Attorney DeSantis graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1993. Attorney DeSantis graduated from Suffolk University Law School and Suffolk University Sawyer School of Management in 1997 receiving a Juris Doctor and a Masters in Business Administration. Attorney DeSantis founded the DeSantis Law Firm and is the manager of the firm.
Attorney DeSantis has handled thousands of criminal matters ranging from murder to basic misdemeanors. Attorney DeSantis has experience handling criminal matters from when someone is under investigation, to negotiating a disposition, jury and bench trials, and appeals. Attorney DeSantis has handled dozens of appeals, in Connecticut and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. Attorney DeSantis has handled hundreds of Habeas Corpus matters. Attorney DeSantis has testified and worked as an expert on the standard for effective assistance of counsel in criminal matters.
Attorney DeSantis is a Board Certified Criminal Trial Advocate since 2006. Attorney DeSantis was selected as one of the Top 100 Criminal Trial Lawyers for 2013 by the National Trial Lawyers. In 2017, Attorney DeSantis was selected as one of the Top Plaintiff Civil Top 100 Trial Lawyers. Attorney DeSantis has a 2.9 rating by Martindale which indicates he has a high criteria of general ethical standard. These awards and certifications are by third party nomination based upon Attorney DeSantis's past legal work.
Attorney DeSantis also represent clients in personal injury law, automobile accidents, business organizations and business law. He has represented many clients who have been injured due to no fault of their own by negotiating with insurance companies for the best possible settlements, or if necessary, going to trial to secure the best settlements. Attorney DeSantis has a Masters in Business Administration. Attorney DeSantis has represented numerous businesses regarding organizational issues and other business related matters.
Attorney DeSantis constantly stays abreast of new developments in the practice of law. He is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers, Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association and other relevant associations. As a CJA panel member in the past he attends seminars focused on federal defense and sentencing. This allows Attorney DeSantis access to attend numerous Continuing Legal Education events throughout the years as well as publications with the most updated information necessary to be knowledgeable regarding the constantly changing legal field.
In the past Attorney DeSantis has served on the board of the Garde Arts Theater, Sound Community, and on the New London Democratic Town Committee. Attorney DeSantis owns and practices out of 345 State Street in historic downtown New London.
Attorney DeSantis is dedicated to providing knowledgeable and experienced representation in legal matters. Attorney DeSantis practices "client-orientated" representation and strongly believes in staying continual contact with his clients and their families. Attorney DeSantis has practice law for over 15 years in various types of law with an emphasis on criminal defense. Attorney DeSantis has extensive experience in representing clients in all aspects of a criminal investigation and prosecution.
Bar Memberships
Connecticut
District of Connecticut
Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
District of Massachusetts
Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
Education
University of Connecticut (BA)
Suffolk University School of Law (JD)
Suffolk University School of Business (MBA)
Memberships
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyer's Association
Connecticut Bar Association
Board Certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy as a criminal trial advocate. www.nbtanet.org
Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association
National Trial Lawyers Association
STANDARDS FOR CRIMINAL CERTIFICATION
(http://www.nblsc.us/certification_standards_criminal/)
A. Substantial Involvement
1. The applicant must make a satisfactory showing of substantial involvement relevant to the particular specialty certification the person is seeking, with at least thirty (30) percent of his or her time spent practicing civil trial litigation, and/or thirty (30) percent of his or her time spent practicing criminal trial litigation, during the three (3) years preceding the filing of the application.
2. Within the applicant's career, the applicant must make a satisfactory showing of substantial involvement relevant to the particular specialty certification by personal participation in at least forty-five days of trial (a day of trial is not less than six hours) during which the applicant examined or cross-examined witnesses, delivered an opening statement or closing argument or conducted a voir dire jury examination. During the forty-five or more trial days the applicant must personally have:
a. served as lead counsel in at least five jury cases;
b. substantially participated in at least five jury cases which have proceeded to verdict;
c. conducted direct examination of at least twenty-five lay witnesses;
d. conducted cross-examination of at least twenty-five lay witnesses;
e. conducted direct examination of at least fifteen expert witnesses;
f. conducted cross-examination of at least fifteen expert witnesses;
g. presented at least eight opening statements;
h. presented at least four closing arguments;
i. conducted at least five voir dire jury examinations or (in courts which do not permit counsel to conduct voir dire examination) submitted proposed jury questions for the court at least ten times or a combination of examinations and submissions acceptable to the Standards Committee.
