ATTORNEYS

Frank J. Riccio

Attorney Frank J. Riccio was born October 10, 1942 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. After growing up in the City of Bridgeport, he graduated from Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut in 1964 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. He then graduated from New York Law School in 1968 and was admitted to the practice of law in Connecticut in the same year and was admitted to practice in the State of New York in 1969. In 1995, Attorney Riccio achieved his Board Certification as a Criminal Trial Lawyer from the National Board of Trial Advocacy.

Since his practice began in 1968, Attorney Frank J. Riccio has operated a general practice of law with an emphasis in Criminal Trial Advocacy. Throughout his career, he has tried over 200 criminal trials to a conclusion, with the overwhelming majority being homicide cases. From 1980 to 1991, Attorney Riccio combined his private practice with being a State of Connecticut Special Public Defender, having been assigned cases that the Public Defender's Office could not undertake for a host of reasons. It was during this time period that Attorney Riccio tried at least 15 cases to a conclusion per year.

Of the numerous criminal cases Attorney Riccio has litigated, of particular note are Charlie Santiago v. State of Connecticut, 45 Conn. App. 297 (1997), aff'd 64 Conn. App. 67 (2001), wherein Attorney Riccio successfully brought a Petition for New Trial based on newly discovered evidence in a 1993 homicide case the first such motion to be granted in Connecticut in over fifteen years; and State of Connecticut v. Robert Stoddard, 206 Conn. 157 (1988), where the Defendant successfully appealed from the judgment of the Connecticut trial court which convicted him of felony murder and alleged that the failure of the police to inform him of counsel's repeated efforts to contact him to provide legal assistance prior to his confession rendered inoperative the waiver of the presence of counsel.

Attorney Riccio has also been admitted as an attorney in the following courts: United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, 1983; United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, 1985; United States Supreme Court, 1991; United States Tax Court, 1991. Attorney Riccio is currently a member of the American Bar Association (Member, Criminal Law Division); American Trial Lawyers Association; National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Connecticut Bar Association, Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and the Greater Bridgeport Bar Association.

Attorney Frank J. Riccio II

Attorney Frank J. Riccio II was born September 15, 1974 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. After growing up in the Town of Stratford and City of Bridgeport, he graduated from Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English. He then graduated from New York Law School in 1999 and was admitted to the practice of law in Connecticut in the same year. Attorney Riccio II has also been admitted as an attorney in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut in 1999.

Prior to joining the firm in 1999, Attorney Riccio II played a prominent role as Executive Editor of the New York Law School Moot Court Association from 1998-1999. In his role as Executive Editor, Attorney Riccio II edited appellate briefs for over 25 appellate competitions. Additionally, in 1999 Attorney Riccio II worked with Associate United States Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas in preparing him for his position as guest judge in the in the New York Law School Robert F. Wagner Labor Law Competition.

Once he began practicing in 1999, Attorney Riccio II immediately began trying civil and criminal cases, and has already tried over 20 civil and criminal trials to conclusion. He continues to establish himself as a premier young trial lawyer in the State of Connecticut.

Attorney Riccio II is currently a member of the American Bar Association (Member, Criminal Law Division); American Trial Lawyers Association; National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Connecticut Bar Association, Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and Greater Bridgeport Bar Association.

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Renee C. Berman

Attorney Renee C. Berman was born in Malden, Massachusetts on June 27, 1977. She attended the University of Connecticut and majored in governmental communications and minored in political science (B.A. cum laude, 1999). While attending the University of Connecticut, Renee was active in the Connecticut Public Interest Research Group where she was elected as legislative liaison for the state of Connecticut.

Prior to attending law school, Renee worked for Public Strategies, Inc. as a media and political consultant to SNET/SBC Communications. She also worked as a legislative advocate for various non-profit organizations and for environmental and consumer issues. In 1998, she served as the Assistant Finance Director for former Massachusetts State Representative Marjorie Clapprood's Congressional campaign in Boston, Massachusetts. In 2001, Renee was elected as a delegate for the Massachusetts Democratic Political Convention.

Renee attended Suffolk University Law School in Boston, Massachusetts (J.D., 2003, Dean's List). Throughout law school, she was an active participant in the Suffolk Public Interest Law Group, the National Women Law Students' Association, and the Disability Advocacy Clinic. She is currently a member of the New Haven County Bar Association (Women's Law Section) and the Connecticut Bar Association (Family Law Section and Young Lawyers' Section). She is admitted to practice law in Connecticut and the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut.

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