Topics in Land Use Law and Practice 2011- 1.5 CM, Ethics Training Only
June 10, 2011, Hot Topics in Land Use Law and Practice 2011- 5.5 CM Credits, Including 1.5 CM of Planning Law and 1.5 CM of Ethics
March 12, 2011, Nonconformities in Connecticut Land Use Law
September 30, 2010, Value Added: Finding and Saving Money in a Recovering Real Estate Economy
June 11, 2010, Hot Topics in Land Use Law and Practice 2010- 6.25 CM Credits, Including 1.5 CM of Planning Law and 1.5 CM of Ethics
November 5, 2009, 2009 Southern New England American Planning Association Conference
October 14, 2009, The Basics of Connecticut Land Use Law
June 26, 2009, Hot Topics in Land Use Law and Practice 2009- 5 CM Credits
March 28, 2009, Connecticut Land Use Law For Municipal Land Use Agencies, Boards, and Commissions
November 11, 2008, Zoning, Subdivision and Land Development Law in Connecticut
October 29, 2008, Tips for Lawyers in the Land Use Practice
November 8, 2007, Advanced Zoning and Land Use
October 3, 2007, Basic Land Use
September 28-29, 2006, American Planning Association's 2006 Southern New England Planning Conference
November 18, 2005, Kelo v. New London and Other Recent Property Rights/Land Use Decisions and Legislative Preview
November 17, 2005, Recent Case Law and Legislative Update
November 10, 2005, Smart Growth Incentives
July 29, 2005, Recent Case Law and Legislative Update
March 5, 2005, Municipal Land Use
February 24, 2005, Recent Land Use Case Law
May 27, 2004, Smart Growth Incentives
May 13, 2004, Hot Topics: Land Use Law in Connecticut
April 29, 2004, Smart Growth Incentives from the Blue Ribbon Commission on Property Tax Burdens and Smart Growth Incentives
March 19, 2004, Water Resources and Section 22a-19 Environmental Interventions
March 15, 2004, Smart Growth Incentives
January 14, 2004, Property Rights and Land Use Law
March 1, 2002, Advanced Planning and Zoning: Hot Topics II