The Standards Committee may allow a lesser number of performances in categories (c) through (i) if additional involvement in other categories clearly constitutes sufficient active trial participation to demonstrate an enhanced level of skill and experience.
3. Within the applicant's career, the applicant shall also have actively participated in one hundred (100) additional contested matters involving the taking of testimony (cases included in your substantial involvement may not be included as part of your contested matters). This may include trials (jury or non-jury); evidentiary hearings or depositions; and motions heard before or after trial. In criminal advocacy, it may include juvenile delinquency hearings. In civil advocacy, it may include arbitration hearings, welfare hearings, and workers compensation matters not tried to a court.
4. Within the applicant's substantial involvement and contested matters, one of the following four conditions must be met three years prior to application:
a. substantial trial involvement in ten days of trial with personal participation in the categories listed in Section (B)(2)(a) through (i) or,
b. active personal participation in 24 litigated matters, either directly handled to conclusion as lead counsel or in a supervisory capacity to lead counsel, or
c. participation in 36 performances (evidentiary hearings or depositions which either oral argument was made or testimony was taken, or motions heard before or after trial), or
d. a combination of trial days, participation in litigated matters or performances which demonstrates substantial involvement in the specialty equivalent to one of the three subsections above as approved by the Standards Committee.
B. Educational Experience
1. The applicant must demonstrate substantial participation in continuing legal education and the development of the law with respect to the specialty, in the three year period immediately preceding application either:
a. By attendance and/or electronic participation in not less than forty-five hours in programs of continuing legal education in the specialty or ethics, approved by the Standards Committee, or
b. By equivalent participation through, but not limited to, the following means, approved by the Standards Committee:
I. Teaching courses or seminars in trial law or ethics;
II. Participation as panelist, speaker, or workshop leader, at educational or professional conferences;
III. Authorship of books, or of articles published in professional journals, on trial law;
IV. By combination of the three subsections above.
C. Peer Review
1. The applicant shall submit with application the names of ten to twelve references, not present partners, associates, or relatives of the applicant. These references shall be substantially involved in the relevant field of trial law, and familiar with the applicant's practice in that field. References satisfactory to the NBTA must be received from at least three judges before whom the applicant has tried a matter in the relevant field, not more than three years before application; and at least three shall be lawyers with whom, or against whom, the applicant has tried a matter in that field within three years of application.
2. NBTA will solicit confidential statements from all persons listed as references and may solicit confidential statements of reference from other persons, familiar with the applicant's practice, not specifically named by the applicant. All reference statements received will be reviewed by the NBTA to assess whether the applicant has demonstrated an enhanced level of skill and expertise in the practice area, integrity and consideration for the interests of clients.
D. Examination
The applicant must pass a written examination to test his or her proficiency, knowledge, and experience in civil and/or criminal trial law, so that the applicant may justify his or her representation of specialization to the public.
E. Legal Writing Document
The applicant shall submit a copy of a legal writing document, no more than three (3) years before the date of application which he or she has prepared, but not necessarily published. This will be a substantial document in the area for which the applicant seeks certification, containing concise and accurate writing, stating facts (either actual or hypothetical), stating applicable law, analysis of how the law applies to the facts, written in an appropriately argumentative manner and well constructed (i.e. organized, grammatical, demonstrative of good syntax and usage) . Acceptable documents include, but are not limited to: briefs (trial or appellate), motions for summary judgment, bar journal, law review and legal magazine articles, motions in limine, etc.. The quality of the legal document will be evaluated on those criteria and will determine whether the applicant is qualified for certification.
