Frank F. Coulom Jr.

Of Counsel

  • Overview

    Biography

    Frank Coulom is a retired partner of the firm. For many years prior to his retirement, Frank served as legal counsel to the firm. He frequently lectures on legal ethics and professional responsibility, and serves as an expert witness in matters involving questions of legal ethics, legal malpractice, and professional misconduct.  He also provides confidential consulting services to law firms on sensitive professional responsibility matters. He previously served as a member of the Grievance Panel for the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, and is a past chair of the Ethics Committee of the Hartford County Bar Association.

    In addition to serving as General Counsel, Frank had an active litigation practice for over 30 years. He has tried numerous cases to verdict, final judgment, or final arbitration decision. He has represented clients in a range of industries including healthcare, insurance, construction, and manufacturing. His trial experience also includes successfully representing employers in ERISA and Title VII litigation. His deep trial experience is an important part of his service as a practical advisor in counseling clients on matters of professional responsibility.

    During his career, he has also been involved in leading cases in numerous additional areas, such as business torts and intellectual property issues.

    Frank has achieved positive results for clients, such as successfully defending property damage claims arising out of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. He has obtained numerous favorable verdicts for his clients, including for a business owner who was accused of sexual harassment. He secured the dismissal of $96 million in claims against the State of Connecticut in a class action brought by state employees.

    He is the coauthor of a book on discovery practice as well as the coauthor of a book on products liability published by West Publishing Company. From 2006 to 2022, Frank has been selected for inclusion in the Connecticut Super Lawyers® list. He has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America© in the area of Commercial Litigation since 2016. He also served for several years on the faculty of the Connecticut Trial Advocacy Institute, sponsored by the National Institute of Trial Advocacy and the Connecticut Bar Association, instructing other lawyers how to be better trial advocates. 

    Frank served for two years as law clerk to Judge Alfred L. Luongo, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia.

  • Experience
    • Experience

      Experience

      • Represented party in reinsurance dispute and litigated issue about whether arbitrations relating to 12 different reinsurance agreements could be consolidated into a single arbitration.

      • Obtained jury verdict in favor of defendant business owner accused of sexual harassment in federal court.
      • Represented reinsured in dispute with reinsurance broker about return of collateral provided by reinsurer at alleged termination of reinsurance agreement.
      • Represented reinsured in litigation with its reinsurer concerning the breach of a commutation agreement related to the reinsurance program.
      • Counseled major food producer regarding tax treatment of public warehouse space for apportionment purposes.
      • Represented an advertising consulting agency in arbitrations and court cases involving various commercial disputes.

      • Successfully defended appeal, at Second Circuit Court of Appeals, of summary judgment in favor of employer dismissing age discrimination claims as time barred because of employee’s failure to fail a claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission within the statutory time period.
      • Successfully resolved claims files, in both state and federal court, by employee of retaliation, discrimination under the Connecticut Fair Employment Practices Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, and Family and Medical Leave Act.
      • Defense of a parish against labor and employment practice claims asserted by a long-time parish sexton. Successfully negotiated an advantageous settlement of the claims.
      • Representation as general outside counsel for approximately 20 years to a statewide association of cities and towns. Representation includes matters regarding litigation, contracts, insurance, employment, the secretary of the state's procurement of voting machines under the Help America Vote Act, and the replacement of lever voting machines throughout Connecticut.
      • Favorable resolution of claims, in both federal court and Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, of tortious wrongful discharge in violation of public policy and wrongful discharge in violation of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
      • Obtained dismissal of all claims against the State of Connecticut in a constitutional takings class action brought by state employees claiming entitlement to the proceeds of the demutualization of the state's health care insurance carriers.
      • Represented commercial client against application to vacate arbitration award based on public policy grounds. Successfully argued that no public policy was violated and that, without transcript of underlying arbitration, records were inadequate for review on public policy grounds.

      • Representing reinsured in attempt to enforce arbitration agreement and recover from reinsurer its portion of overcharges of workers' compensation insurance premiums.
      • Provided ongoing reinsurance advice to Fortune 100 company regarding its worldwide captive insurance program and the negotiation and securitization through reinsurance of that program.
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    • Professional Associations

      Professional Associations

      American Bar Association (1983 - present)

      Hartford County Bar Association
      Ethics Committee (1983 - present)

      Connecticut Bar Foundation
      James W. Cooper Life Fellow

      United States District Court for the State of Connecticut
      Grievance Committee

      AIDA Reinsurance and Insurance Arbitration Society, ARIAS US (2007 - present)
    • Honors + Awards

      Honors + Awards

      Selected to the Connecticut Super Lawyers list from 2006 to 2022.

      AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated in Martindale-Hubbell™ in the areas of Litigation, Reinsurance Law, and Insurance Law (Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings is a trademark. AV Preeminent is a certification mark of Reed Elsevier Properties, Inc.)

      Selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the area(s) of Commercial Litigation since 2016.

      Presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Connecticut Law Tribune, 2020

      Robinson+Cole Pro Bono Award recipient, 2019

  • NEWS + PRESS
    • Publications

      Publications

      Civil Discovery Practice in Connecticut (1995)

      Products Liability 50 State Handbook, co-authored with Edward F. Hennessey (1994)
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    • Presentations

      Presentations

      "Professionalism Boot Camp CLE," presented by the Connecticut Bar Association at Quinnipiac University School of Law in North Haven, Connecticut (11/30/2018)
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    • News

      R+C in the News

      • December 6, 2018

        Frank Coulom Presents During CBA Professionalism Boot Camp

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      • October 18, 2018

        51 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized by Super Lawyers®

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      • September 18, 2018

        Robinson+Cole Victory Featured in Connecticut Law Tribune

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      • August 20, 2018

        52 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2019

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      • November 12, 2015

        Robinson+Cole Hosts Domestic Violence Restraining Order Program for Lawyers

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      R+C News Releases

      • October 11, 2022

        Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized in 2022 Super Lawyers®

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      • August 18, 2022

        74 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2023

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      • August 19, 2021

        65 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2022

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      • October 15, 2020

        47 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized in Super Lawyers®

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      • October 1, 2020

        Five Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized During Connecticut Legal Awards

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      • August 20, 2020

        61 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2021

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      • October 19, 2019

        52 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized by Super Lawyers®

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        • View article
      • August 15, 2019

        57 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2020

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      • October 17, 2017

        Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized by Super Lawyers®

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      • August 15, 2017

        Fifty-Nine Robinson+Cole Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2018

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      • October 18, 2016

        Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized by Super Lawyers®

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      • August 15, 2016

        Robinson+Cole Receives Top Listing in Connecticut Lawyer Count in The Best Lawyers in America® 2017

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      • October 19, 2015

        Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized by Super Lawyers®

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      • August 18, 2015

        Robinson+Cole Receives Top Listing in Connecticut Lawyer Count in The Best Lawyers in America® 2016

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      • October 17, 2014

        Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized by Super Lawyers

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      • October 22, 2012

        Super Lawyers® Names 49 Robinson & Cole Attorneys to 2012 List and Recognizes 26 as Rising Stars

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