Atty. Christopher Thomas DeMatteo

• Christopher DeMatteo is a trial and appellate lawyer with more than fifteen years of Connecticut courtroom experience, focusing on criminal defense, personal injury, employment, and civil litigation
• A six-time Super Lawyers selectee (2019-2024), Chris has tried more than forty cases and argued more than a dozen appeals before the Connecticut Appellate Court
• Chris grew up in New Haven, attended Xavier High School in Middletown, and earned his bachelor’s degree from Boston College and his law degree from Marquette University
• He began his career at a personal injury firm in Bristol, then built and ran his own solo practice for nearly ten years
• He went on to serve as Senior Associate at one of Connecticut’s top trial firms before joining Willinger, Willinger & Bucci as Counsel in 2026
• His civil and appellate record is extensive
• Chris has litigated personal injury and employment matters in both state and federal court, secured two appellate reversals before the Connecticut Appellate Court, and won the reversal of a DCF substantiation decision on appeal to the Superior Court
• He has also achieved favorable outcomes across administrative proceedings before the DMV and DCF
• While his practice centers on civil matters, Chris continues to handle select criminal defense work - including four jury trials, one resulting in an across-the-board not guilty verdict, and a successful Fourth Amendment suppression motion that led to outright dismissal
• An active member of the Connecticut Bar Association, Chris currently serves as Chair of its Criminal Justice Section
• Before practicing law - and into his early years at the bar - he worked as a sports writer, and he continues to write articles and opinion pieces for print and online publications
• A committed First Amendment advocate, he considers the Civil Rights Act of 1964 among the most consequential legislation ever enacted
• Outside the office, Chris cheers on the Red Sox and BC, and enjoys cooking, reading, and fixing things
• He lives in Fairfield County with his wife, a fellow attorney, and their daughter - who, as Chris tells it, doesn’t practice law but argues like she does
• PUBLICATIONS • Challenging Books Also Challenges Democracy • The Thinning Wall Between Church and State Notable Results • State v

Fontanez

• won suppression of evidence on Fourth Amendment grounds, ultimately leading to a dismissal of criminal charges. • Michel v
• City of Hartford, 226 Conn
• App. 98 (2024): Appellate reversal of trial court ruling in an employee free speech case, further defining Conn
• Gen. Stat. 31-51q. • Lafferty v
• Jones, 225 Conn
• App. 552 (2024): Vacatur of attorney disciplinary suspension following writ of error granted by the Appellate Court. • Danielle D. v

DCF

• Reversal of DCF substantiation and registry placement involving unexplained injuries to an infant. • In re Domonic S. / Rylee S.:Denial of termination of parental rights petitions following juvenile court trial
• father reunited with his two children. • In re Immanuel R.: Dismissal of neglect petition and temporary custody order
• mother reunited with her son following trial. • State v
• L.G.: Across-the-board not guilty verdict on felony inciting injury charges in Meriden. • Tichenor v
• Warden:Habeas petition granted on ineffective assistance of counsel grounds