As a partner in the law firm of Cipparone & Zaccaro, P.C., John C. Zaccaro, Jr. is both diligent in his law practice and committed to the profession. He joined the firm’s predecessor in 1998 after spending six years as a construction litigation attorney with a mid-sized, well-respected general practice firm, two years in-house with a large well-respected non-profit housing developer, and 1 year on Wall Street as an investment banker. With 39 years of experience, John knows how to handle large and small, simple and complex business, real estate, and financing transactions. As a member of the firm's Estate Planning and Probate team, John works with people to assist them with their estate planning and probate needs.
Education and early experience
John attended the University of Bridgeport School of Law, now known as Quinnipiac School of Law, graduating with a Juris Doctor degree in 1983. While in law school, John was the Editor-In-Chief of the Common Pleas, the law school newspaper. He also served as the sole student member of the Student Discipline Committee where he conducted hearings and helped decide on matters relating to violations of the Student Discipline Code and University Rules. John also served as Clerk for the Connecticut State Legislature, Human Services Committee; Clerk for Connecticut State Legislature, Black and Hispanic Legislative Caucus; Scheduler and Issues Coordinator for the Campaign of Charles B. Tisdale for Mayor of Bridgeport; Law Clerk for Howard A. Glickstein, a Special Master in Age Discrimination cases for the United States District Court, District of Connecticut. Under the supervision of Dean Glickstein, John researched the law and drafted written opinions for approval by the U. S. District Court.
Solo and law firm experience
John was admitted to the Connecticut Bar in 1984, and began a sole practice, handling administrative appeals, consumer protection, and corporate matters. In 1985, he ceased private practice and went to work as an Investment Banker with a mid-size Wall Street firm, handling tax-exempt bond issues, business development, public hearings, due diligence, and closings. In 1986, John was retained by a large nonprofit housing developer to work on legal matters related to large projects financed, in part, by tax-exempt bonds.
In 1987, John became an Associate with the Marcus Law Firm in New Haven, Connecticut. As a litigation attorney, he represented clients in trials and hearings and handled litigation and arbitration of real estate disputes, construction disputes, and commercial disputes.
In 1993, John left the Marcus Law Firm to begin his solo private practice, handling similar areas of representation, with domestic relations matters, torts, and collections. He also performed transactional work including business organizations, residential and commercial real estate, and finance.
John became an Associate with the New London law firm of Cole-Chu & Cipparone, LLC, as well as its successor law firm Cole-Chu & Company, LLC. In 2000, he returned to private practice and served "Of Counsel" to Cole-Chu & Company, LLC, where he became a partner in February 2008. In August 2009, John became a shareholder in Kepple, Cole-Chu, Cipparone, Avena & Zaccaro, P.C., the predecessor to the current firm of Cipparone & Zaccaro, P.C.
Arbitration experience
In addition to the above-mentioned, John has been an Arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association since 1993 and conducts arbitrations in the areas of construction and commercial disputes. He also served as an arbitrator for the American Dispute Resolution Center for construction and commercial cases, and an arbitrator for the Better Business Bureau in automobile warranty and "lemon law" matters.
Associations and committees
John was admitted to practice before the United States District Court, District of Connecticut, in 1988. He was a member of the Connecticut Bar Association, Construction Law Section, where he served on the Executive Committee and acted as Legislative Liaison from 1991 through 1996. He has also been a member of the Connecticut Bar Association, Consumer Law Section, and the Affordable Housing and Homelessness Committee. He served as a member of the Executive Committee of the Technology Law Section of the Connecticut Bar Association in 2000, as Legislative Liaison from 2005-2006, Treasurer from 2006-2011, and Chair from 2012-2013. He is a past Chair of the Executive Committee of the Solo & Small Firm Section of the Connecticut Bar Association. John is also a member of the Estates and Probate Section and Elder Law Section of the Connecticut Bar Association. John has been a member of the Executive Committee of the Real Property Section of the Connecticut Bar Association since 2006. He is a member of the Residential Real Estate Standing Committee Connecticut Bar Association, and he is the immediate past Chairman of the Residential Real Estate Examining Committee of the Connecticut Bar Association, both of which committees certify candidates as residential real estate specialists.
John has been happily married since 1979 to Diane Shafner Zaccaro, and together they have a daughter, Jennifer. He enjoys reading, writing, playing soccer, computers, running, and guitar.
