Christopher Thomas DeMatteo

Christopher DeMatteo is a trial and appellate lawyer with more than fifteen years of Connecticut courtroom experience, focusing on criminal defense, personal injury, employment, and civil litigation. A six-time Super Lawyers selectee (2019-2024), Chris has tried more than forty cases and argued more than a dozen appeals before the Connecticut Appellate Court.

Chris grew up in New Haven, attended Xavier High School in Middletown, and earned his bachelor’s degree from Boston College and his law degree from Marquette University. He began his career at a personal injury firm in Bristol, then built and ran his own solo practice for nearly ten years. He went on to serve as Senior Associate at one of Connecticut’s top trial firms before joining Willinger, Willinger & Bucci as Counsel in 2026.

His civil and appellate record is extensive. Chris has litigated personal injury and employment matters in both state and federal court, secured two appellate reversals before the Connecticut Appellate Court, and won the reversal of a DCF substantiation decision on appeal to the Superior Court. He has also achieved favorable outcomes across administrative proceedings before the DMV and DCF. While his practice centers on civil matters, Chris continues to handle select criminal defense work - including four jury trials, one resulting in an across-the-board not guilty verdict, and a successful Fourth Amendment suppression motion that led to outright dismissal.

An active member of the Connecticut Bar Association, Chris currently serves as Chair of its Criminal Justice Section. Before practicing law - and into his early years at the bar - he worked as a sports writer, and he continues to write articles and opinion pieces for print and online publications. A committed First Amendment advocate, he considers the Civil Rights Act of 1964 among the most consequential legislation ever enacted.

Outside the office, Chris cheers on the Red Sox and BC, and enjoys cooking, reading, and fixing things. He lives in Fairfield County with his wife, a fellow attorney, and their daughter - who, as Chris tells it, doesn’t practice law but argues like she does.

PUBLICATIONS

• Challenging Books Also Challenges Democracy

• The Thinning Wall Between Church and State

Notable Results

• State v. Fontanez: won suppression of evidence on Fourth Amendment grounds, ultimately leading to a dismissal of criminal charges.

• Michel v. City of Hartford, 226 Conn. App. 98 (2024): Appellate reversal of trial court ruling in an employee free speech case, further defining Conn. Gen. Stat. 31-51q.

• Lafferty v. Jones, 225 Conn. App. 552 (2024): Vacatur of attorney disciplinary suspension following writ of error granted by the Appellate Court.

• Danielle D. v. DCF: Reversal of DCF substantiation and registry placement involving unexplained injuries to an infant.

• In re Domonic S. / Rylee S.:Denial of termination of parental rights petitions following juvenile court trial; father reunited with his two children.

• In re Immanuel R.: Dismissal of neglect petition and temporary custody order; mother reunited with her son following trial.

• State v. L.G.: Across-the-board not guilty verdict on felony inciting injury charges in Meriden.

• Tichenor v. Warden:Habeas petition granted on ineffective assistance of counsel grounds.