Donna Nelson Heller
Partner
Commercial Litigation, Business Torts, Creditors Rights and Bankruptcy, Employment Law, Arbitration and Mediation
T: 203-325-5028
F: 203-325-5001
dheller@fdh.com

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Donna Nelson Heller practices primarily in two areas: commercial litigation (including creditors’ rights and bankruptcy) and employment law. Ms. Heller has extensive litigation experience, particularly in complex contract disputes, business torts and fraud cases, and creditors’ rights, foreclosures and adversary proceedings. In addition, she is responsible for the firm’s employment litigation practice, representing clients in matters ranging from enforcement of restrictive covenants to investigations of wage and hour complaints.

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
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. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit, 1984
U.S. Supreme Court, 1992
U.S. Tax Court, 2003

Recognition

Connecticut Super Lawyers and New England Super Lawyers for business litigation
Fellow, American Bar Foundation

Professional and Civic Activities, 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
Business Torts Committee

Fairfield County Bar Association
Litigation, Employment Law and Bench/Bar Committees
Co-Chair, Employment Law Committee (2004-2006)

American Inns of Court, Raymond E. Baldwin Inn
Program Chair (2006 to date)

Federal Bar Council

Association of the Bar of the City of New York

Connecticut Superior Court
Attorney Trial Referee

Fairfield County Bar Foundation
Board of Directors (2007 to date)
Vice President (2007 to date)

Stamford Center for the Arts
Board of Directors (2007 to date)
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)

Classes/Seminars Taught

"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