Overview
Dana M. Hrelic, co-chair of the Appellate practice at Pullman & Comley, has earned a reputation as an accomplished appellate and commercial litigation attorney. She has substantial experience in state, territorial, and federal appeals in the areas of constitutional law, complex litigation and business law, family law, juvenile law, personal injury, administrative law, civil procedure, probate law, and criminal law. She has represented clients before the Connecticut Appellate and Supreme Courts as well as the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court of the United States, and the Supreme Court of the U.S. Virgin Islands. She also has experience working on appellate matters in the Eleventh Circuit. She has argued or sat as second chair in countless more appeals in these courts. Dana has also represented amicus curiae clients, including the American Association of Justice and the Virgin Islands Bar Association, in the United States Supreme Court.
In her trial litigation practice, Dana has represented clients and consulted with trial counsel on civil, family, juvenile, criminal, and complex litigation matters in both state and federal courts. She provides assistance at all stages of litigation, including both pre- and post-judgment matters—especially in matters where there is a likelihood of appeal.
Dana is an active member of numerous professional organizations and has held leadership roles in the Connecticut Bar Association, the American Counsel Association, and the American Bar Association, including serving in the ABA House of Delegates, serving as the Second Circuit Representative on the ABA Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary, and serving as Chair of the ABA Young Lawyers Division. She is an active writer and co-authored three books, including the Connecticut Practice Book Annotated, Connecticut Juvenile Law and A Practical Guide to Evidence in Connecticut, authoring the chapter on reputation evidence. Dana routinely presents on appellate practice and procedure, diversity in the profession, legal education, professional ethics and responsibility, and innovation in the profession.
Office
Professional Affiliations
Connecticut Bar Association - House of Delegates Member (2023-2025); Co-Chair, COVID-19 Task Force (2020); Co-Chair, Law Schools & Law Students Subcommittee, COVID-19 Task Force (2020); Board of Governors, Assistant Secretary-Treasurer (2017-2018); Chair, Young Lawyers Section (2016-2017); Executive Committee Member, Appellate Advocacy Section (2012-present)
American Bar Association - Vice Chair of the ABA Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary, Second Circuit Representative (2021-2024); Connecticut State Delegate (2022-present); Member, ABA House of Delegates (2018-present); Member, ABA Nominating Committee (2022-present); Treasurer, ABA YLD Fellows Board (2023 - present); Chair, Young Lawyers Division (2017-2018), overseeing 200,000 members; ABA Day Connecticut State Captain (2020-2022); Member, Young Lawyers Division Council (2011-2021); Member, Judicial Division Council (2019-2021); Governing Council Member, Center for Innovation (2016-2017); Member, Commission on the Future of Legal Services (2014-2016); YLD Assembly Parliamentarian (2014); Member, Task Force on the Future of Legal Education (2012-2014); District #2 Representative, Young Lawyers Division (2011-2013)
American Counsel Association - Member, Board of Directors (2020-present)
Oliver Ellsworth American Inn of Court
Virgin Islands Bar Association - Member
American Bar Foundation - Fellow
Connecticut Bar Foundation - Fellow
Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers - Member
Board of Trustees, UConn Law School Foundation (2015-2017)
Community Involvement
Hartford Promise - Mentor to two Bulkeley High School (Hartford) Students (2018-2019)
The Hartford Chorale - Secretary, Board of Governors (2010-2014); Singing Member (2010-2011)
Honors & Recognitions
Listed in The Best Lawyers in America in the Appellate Practice area, 2024 and 2025
Selected to the Connecticut Super Lawyers list in the Appellate Practice area, 2024
Recipient of the 2022 Hartford Business Journal "40 Under Forty" award
ABA Advocate of the Month, April 2021
Selected to the Connecticut Super Lawyers Rising Star in the Appellate Practice area, 2013-2023
Named a New England Super Lawyers Rising Star in the Appellate Practice area, 2013-2023
Virgin Islands Bar Association Amicus Award, 2018
Finalist, Connecticut Law Tribune 2017 Attorney of the Year Award
ABA, Young Lawyers Division: Star of the Year, 2013-2014; Star of the Quarter, February 2013
CBA, Young Lawyers Section Public Service Award, 2012-2013
Recognized as a New Leader in the Law by the Connecticut Law Tribune, 2012
Practice Areas
Bar and Court Admissions
- Connecticut
- New York
- U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
- U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Virgin Islands
Clerkships
- Law clerk to the Honorable Christine S. Vertefeuille, 2008-2009, Connecticut Supreme Court
Education
J.D., University of Connecticut School of Law, 2008
B.A., with distinction, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2005