Mark P. Santagata

Mark began his practice in 1984 as a judicial clerk in Connecticut Superior Court. In 1985, he began working for Law Offices of Michael J. Cacace, and joined Mike and Paul Tusch as a partner in 1993. With over 20 years experience in civil litigation, Mark handles cases involving personal injury, construction problems, real estate issues, probate litigation, collection matters, employment controversies, and commercial disputes. His employment practice includes negotiation of employment agreements and severance packages, providing counsel to employers regarding human resource and regulatory issues, and enforcement of noncompetition and nondisclosure contracts. Mark's landlord tenant practice includes drafting and negotiating commercial leases, as well as litigating residential and commercial disputes in housing court. Having represented major telecommunication carriers Mark has negotiated many leases for telecommunication antenna sites. Active with nonprofit organizations, Mark has been affiliated with the Boards of Directors of Kids in Crisis, Hospice Care, Inc., Senior Employment Services, Catholic Family Services, and Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care of Southwestern Connecticut where he currently serves as Board Chairman. Mark has served on the Stamford Health Foundation, the Board of Directors of the Fairfield County Bar Association, is a member of the Litigation, Employment and Alternative Dispute Resolution Sections of the Connecticut Bar Association, and the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association. He has lectured on real estate litigation, and construction law compliance for contractors. Non-Profit Affiliations: Catholic Family Services Director, 1985 - 1987 Secretary, 1986 - 1987 SACIA Fairfield County Information Exchange Member, Research Advisory Committee, 1999 - 2001 Member, Trends & Issues Sub-Committee, 1999 - 2001 Hospice Care, Inc. Director, 1987 - 1998 Chairman, 1995 - 1998 1st Vice Chair, 1993 - 1995 Executive Committee, 1992 - 1998 Chairman, Human Resources Committee, 1988 - 1998 Finance Committee, 1991 - 1998 Kids In Crisis Director, 2002 - 2008 Board Counsel, 2002 - 2008 Executive Committee, 2002 - 2008 Finance Committee, 2002 - 2008 Chairman Human Resources Committee, 2002 - 2008 Senior Employment Services Director, 1986 - 1992 President, 1989 - 1991 Vice President, 1988 - 1989 Secretary, 1986 - 1987 Director Emeritus Stamford Chamber of Commerce Member, Tangible Benefits Committee, 1999 - 2001 Stamford Health Foundation Director, 1997 - 2000 Visiting Nurse Association Hospice Care of Southwestern Connecticut Director, 1998 - 2000; 2004 - present Chairman, 1998 - 2000, 2008 Board Counsel, 2004 - 2008 Executive Committee, 1998 - 2000, 2004 - present Chairman, Human Resources Committee, 2004 - 2007 Nominating Committee, 2006 - 2007 Director Emeritus 2000 - 2004 Professional Associations and Memberships: Connecticut Bar Association Member, Construction Law Section Member, Labor and Employment Section Member, Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee Member, Litigation Section (Executive Committee 2000 - 2001) Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association Member Fairfield County Bar Association Director, 2003 - 2007 Member, Bench Bar Committee Member, Employment Committee Member, Litigation Committee Member, Medical/Legal Committee Areas of Practice: Civil Litigation Construction Law Personal Injury Torts Labor and Employment Real Estate Leases and Leasing Telecommunications Law Bar Admissions: Connecticut , 1984 U.S. District Court District of Connecticut , 1985 Education: Western New England College School of Law, Springfield, Massachusetts , 1984 J.D. University of Connecticut , 1979 B.A. Fraternities/Sororities: Phi Alpha Delta

• Partner, since 1993

• Connecticut Superior Court, Judicial Clerk

• Contracts for Home Improvement and New Home Construction Contractors, Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Fairfield County, Inc.
• Negotiating Severance Agreements, Fairfield County Bar Association
• Connecticut Summary Process, Fairfield County Bar Association

• Catholic Family Services, Director, 1985 - 1987
• Catholic Family Services, Secretary, 1986 - 1987
• SACIA Fairfield County Information Exchange, Research Advisory Committee, Member, 1999 - 2001
• SACIA Fairfield County Information Exchange, Trends & Issues Sub-Committee, Member, 1999 - 2001
• Hospice Care, Inc., Director, 1987 - 1998
• Hospice Care, Inc., Chairman, 1995 - 1998
• Hospice Care, Inc., 1st Vice Chair, 1993 - 1995
• Hospice Care, Inc., Executive Committee, 1992 - 1998
• Hospice Care, Inc., Human Resources Committee, Chairman, 1988 - 1998
• Hospice Care, Inc., Finance Committee, 1991 - 1998
• Kids in Crisis, Director, 2002 - 2008
• Kids in Crisis, Board Counsel, 2002 - Present
• Kids in Crisis, Executive Committee, 2002 - 2008
• Kids in Crisis, Finance Committee, 2002 - Present
• Kids in Crisis, Human Resources Committee, Chairman, 2002 - 2008
• Senior Employment Services, Director, 1986 - 1992
• Senior Employment Services, President, 1989 - 1991
• Senior Employment Services, Vice President, 1988 - 1989
• Senior Employment Services, Secretary, 1986 - 1987
• Senior Employment Services, Director Emeritus
• Stamford Chamber of Commerce, Tangible Benefits Committee, Member, 1999 - 2001
• Stamford Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors, 1999 - 2004
• Stamford Health Foundation, Director, 1997 - 2000
• Visiting Nurse Association Hospice Care of Southwestern Connecticut, Director, 1998 – 2000; 2004 – present
• Visiting Nurse Association Hospice Care of Southwestern Connecticut, Chairman, 1998 – 2000, 2008
• Visiting Nurse Association Hospice Care of Southwestern Connecticut, Board Counsel, 2004 - 2008
• Visiting Nurse Association Hospice Care of Southwestern Connecticut, Executive Committee, 1998 – 2000, 2004 – present
• Visiting Nurse Association Hospice Care of Southwestern Connecticut, Human Resources Committee, Chairman, 2004 - 2007
• Visiting Nurse Association Hospice Care of Southwestern Connecticut, Nominating Committee, 2006 - 2007
• Visiting Nurse Association Hospice Care of Southwestern Connecticut, Director Emeritus, 2000 - 2004
• Superior Court, Volunteer Special Master

• Connecticut, 1984
• U.S. District Court District of Connecticut, 1985

• Connecticut Bar Association, Construction Law Section (Member)
• Connecticut Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section (Member)
• Connecticut Bar Association, Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee (Member)
• Connecticut Bar Association, Litigation Section, Executive Committee, 2000 - 2001 (Member)
• Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association (Member)
• Fairfield County Bar Association, 2003 - 2007 (Director)
• Fairfield County Bar Association, Bench Bar Committee (Member)
• Fairfield County Bar Association, Employment Committee (Member)
• Fairfield County Bar Association, Litigation Committee (Member)
• Fairfield County Bar Association, Medical/Legal Committee (Member)