Robert A Serafinowicz

Rob Serafinowicz is a criminal defense attorney who has represented hundreds of clients in a wide range of high profile criminal and civil cases.  His combative and outspoken demeanor, and “shoot from the hip” style have caused numerous adversaries to request “gag orders” in order to try and silence him and to keep citizens from truly knowing what goes on “behind the scenes” of many criminal investigations.  His defense techniques have been the subject of articles in the New York Post, New York Daily News, Connecticut Post, Fox News.com and MSNBC.com. 

Serafinowicz has extensive experience as a criminal defense attorney.  He was lead defense counsel on the largest Connecticut Corrupt Organization and Racketeering or “CORA” case ever tried to before a jury in the Fairfield Judicial District. He successfully litigated an action to prevent the government from seizing a citizen’s lawfully obtained, and possessed, fire arms in a situation where the state did not allege any criminal activity on his part.  Serafinowicz practices in both the state and federal courts and has represented clients accused of crimes in other jurisdictions via pro hac vice requests.  Serafinowicz has defended and been lead trial counsel on cases where his clients were accused of crimes ranging from manslaughter, to arson and attempted murder.  A primary focus area is the defense of allegations of sexual assault.  In 2007 Serafinowicz was defense counsel to one of multiple defendants in what was one of the largest drug seizures the State of Connecticut’s history.  This case arose from the New Haven Judicial District and involved the seizure of more than 500 pounds of marijuana within the Town of Woodbridge.

Serafinowicz represents clients in the civil arena as well.  Serafinowicz was Plaintiffs’ counsel in Zainc and Demers v. City of Waterbury Et Al., a federal civil rights action at the center of which was video footage taken by a cell phone.  Serafinowicz has represented, and continues to represent, police officers in matters related to their employment including termination proceedings and as plaintiffs in situations where their superiors have violated their constitutionally protected rights. 

Serafinowicz’s cases have been featured on WVIT 30, Fox 61, WTNH 8, WFSB 3, CourtTV.com, and WCBS radio.  Coverage has appeared in the LA Times, Washington Post, New York Daily News, New York Post, New Haven Register, Connecticut Post, Waterbury Republican American, Torrington Register Citizen, USA Today and many others.

Serafinowicz began his career as a law student intern for famed Connecticut Attorney, and CBS News legal analyst, Michael “Mickey” Sherman who became his mentor and taught him at a young age what it takes to succeed in the realm of criminal defense.  Serafinowicz worked closely with Sherman, who was an ideal mentor, going out of his way to point out and teach him those lessons not found in law books.  This relationship offered Serafinowicz opportunities most have to wait years for, and allowed him the opportunity to view unique issues and situations “up close”.  This experience would be invaluable in the years to come as he dealt with similar situations on his own.  Serafinowicz then went on to the world renowned William Morris Agency’s Business and Legal Affairs Division where he became one of only two interns ever asked to continue on in the same capacity after their summer program had finished.  Serafinowicz returned to his home state of Connecticut where he began to work with close friend Mark Sherman, the son of his mentor.  The two worked in the area of Criminal Law and various civil matters and remain close to this day.  In 2005 Serafinowicz began employment with the New Haven Law Firm of John R. Williams and Associates.  This firm has been a staple in City of New Haven since the late 1960’s, and its founder John Williams’ storied career includes involvement in numerous landmark decisions related to criminal law and civil rights litigation.  While in the firm’s employ Serafinowicz focused on Criminal Defense and Federal Civil Rights Litigation.  Attorney Williams taught Serafinowicz, the most valuable lesson a lawyer can learn, to never be afraid to take a case to trial.  While at John R. Williams and Associates Serafinowicz was given great latitude in the decision-making process relating to his cases.  It was while employed there that Serafinowicz tried his first case before a jury, Kobus v. Lawrence Memorial Hospital.  Serafinowicz represented the plaintiff and obtained a monetary award for his client after the opposition refused to make any offer of settlement.  In the more than three years he spent with the firm Serafinowicz tried more than 25 cases, both civil and criminal, in state and federal court.  Serafinowicz obtained numerous acquittals for his clients, of both felony and misdemeanor charges, litigating cases involving issues of first impression such as In Re James Nardelli and cases involving such issues as whether or not an “air-soft” pistol qualifies as a “weapon” under Connecticut Law.  In 2009, seeking a new challenge, Serafinowicz started his own firm, The Law Offices of Rob Serafinowicz, LLC and has offices located throughout the state of Connecticut. 

            In May 2009 Serafinowicz secured an acquittal for a client charged with sexual assault in the first degree in the Ansonia Milford Judicial District.   Serafinowicz used a great deal of information obtained through the diligent work of his investigators from social networking websites such as “Facebook” and “Myspace” to impeach the credibility of person who had made the allegation.  Serafinowicz followed up by securing another acquittal for a client charged with the same offense in the Waterbury Judicial District just a few weeks later.  In March 2010 Serafinowicz secured an acquittal on behalf of his client Mustafa Salahuddin, a highly decorated Ansonia Police Officer who was accused of stealing a garden hose from within the department. The garden hose had been found in its original packaging before a criminal investigation was even commenced and the prosecution was nothing more than an attempt at payback on the part of his superiors within the department for Salahuddin’s standing up against numerous discriminatory departmental practices.  It took a jury only a few minutes to return a verdict in favor of his client.  The City of Ansonia then agreed to pay the entire cost of Salahuddin’s defense and Serafinowicz now represents him in civil litigation as a result of this malicious prosecution.

Serafinowicz is a 2001 graduate of the University of Connecticut, Cum Laude and a 2004 graduate of University of Connecticut School of Law.  He is admitted to practice in the State of Connecticut, the Federal District of Connecticut and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.  He has acted as a Judge for the Mock Trial Program at the University of Connecticut School of Law and New York Law School.  In 2009 the Ansonia Chapter of the Martin Luther King Brotherhood Committee honored him with their annual achievement award for his “profound sensitivity to individuals and injustice within the judicial system”.  The same year Serafinowicz also received Official Citations from both the Connecticut Office of the Secretary of State and Office of the Attorney General.

Serafinowicz is a member of the Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and a Life Member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the organizations youngest member with such a designation.