Connecticut Business Litigation

Paula Cruz Cedillo is a partner in the Business Litigation Group at McCarter & English, LLP and concentrates her national practice on complex business litigation, securities, and white collar criminal defense matters. Ms. Cedillo’s commercial litigation experience includes securities, intellectual property (patent, copyright, and trademark infringement, unfair competition, and misappropriation of trade secrets), information technology, unfair trade practices, director and officer liability, ERISA, RICO, False Claims Act, commercial defamation, fraud, and the defense of class actions.

Ms. Cedillo’s securities practice includes representing corporations and broker-dealers in matters involving securities fraud under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Ms. Cedillo also has represented corporations and broker-dealers in defending SEC and FINRA enforcement actions, including defending claims of insider trading and market manipulation.

In her white collar criminal defense practice, Ms. Cedillo has represented corporations and individual corporate officers at the investigative stage, including before the grand jury, as well as the post-indictment stages in matters involving securities fraud, government contractor fraud, bank fraud, wire fraud, tax fraud, and money laundering. Ms. Cedillo also conducts internal corporate investigations and advises clients in connection with investigations conducted by governmental authorities and regulators. Ms. Cedillo has conducted internal investigations for investment firms, broker-dealers, defense contractors, banks, insurance companies, universities, political campaigns, and hospitals.

Ms. Cedillo was named by Marquis Who’s Who in 2022 as a Top Professional in American Law. She was also selected by the Connecticut Law Tribune as one of the New Leaders in the Law for 2013. This selection recognizes those who stand out as a new leader in the Connecticut legal profession whose achievements distinguish them from their peers. Ms. Cedillo was a 2011 recipient of the Hartford Business Journal’s 40 Under Forty award, which honor recognizes outstanding young professionals in the Greater Hartford area who have excelled in their respective industries through their leadership roles and commitment to them community.

Ms. Cedillo has been named to The Best Lawyers in America for Commercial Litigation, Connecticut, since 2021 as well as a Rising Star Super Lawyer and Super Lawyer in Connecticut and New England continuously since 2009. Ms. Cedillo is a graduate of Quinnipiac University, summa cum laude, and a graduate of Quinnipiac University School of Law, cum laude, where she served as Articles Editor of the Quinnipiac Law Review.

Thomas J. Finn is a partner and Chair of McCarter & English's Business Litigation Group with more than 30 years of experience in complex commercial litigation and white collar criminal defense matters. Mr. Finn has handled complex commercial litigation matters involving intellectual property (trademark, copyright, and patent litigation), information technology, director and officer liability, antitrust, RICO, ERISA, False Claims Act, construction, and insurance coverage. In his securities practice, Mr. Finn has handled fraud and class action matters brought in federal court (Securities Act of 1933 and Securities Exchange Act of 1934), as well as securities arbitration matters brought before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Mr. Finn handles matters in connection with the SEC and FINRA investigations and enforcement actions related to issues such as market manipulation and insider trading. Mr. Finn has represented companies in connection with shareholder and derivative actions and has represented investment banking firms in connection with litigation arising out of securities offerings.

In his criminal practice, Mr. Finn has represented corporations and individual corporate officers at the investigative and grand jury stages, as well as the post-indictment stages in matters involving securities fraud, bank fraud, wire fraud, tax fraud, money laundering, government contractor fraud, health care fraud, and political corruption.

Mr. Finn also conducts internal corporate investigations and advises clients in connection with internal audits and investigations, as well as third party and governmental audits. Mr. Finn has handled internal investigations on behalf of corporations, government contractors, financial services firms, construction companies, hospitals, and political campaign organizations and has been a frequent lecturer on issues related to internal investigations.

Mr. Finn is recognized by Chambers USA in the area of General Commercial Litigation, Connecticut, and has earned the Martindale-Hubbell Client Distinction Award. He has also been named to The Best Lawyers in America for Commercial Litigation, Connecticut, since 2018 and a Super Lawyer in both New England and Connecticut continuously since 2008. Mr. Finn is a graduate of the University at Albany, State University of New York, cum laude, earned an MBA with highest honors from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and is a graduate of Syracuse University College of Law, cum laude, where he served as Notes & Comments Editor of the Syracuse Law Review. After graduating from law school, Mr. Finn served as a federal law clerk in the Northern District of New York, for the Honorable Neal P. McCurn.