Pullman & Comley Adds Attorneys Ryan A. O’Donnell and Maria Rapp; Launches Hospitality Law Practice
HARTFORD, CT, March 13, 2023 — Pullman & Comley, LLC is pleased to announce the addition of attorney Ryan O’Donnell as a member and attorney Maria Rapp as an associate. Mr. O’Donnell will serve as chair of the firm’s new Hospitality practice group, which will include Ms. Rapp as vice chair and attorneys from across Pullman’s other practice areas already working in the restaurant and hospitality industries.
Mr. O’Donnell is a member of the firm's Labor and Employment practice and focuses his legal practice on the representation of management in both public and private sector labor and employment matters. As counsel to both the Connecticut Restaurant Association and the Connecticut Lodging Association, he routinely works with restaurants and hotels to ensure they remain compliant with wage and hour issues, represents clients facing discrimination and harassment claims and provides legal counsel on a large array of legal challenges distinct to the industry.
Ms. Rapp is an associate in the firm's Labor and Employment practice and represents businesses and governmental entities in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies. She litigates a wide range of employment law claims including allegations of discrimination, retaliation and wage and hour violations.
“Our firm is committed to strategic expansion and developing new practice areas,” says Pullman & Comley’s chair, Lee D. Hoffman. “Having Ryan and Maria join the firm is an exciting opportunity for us, and we are thrilled to welcome them to Pullman.”
Mr. O’Donnell was named the Connecticut Restaurant Association Vendor of the Year in 2021 and is a member of the Canton Board of Education. He graduated from College of the Holy Cross and University of Connecticut School of Law, where he earned his J.D. Ms. Rapp graduated from St. John’s University, with honors, and New York Law School, where she earned her J.D.
Pullman & Comley’s Hospitality practice group already represents many of the region’s most recognized and established restaurants, hotels and tourism-related businesses. The team includes attorneys practicing in labor and employment, corporate, real estate, construction, litigation, energy, intellectual property, marketing, advertising and social media, and technology law. The firm works with clients on complex regulatory proceedings, the acquisition or sale of liquor licenses, and a full range of litigation matters.
About Pullman & Comley
With more than 90 attorneys, Pullman & Comley, LLC, founded in 1919, is one of Connecticut’s largest firms and provides a wide range of legal services to clients in the New England region, as well as throughout the United States and internationally. The firm’s major practice areas include business organizations and finance; environmental and land use; public and private finance; health care; labor, employment law and employee benefits; litigation; property tax and valuation; real estate; regulatory, energy and utilities; and trusts and estates. The firm has offices in Bridgeport, Hartford, Waterbury and Westport, Connecticut; Springfield, Massachusetts; Wakefield, Rhode Island; and White Plains, New York. Pullman & Comley is a member of the Law Firm Alliance, an international affiliation of law firms. Visit pullcom.com for more information.