Practice Areas
- Commercial Litigation
- Executive Compensation, Benefits & Employment
- Bankruptcy & Corporate Reorganizations
Education
- University of Pennsylvania Law School, J.D., 1980, cum laude, Arthur Littleton Legal Writing Fellow, 1979-1980
- University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business, M.B.A., 1980, with Distinction
- Bryn Mawr College, A.B., 1976, magna cum laude, with Honors in Fine Arts
Bar Admissions
- Connecticut, 1985
- New York, 1981
Court Admissions
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1992
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit, 1984
- U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, 1985
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, 1981
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, 1981
- U.S. Tax Court, 2003
Honors and Awards
Connecticut Super Lawyers and New England Super Lawyers for business litigation
Fellow, American Bar Foundation
Donna Nelson Heller is the senior member of Finn Dixon & Herling’s Commercial Litigation group. Ms. Heller has extensive commercial litigation experience, particularly in cases involving complex contract disputes, corporate governance issues, business torts, unfair trade practices and financial fraud. She has been named a Connecticut “Super Lawyer” in the area of business litigation each year since 2007 (View selection criteria). Ms. Heller has also represented clients in workouts, adversary proceedings and foreclosure actions, generally from the creditors’ perspective. In addition to her litigation practice in state and federal trial and appellate courts, Ms. Heller has significant experience in arbitration, mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution.
Ms. Heller is also responsible for the firm’s employment litigation practice. She has defended employers against claims ranging from sexual harassment to ERISA retaliation. She has represented clients in enforcing restrictive covenants and protecting trade secrets. Ms. Heller has litigated employment cases in the state and federal courts and before the EEOC and other administrative agencies. She has also represented clients in Department of Labor investigations and conducted state-mandated sexual harassment training sessions.
Ms. Heller’s professional and civic activities reflect her commitment to the practice of law and the greater community. She has served as an attorney trial referee in the Connecticut Superior Court for nearly 20 years, and she is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association’s Professional Ethics Committee. Ms. Heller is currently the President of the Fairfield County Bar Foundation, having served on the Foundation’s Board since its formation in 2007. She is also on the Board of the Stamford Center for the Arts and the Fairfield County Bar Association. Reflecting a personal interest in the legal needs of veterans, active-duty military and their families, Ms. Heller was recently certified by the Veterans Administration to advocate on behalf of veterans in benefits proceedings.
Associations and Memberships
American Bar Association
Sections on Litigation, Labor & Employment, Law Practice Management
Connecticut Bar Association
Sections on Litigation, Federal Practice, Labor & Employment, Commercial Law & Bankruptcy
Executive Committee, Commercial Law & Bankruptcy Section
Executive Committee, Labor & Employment Section
Professional Ethics Committee
Military Law Committee
Fairfield County Bar Association
Board of Directors Litigation, Employment Law and Bench/Bar Committees
Co-Chair, Employment Law Committee (2004-2006)
American Inns of Court, Raymond E. Baldwin Inn
Executive Committee Program Chair (2006 - 2009)
Federal Bar Council Association of the Bar of the City of New York
Connecticut Superior Court
Attorney Trial Referee
Fairfield County Bar Foundation
President (2008 to date)
Vice President (2007)
Board of Directors
Stamford Center for the Arts
Board of Directors
Advisory Council (2004-2007)
United States Naval Academy Parents Club of Connecticut
Co-President (2006-2007)
Executive Board (2003 to 2007)
Greenwich School Age Child Care, Inc.
Director and Counsel (1993-2002)
Speaking Engagements
"Whistleblowing in the Private Sector," Fairfield County Bar Association, January 2006
"Employee Free Speech: Cotto and DiMartino Revisited," Connecticut Bar Association Labor & Employment Law Quarterly, Winter 2005
"The Year in Review -- Commercial Law: 2004 Decisions of Connecticut Courts," Connecticut Bar Association Annual Meeting, June 2004
"Sexual Harassment in the Workplace: Liability, Prevention, Policies and Remedies," SACIA Sexual Harassment Training Seminar, September 2003
"Uniform Commercial Code Article 2A: An Overview of Basic Concepts in the Connecticut Version of Revised Article 2A," Connecticut Bar Association, October 2002
"The Year in Review -- Commercial Law: 2001 Decisions of Connecticut Courts," Connecticut Bar Association Annual Meeting, June 2001