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Jeff White provides counseling and dispute resolution advice for manufacturers and distributors throughout the United States and globally. He leads our firm's Manufacturing Industry team, which has been described by media outlets as ”one of the top manufacturing law practices” in the United States, as well as the Aerospace Supply Chain team.

Jeff is a leader within the manufacturing community and has been invited to speak at The White House, U.S. Department of Commerce events, and manufacturing industry events across North America. He has been appointed to committees supporting U.S. commerce by both Republican and Democratic Presidential administrations. In 2022, Jeff was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce and U.S. Trade Representative to serve on the Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Aerospace Equipment. He has offered legal commentary for publications such as Politco, IndustryWeek, and Aviation Week, among others.

In 2013, Jeff created and launched the widely read Manufacturing Law Blog, which was the first blog in the country to address legal issues facing manufacturers and distributors.

Jeff has been ranked since 2020 in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, which is based on objective research and extensive confidential interviews with clients. According to Chambers, clients praise Jeff for his business-focused approach, with one noting, "Jeff's level of service was extraordinary. All members of my organization that worked with Jeff found him very commercial and practical."

Corporate Compliance / Outside General Counsel / International

Jeff serves as outside general counsel for several privately held manufacturers, including family-owned businesses and many industrial B2B suppliers. Drawing upon his industry knowledge and experience, he develops solutions for businesses that operate within global supply chains and often lack commercial leverage. Jeff has assisted manufacturers with contract review and management, developing solutions for a litany of global compliance challenges, and resolving disputes of all kinds between OEMs, suppliers, and the like. As evidence of Jeff’s commitment to help his clients grow, Robinson+Cole received the President’s E-Award for Exports in 2019, a recognition given to persons, firms, or organizations that contribute significantly in the effort to increase United States exports.

Jeff also counsels international companies that have operations in the United States, including manufacturers headquartered in the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and Australia, among other countries. He navigates the cross-cultural differences that can exist within global companies and has been invited by his clients to conduct trainings throughout Europe and Asia. Jeff supports the work of economic development agencies that support direct foreign investment into the United States. He was selected by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s SelectUSA program to co-author a chapter in its Investor Guide for companies interested in making investments in the U.S.

Manufacturing Business to Business Dispute Resolution / Litigation

Jeff also represents several Fortune 500 manufacturers, including in the aerospace, chemicals and consumer products markets. His dispute resolution/litigation experience includes product-related class actions, product liability prevention and litigation, and supply chain disputes (including with long-term agreements (LTAs) that range from hundreds of thousands of dollars to several billion dollars). He often serves as lead counsel for manufacturers facing substantial liability in disputes across the United States. Jeff routinely uses his litigation and business experience to counsel companies that wish to assess and/or resolve business-to-business disputes with suppliers, vendors, and other business partners, without resorting to litigation.

High-Stakes Litigation

In addition to his experience with manufacturers, Jeff has served as lead counsel in high-stakes litigation matters for a variety of clients facing significant exposure. He has represented educational institutions, Native American tribes, and municipalities, among other clients. In one such case, he successfully argued before the Connecticut Supreme Court in an antitrust case arising out of a proposed $1 billion waterfront project. Jeff is past chair of our firm’s Appellate practice group and has been involved in more than 50 appeals and has argued before the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the state appellate courts in Connecticut, New York, and Maryland.

Prior to joining Robinson+Cole, Jeff clerked for the late Honorable Ellen Ash Peters, former Connecticut Supreme Court chief justice. 

  • University of Connecticut School of Law (Juris Doctor, with honors)
  • College of the Holy Cross (Bachelors)
    • B.A., Political Science

  • State of Connecticut
  • State of New York
  • State of Texas
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of New York

Ranked in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business in the State of Connecticut in the area of Litigation: General Commercial since 2020

Selected to the 2019 New England Trailblazers list by Law.com and the Connecticut Law Tribune

Winner of the 2012 United States District Court Pro Bono Award for the District of Connecticut (as voted on by the federal judges)

Winner of the 2011 Judge Maxwell Heiman Memorial Award, presented by the Hartford County Bar Association

Selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the area of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions-Defendants since 2018 and in the area of Commercial Litigation since 2021

Selected to the Connecticut Super Lawyers list from 2013 to 2025

Selected to the "Top 50 Connecticut Super Lawyers list for 2018, 2019 and from 2021 to 2025

Connecticut Magazine, "40 Under Forty," in 2013

Recipient of the Connecticut District Export Council 2020 Ambassador Award

International Trade Administration
Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Aerospace Equipment (ITAC 1) (2022 - 2026)

Women in Manufacturing® Association (WiM)
National Board of Directors (2021 - 2025)
Executive Committee Member  (2023)

U.S. Department of Commerce District Export Council
Connecticut (2020 - Present)

Connecticut Business & Industry Association
Board of Directors (2022 - 2025)
Emeritus Board Member (2025 - Present)

Connecticut Business & Industry Association Foundation
Board of Advisors (2022 - Present)

ManufactureCT
Board of Directors (2021 - Present)

American Bar Association
Co-chair, Business Law Section, Middle Market and Small Business Committee, International Business Transactions Subcommittee (2022 - Present)

American Bar Foundation
Fellow (2013 - Present)

Connecticut Bar Association
Officer (2011 - 2012)
Council of Bar Presidents (2009 - 2010)

Connecticut Bar Foundation
Fellow (2014 - Present)

New England Air Museum
Board of Directors (2011-2024)

University of Connecticut
Invited Lecturer, School of Business

The Bushnell Performing Arts Center
Board of Trustees

Connecticut Supreme Court 200th Anniversary Planning Committee
Member (along with four attorneys and three Supreme Court Justices)