Practice Areas

Angelo Cicchiello is a partner in the firm of Cicchiello & Cicchiello, LLP. He has over 42 years of experience as a litigation attorney in the State of Connecticut, with an established practice for over 40 years in the City of Hartford, handling matters involving personal injury, automobile accidents, medical malpractice, wrongful death, workers’ compensation, employment discrimination, wrongful termination, civil rights violations, social security disability, criminal law, contract disputes, divorce and family law. Angelo Cicchiello regularly tries cases to a conclusion in both state and federal courts in the state of Connecticut, and has argued and represented clients in appeals before the Connecticut Appellate and Supreme Court. Attorney Cicchiello is the principal litigator in the firm for over 40 years, and has had the opportunity to try numerous cases before the court, to a jury, administrative officers including workers’ compensation commissioners as well as social security administrative law judges, before arbitrators and mediators. Angelo Cicchiello attended Quinnipiac School of Law where he obtained his law degree in 1980. Attorney Cicchiello was admitted to practice in Connecticut state court in 1981, and federal court in 1982.

You can contact Angelo Cicchiello via email: angelo@cicchielloesq.com

Emanuele R. Cicchiello is the Managing Partner in the firm of Cicchiello & Cicchiello, LLP. He attended the University of Richmond for his undergraduate education where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and graduated with honors in 2001. Following his undergraduate academic studies at the University of Richmond, Emanuele worked for a law firm in New York City focusing on family and divorce law before attending law school. Emanuele Cicchiello then attended New England School of Law where he received his J.D. and graduated in 2005 with honors. During his studies at New England School of Law, Attorney Cicchiello received the New England Scholar Award for the 2004-2005 academic year, as well as the CALI Excellence for the Future Award for his achievement in the study of Employment Law.

Attorney Cicchiello currently represents plaintiffs handling matters involvingpersonal injury, automobile accidents, workers’ compensation, employment discrimination, wrongful termination, civil rights violations, contract disputes, and criminal law. Attorney Cicchiello has tried a number of cases to a conclusion before the court, to a jury, the workers' compensation commission, and before arbitrators and mediators. He argued before the Connecticut Supreme Court – Nilsa Cordero v. State of Connecticut, et al. He is admitted to practice law in the state and federal courts in the State of Connecticut.

From 2019-2022, Attorney Cicchiello has been selected by Super Lawyers® after being recognized by other lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Super Lawyers® is an eminent attorney-rating service that admits a select number of top-rated attorneys to their list. The list is based on independent research, peer reviews, and peer nominations. Earlier in his career, Mr. Cicchiello was also selected by Super Lawyers® as a Rising Star℠ every year from 2011-2015 in Employment Law. The Rising Star℠ award is reserved for attorneys 40 years old or younger who have demonstrated excellence and exceptional legal skill.

Additionally, he was selected as a Top 40 Under 40 member by the National Trial Lawyers Association. Mr. Cicchiello was most recently selected for the New Leaders In The Law for lawyers under 40 in the state of Connecticut for 2014 and is also a member of The Loomis Chaffee School's Head's Council. In 2015, Attorney Cicchiello obtained one of the top 20 verdicts in the state of Connecticut. He was also recently awarded the 2017 Distinguished Leader Award from the Connecticut Law Tribune. It is called the “Distinguished Leader” Honor / award. There were 10 recipients in the state. Nominated by peers and a panel reviewed nominees and selected honorees.

You can contact Attorney Cicchiello through his email - manny@cicchielloesq.com
and visit his profile on superlawyers.com.

Michael J. Reilly has been with Cicchiello & Cicchiello, LLP for over 11 years and recently became a partner in January 2023. Attorney Reilly handles cases involving all aspects of employment litigation and has successfully tried multiple employment cases to verdict. Attorney Reilly also has substantial experience litigating personal injury cases and handling Workers’ Compensation claims. Attorney Reilly regularly appears in state and federal court and has argued before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

Attorney Reilly has been named as a Super Lawyer “Connecticut Rising Star” in the area of “Employment Litigation: Plaintiff” for the past three consecutive years (2017-2019). In 2017, the Connecticut Law Tribune named Attorney Reilly a “New Leader in the Law.”

Attorney Reilly can be contacted by email - mreilly@cicchielloesq.com.

Matthew D. Paradisi is an associate in the firm of Cicchiello & Cicchiello, LLP. Attorney Paradisi attended Endicott College for his undergraduate education where he majored in Communications, received the Senior Thesis Award, and graduated with honors. He subsequently attended Western New England University School of Law, where he was awarded the Iijima Award for Best Brief, served as Chief Justice of the Moot Court Board, and focused his studies on civil litigation.

Following graduation, Attorney Paradisi worked as in-house counsel for Connecticut engineering and construction firm, and later served as a civil and family clerk in Meriden Superior Court. He joined Cicchiello & Cicchiello, LLP in early 2015, and has since represented individuals in their personal injury, workers' compensation, employment discrimination, family, and civil rights cases. Attorney Paradisi is currently admitted to practice in the State of Connecticut.

Attorney Paradisi can be contacted by email at - mparadisi@cicchielloesq.com.

Taylor V. Friel is an associate in the firm of Cicchiello & Cicchiello, LLP. She first joined the firm in 2022 as a legal intern. She has since been involved in all aspects of employment litigation, which has become her primary area of practice. She has also gained experience in personal injury and workers’ compensation matters.

Attorney Friel attended the University of Connecticut for her undergraduate education where she double majored in Political Science and Economics. She then attended the University of Connecticut School of Law.

While in law school, Attorney Friel served as the Director of Judging for the Connecticut Moot Court Board and Senior Articles Editor for the Connecticut Public Interest Law Journal. She also earned CALI awards for achieving the highest grades in Legal Practice: Interviewing, Counseling and Advocacy as well as the Housing and Eviction Defense Clinic. In 2022, Attorney Friel was a finalist in the Alva P. Loiselle Moot Court Competition where she had the honor of arguing before Connecticut Supreme Court Justices. Upon graduating in 2024, Attorney Friel was awarded the Terry J. Tondro Award for excellence in the study of affordable housing and urban revitalization.

Jonathan F. Di Perna is a new associate with the firm Cicchiello & Cicchiello, LLP. Attorney Di Perna was born in Montréal, Canada, and moved to Connecticut in 2015. Attorney Di Perna represents clients in all matters and in all forums regarding employment discrimination, wrongful termination, worker’s compensation and personal injury.

Attorney Di Perna attended The University of Connecticut for his undergraduate education where he received his Bachelor of Science in Psychology, where he made the Dean’s List in 2018. He subsequently attended Western New England University School of Law, where he concentrated in transactional law.

Attorney Di Perna successfully passed the 2024 Connecticut Bar examination, and is eager to begin his legal career zealously representing our clients.

Alexandra Dzen is a Legal Intern at Cicchiello & Cicchiello, LLP. Alexandra is currently a student at Western New England University School of Law and will graduate in May of 2025. Alexandra is a member of the Western New England Law Review, where she serves as a Volume 47 Symposium Editor. During her 1L year, Alexandra was awarded the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Lawyering Skills II. Throughout her time at Cicchiello & Cicchiello, Alexandra has had the opportunity to work on a variety of cases and has found a particular interest in employment law.

Alexandra graduated magna cum laudefrom the University of New Haven, with a degree in Criminal Justice and Legal Studies. During her undergraduate studies, Alexandra received the Henry C. Lee College - David Maxwell Law Award and was a member of the Legal Studies Honors Society.