Shipman, Shaiken & Schwefel, LLC

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West Hartford, CT
Shipman, Shaiken & Schwefel, LLC

We are a small firm comprised of senior-level attorneys concentrating on business law, commercial real estate transactions and litigation.

We pride ourselves on our client-oriented practice and successful results. Our firm is ranked in the U.S. News and World Report's "Best Law Firms" list. Several of our attorneys have the highest possible peer ratings in Martindale Hubbell; and have been recognized by Best Lawyers® in America and Superlawyers®. Our clients include Fortune 500 companies, as well as small-to-medium sized businesses.

We provide a full range of legal services. Our attorneys have a combined 130 years of legal problem-solving across a wide range of disciplines: corporate, commercial and real estate litigation; shareholder disputes; administrative law and regulatory matters; commercial real estate transactions; financing; business entity formation, transactions and dissolution; employment matters; land use and zoning; eminent domain and condemnation; creditors’ rights and bankruptcy; municipal law; property tax appeals; arbitration and mediation. Our approach allows clients to benefit from the diverse expertise and depth of all our attorneys, and assures that you have an experienced attorney handling all aspects of your matters. Give us an opportunity to deal with whatever business legal challenge you may be facing. See for yourself the difference a right-sized, experienced team can mean for your enterprise.

08/20/2026

Attorneys C. Scott Schwefel, David Shaiken, and Lawrence Shipman of Shipman, Shaiken & Schwefel, LLC have each been selected for inclusion in the 2027 edition of Best Lawyers in America®.

C. Scott Schwefel was recognized in Commercial Litigation and Eminent Domain & Condemnation Law. David Shaiken was recognized in Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Commercial Litigation, and Litigation – Bankruptcy. Lawrence Shipman was recognized in Land Use and Zoning Law and Real Estate Law. According to the Best Lawyers methodology, honorees are selected through a peer-review process designed to capture feedback from attorneys regarding the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same legal practice areas and geographic regions.

We are proud of Scott, David, and Larry for their continued dedication to their clients and to the Connecticut legal community. Congratulations on this well-deserved honor.

For an explanation of the Best Lawyers methodology, see the following link: https://www.bestlawyers.com/methodology

08/13/2026

Attorney C. Scott Schwefel has been selected for recognition in the 2026 New England Legal Awards, presented by ALM/Law.com.

Shipman Shaiken & Schwefel is proud to congratulate Scott on receiving the 2026 New England Legal Awards Unsung Hero Award, a recognition of his longstanding contributions to his clients, colleagues, and the legal profession. As a Connecticut attorney and litigator, Scott represents businesses, property owners, and other clients in complex real estate litigation, property valuation litigation, property tax appeals, eminent domain, and business disputes. His practice has included representing Fortune 100 businesses in significant litigation involving commercial and multifamily properties, valuation issues, and other complex real estate matters. In addition to his practice, Scott has maintained a longstanding commitment to the legal profession. He has served in leadership roles with the Connecticut Bar Association and American Bar Association and regularly speaks and writes on real estate, property valuation, and litigation issues. Scott has also demonstrated a longstanding commitment to professional service, including providing pro bono legal services to nonprofit organizations and contributing his legal experience to support the nonprofit sector.

The 2026 New England Legal Awards, presented by ALM and Law.com, recognize accomplished attorneys and legal professionals throughout the region. We are particularly pleased to see Scott recognized for the work he has performed on behalf of clients and the legal profession.

Congratulations, C Scott Schwefel, on this well-deserved honor!

A list of honorees may be found at the following link: https://www.event.law.com/newengland-legalawards/2026Honorees

08/07/2026

A Mansfield assessor discovered a 20-year-old forest land classification was based on a survey showing 22.53 acres instead of the required 25. The Connecticut Supreme Court just ruled that error alone didn't give the town authority to strip the classification and nearly triple the property's tax bill.

Attorney C. Scott Schwefel discusses the court's decision in Campelli v. Town of Mansfield on our firm's website. See link below.

https://shipmanlawct.com/case-alert-connecticut-supreme-court-bars-assessors-from-retroactively-reversing-forest-land-status/

07/22/2026

Property tax valuation disputes often turn on the interpretation of a single statute.

In a recent Connecticut Superior Court decision, the court held that qualifying low-income housing subject to Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 8-215 and 8-216a must be valued based on its net rental income and, under the facts presented, concluded that the property's taxable value was zero.

Attorney C. Scott Schwefel discusses the court's decision in Soromundi Commons Limited Partnership v. City of Hartford on our firm's website. See link below.

https://shipmanlawct.com/case-alert-connecticut-court-values-hartford-supportive-housing-property-at-zero-orders-city-to-pay-owners-fees/

07/03/2026

Wishing everyone a happy Independence Day. Grateful for the freedoms that make our work possible, and for the clients and colleagues who make it worthwhile.

05/26/2026

Today, we honor and remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. Their courage and dedication will never be forgotten.

05/07/2026

Attorney C. Scott Schwefel examines the Connecticut Trial Court’s decision in The Caring Community of Connecticut, Inc. v. Town of Colchester and its implications for charitable property tax exemptions applicable to nonprofit organizations.

https://shipmanlawct.com/connecticut-superior-court-upholds-charitable-property-tax-exemptions-for-nonprofit-residential-care-facilities/

04/01/2026

We’re proud to announce that partner C. Scott Schwefel will be speaking at the ABA Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law's 38th Annual National CLE Conference at the Loews Hotel in Chicago, IL.

Scott’s program, “Under All Lies the Land: Highest and Best Use,” will take place on May 1, 2026, offering valuable insights into evaluating property use and maximizing value, essential knowledge for real estate and legal professionals. We invite attendees to join him for this insightful session and gain practical strategies for navigating complex property issues.

03/04/2026

Today, Shipman, Shaiken & Schwefel, LLC partner, Attorney C. Scott Schwefel, testified before the Connecticut General Assembly’s Insurance & Real Estate Committee regarding House Bill 5378 and its impact on solo practitioners, small law firms and small businesses. He shared accounts of how rising health insurance costs are preventing small businesses from hiring, retaining talent, and even accessing needed medical care. While supporting the goal of expanding affordable options, he urged lawmakers to pursue an Association Health Plan model that includes solo practitioners and the smallest businesses. Credit: CT-N (https://ct-n.com/ondemand.asp)

02/01/2026

Connecticut Property Owners: The February 20, 2026 deadline to appeal property tax assessments to the Board of Assessment Appeals is approaching quickly. With many municipalities completing revaluations, assessed values may have increased significantly. A careful review now can help ensure your property is assessed fairly and accurately.

Our firm regularly assists property owners in evaluating assessments and navigating the appeal process. If you have questions or would like to discuss your options, now is the time to act. Read more in our article: https://shipmanlawct.com/2025-connecticut-municipal-property-tax-revaluations-what-property-owners-should-know/

Address

433 S Main Street, Ste 319
West Hartford, CT
06110

Telephone

+18609523715

Website

http://shipmanlawct.com/

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