Attorneys

Attorney Eugene N. Axelrod

Attorney Eugene N. Axelrod began his law career in 1977 in New York City, where he practiced with the premier law firm of Phillip, Nizer, Benjamin, Krim and Ballon managing litigation on behalf of multi-national and other Fortune 500 corporations, including Occidental Petroleum, Exxon Shell Oil Company and Heldor Industries. He has been a senior litigator with the top tier, national employment law firm of Epstein, Becker and Green in both the main Park Avenue, New York City office and the Connecticut office located in Stamford. Attorney Axelrod moved to Connecticut to become a partner at the New Haven Law firm of Evans and Baldwin. While at Evans and Baldwin, Axelrod created and managed a successful commercial litigation department. Thereafter, he became a named partner in the law firm of Levin, Ford, Paulekas & Axelrod located in Hartford, Connecticut devoting himself to sophisticated employment discrimination cases, commercial representation of national, regional and local financial institutions and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Well before many others Attorney Axelrod perceived the need to offer individuals the kind of aggressive legal representation routinely provided to corporate business clients. To provide a level playing field, in 1988, Attorney Axelrod founded a law firm devoted solely to represent individuals and groups adversely affected by discriminatory activities and related improper actions occurring in the workplace. The law firm offers a variety of services designed to protect and promote the rights of its clients including well thought out advice, creative resolution alternatives other than litigation as well as providing aggressive, high caliber litigation services that are a match for the largest law firms in Connecticut or national law firms. Attorney Axelrod has decades of experience successfully representing clients in federal and state administrative hearings and regulatory agencies, mediation, arbitration, alternative dispute resolution and litigation in the federal and state courts throughout Connecticut. Acting on behalf of clients, he has aggressively asserted his clients rights against numerous local, national and international employers, many municipalities, including cities and towns, labor unions, school systems, utilities, not for profit entities and other forms of private and public business entities.

Attorney Axelrod has long been a member of the Bar Associations of Connecticut and New York. Among his honors, Axelrod received the "Leader of Litigation" award from The American Bar Association. He has been a member of the National Employment Lawyers Association, The Association of Trial Lawyers of America, the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, New York County Lawyers Association, Connecticut Employment Lawyers Association, The Connecticut Committee on Gender Equity, the American Bar Association and its Employment Law and Litigation Divisions.

Attorney Eric Desmond

Email: edesmond@axelrodlegal.com

Attorney Eric Desmond represents both public and the private sector employees on a variety of employment-related issues. He asserts the interests of the firm's clients' in matters involving employment discrimination on the basis of age, race and gender; wrongful termination and discipline; unfair labor and employment practices; sexual harassment; Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) violations; employer retaliation; unemployment insurance; and disability law, including Social Security Disability Insurance petitions. Attorney Desmond counsels clients on the interpretation and impact of employment agreements, confidentiality and non-compete agreements, non-disclosure agreements and severance agreements.

Attorney Desmond completed his undergraduate education at Purdue University in 1995 and earned his Juris Doctor and a Master of Studies in Environmental Law degrees from Vermont Law School in 1998. While in law school, Attorney Desmond interned for the government of the State of Vermont and the Vermont League of Cities and Towns. Following graduation, Attorney Desmond earned admittance and is licensed to practice law in Connecticut, Indiana, Illinois and Texas. Attorney Desmond has asserted his clients' interests before a variety of administrative tribunals, governmental agencies and courts, allowing him to develop a broad practice involving different aspects of procedure, argument and pleading in a variety of forums and jurisdictions. Attorney Desmond has also successfully resolved employment-related claims against both private and public sector employers. While the facts and outcomes of every case differ, Attorney Desmond will listen to you to properly understand your situation, review the facts of your case, and work with you to understand your rights.

Attorney Desmond is admitted to practice in the States of Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana and Texas, as well as the Federal District Courts for the Districts of Connecticut, Northern Indiana and Southern Indiana.

Paralegal

Karen Dixon

Email: kdixon@axelrodlegal.com

Karen Dixon is an experienced certified paralegal with over 13 years of knowledge in the legal field and has worked for the United States Federal Defenders Office. She is well versed in the area of federal and state litigation. During her career she also has been involved with personal injury, medical malpractice, criminal law, estate planning, and real estate. She joined Axelrod & Associates, LLC in 2011 where she has applied her considerable experience to the area of discrimination and labor law. Her background, knowledge, and experience all combine to make her proficient in all aspects of the litigation process including filing of discrimination complaints with the Commission on Human Rights & Opportunities and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, drafting filings in state and federal courts, managing discovery issues, deposition preparation, document productions, and extensive legal research. Mrs. Dixon received certification in Paralegal Studies from Branford Hall Career Institute in 1997.