Timothy S. Hollister

Partner

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Tim Hollister practices land use, environmental and municipal law, and handles a wide range of real estate and administrative law problems that arise in the context of land use and environmental matters. He has represented developers, corporations, property owners, municipalities, boards of education, and neighborhood and environmental groups in administrative proceedings before local, state, regional and federal agencies and litigation in the state and federal trial courts, and has argued more than 30 cases in the state and federal appellate courts.

Tim has specific experience in eminent domain and inverse condemnation, unconstitutional takings, exactions and other civil rights violations, workforce and affordable housing, fair housing, wetlands regulation, drafting and enforcement of land use regulations, inclusionary zoning, flood plain management, mineral rights, riparian rights, specific performance, landlord and tenant, quiet title, title insurance, tax appeals, broker's commissions and foreclosures.  He has been recognized nationally for his work in workforce and affordable housing development, wetlands regulation, and eminent domain.

Distinctions

  • AV Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
  • Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers: Real Estate; 2004-2011
  • Listed as a Connecticut Super Lawyer®: Land Use/Zoning; 2006-2012
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America®: Land Use & Zoning Law, Litigation-Land Use & Zoning; 2009-2012
  • Named "Lawyer of the Year": Best Lawyers' 2011 Hartford Region Land Use & Zoning
  • Named "Lawyer of the Year": Best Lawyers' 2012 Hartford Litigation - Land Use & Zoning
  • Steering Committee, HOMEConnecticut Campaign (2005 - present)
  • Blue Ribbon Commission to Study Affordable Housing, State of Connecticut Office of the Governor (1999-2000)
  • Distinguished Service Award, Connecticut Home Builders Association (2004 and 2007)
  • Local Government Law Fellow, International Municipal Lawyers Association (2002-2007, renewed in 2007 through 2012)
  • Marvin Glink Private Practice Local Government Attorney/National Public Service Award, International Municipal Lawyers Association (2008)
  • Filed six petitions or briefs in the United States Supreme Court

Professional Affiliations

  • American Bar Association
  • Connecticut Bar Association: Environmental Law Section, Executive Committee (1992-present); Chair (1996-1997); Chair, Affordable Housing and Homelessness Committee (2005-2008)
  • International Municipal Lawyers Association: Member, Program Planning Committee (2002-present); Former Regional Vice President; Former State Chair

Community Involvement

  • Author, "From Reid's Dad," a national blog for parents of teen drivers, www.fromreidsdad.org; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Public Service Award (2010) 
  • Governor's Teen Safe Driving Task Force: Member (2007-2008)
  • Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness: Counsel (1988-present)
  • Asylum Hill Congregational Church: Task Force on Inclusiveness and Diversity, Co-Chair (2004-2006); Board of Deacons (2008-present); Senior Minister Search Committee (2011)
  • Coro Foundation, New York Center: Founding Member, Board of Directors (1980-86)

Workforce and Affordable Housing Development

Represented the Home Builders Association of Connecticut in the landmark exclusionary zoning case Builders' Service Corp. v. East Hampton Planning and Zoning Commission, 208 Conn. 267 (1988). Also handled more than 75 matters under Connecticut's affordable housing law, including the first case under the statute, TCR New Canaan v. Trumbull Planning and Zoning Commission, 6 Conn. L. Rptr. 4, 91 (1992); and two landmark cases under the statute, AvalonBay Communities v. Town of Orange, 256 Conn. 557 (2001) and River Bend Associates v. Zoning Commission, 271 Conn. 1 (2004).

Since 1990, Shipman & Goodwin has represented applicants/developers in workforce and affordable housing applications in Avon, Beacon Falls, Berlin, Bethel, Canton, Cheshire, Danbury, Darien, East Lyme, Lisbon, Milford, Monroe, New Canaan, New Milford, Newtown, North Canaan, Norwalk, Orange, Oxford, Ridgefield, Simsbury, South Windsor, Stamford, Stratford, Thomaston, Tolland, Trumbull, Wallingford, Westport, and Wilton.

The practice's most recent successful court decisions are AvalonBay v. Stratford Zoning Commission (Appellate Court, July 2011), which approved a 130 unit development, and AvalonBay v. Wilton Planning and Zoning Commission, 103 Conn. App. (2007), which ordered final site plan approval of a 100-unit affordable development that commenced in June 2011.

Takings and Eminent Domain

Lead trial counsel winning a $12.4 million jury verdict (plus attorney’s fees) in suit brought for developers against the Town of Branford, Connecticut. New England Estates v. Town of Branford (Complex Litigation Docket, Waterbury, September 2007). Proved that the Town’s taking of their interest in an option contract to buy a 77 acre parcel the land, for development of housing and a 9-hole golf course, resulted in a loss of over $1 million invested and lost profits in excess of $11 million. Attorney Bergenn's trial presentation included the use of digitized documents, maps, depositions, aerial photos, and damages analysis, using presentations by the client developer’s Licensed Environmental Professional and Site Plan Engineer, a developer himself, and an independent Forensic Accountant as well as adverse witness examinations of each of the relevant elected Town officials, the Town Attorney, the Town Engineer, the Town Planner, the Town Recreation Director, and the Town’s Licensed Environmental Professional. The jury credited the Developers and their witnesses over the testimony of the elected officials and their professionals.

News

October 27, 2011  Tim Hollister Speaking in Prague About Green Building at International Biennial Congress on the Law of the World
October 17, 2011  Tim Hollister to Speak About Green Building at International Biennial Congress on the Law of the World
October 12, 2011  Four Lawyers from Shipman & Goodwin LLP Receive "Lawyer of the Year" Honors
September 2, 2011  "Best Lawyers in America" Recognizes 30 Lawyers from the Firm
July 15, 2011  Shipman & Goodwin Recognized by Chambers USA 2011
April 2011  35 Shipman & Goodwin Attorneys Named a "Top Lawyer" in Hartford County
February 21, 2011  New Green Subdivision Would Be Connecticut First
February 14, 2011  Homebuilder Proposes Connecticut's First "Green Subdivision", Using National Green Building Standard
October 28, 2010  "Super Lawyers" Recognizes 47 Lawyers From Shipman & Goodwin LLP
September 23, 2010  "Best Lawyers In America" Recognizes 27 Lawyers from Shipman & Goodwin LLP
July 20, 2010  New England Estates Will Seek U.S. Supreme Court Review: $12.4 Million Jury Verdict For Eminent Domain Abuse Was Reversed in February by the Connecticut Supreme Court
June 11, 2010  Shipman & Goodwin Recognized by Chambers USA 2010
April 12, 2010  Attorney Tim Hollister Receives National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Award
October 27, 2009  Shipman & Goodwin Attorneys Named 2010 Connecticut Super Lawyers & Rising Stars
August 10, 2009  25 Shipman & Goodwin Attorneys Recognized as "2010 Best Lawyers in America"
June 22, 2009  Shipman & Goodwin Recognized by Chambers USA 2009
April 16, 2009  Town of Wallingford Files First HOMEConnecticut Incentive Housing Application
March 2, 2009  Shipman & Goodwin Attorneys Named 2009 Connecticut Super Lawyers & Rising Stars and Featured in Connecticut Magazine
February 8, 2009  Shipman & Goodwin's Land Use Team Prevails in Minnesota Case
December 4, 2008  Shipman & Goodwin Attorneys Recognized as "2009 Best Lawyers in America"
November 7, 2008  Shipman & Goodwin Attorneys Named 2009 Connecticut Super Lawyers & Rising Stars
October 14, 2008  Shipman & Goodwin Attorney Tim Hollister Receives Public Service Award
August 22, 2008  New England Estates v. Town of Branford case - Final brief filed
July 15, 2008  Shipman & Goodwin Recognized by Chambers USA
April 25, 2008  Attorneys Named By Super Lawyers®
March 6, 2008  Inclusionary Zoning Acts As A Tax On Housing
March 6, 2008  Inclusionary Zoning Acts as a Tax On Housing
November 14, 2007  International Municipal Lawyers Association Recertifies Shipman & Goodwin Partner, Tim Hollister
September 11, 2007  New England Estates v. Town of Branford Litigation
June 15, 2007  Shipman & Goodwin Ranked in Chambers USA
April 25, 2007  Shipman & Goodwin Attorney Honored by the Home Builders Association of Connecticut
February 4, 2007  When Good Causes Collide
June 5, 2006  Shipman & Goodwin Recognized by Chambers USA
February 1, 2006  Thirty-Five Shipman & Goodwin Attorneys Named Connecticut "Super Lawyers®"

Events

May 3-4, 2012  2012 Appellate Advocacy Institute (AAI)
April 22-24, 2012  Green Building: Starting to Show Us the Money
April 14-15, 2012  Legal Action Network for Development Strategies
February 8-11, 2012  Green Building: Starting To Show Us The Money
April 10-12, 2011  New England Estates v. Town of Branford: What Not To Do With Eminent Domain
April 9-10, 2011  Navigating Green Building Standards
March 3, 2011  Undoing Age-Restrictions on Residential Development
January 12, 2011  Property Rights and Land Development
December 8, 2010  Fifth Annual Property Rights Seminar: Update on Eminent Domain and Regulatory Takings
November 4, 2010  Best Practices: Keeping a Successful Ordinance Over the Long Term
September 30, 2010  Value Added: Finding and Saving Money in a Recovering Real Estate Economy
April 21, 2010  HOMEConnecticut 3 Years In: Its Value and Its Promise
March 25, 2010  Where Can Your Children, Parents, and Town Employees Afford to Live?
February 18, 2010  New Haven Home Builders Association Dinner Meeting
January 19, 2010  Legal Issues Involving Property Rights & Land Development
June 26, 2009  Hot Topics in Land Use Law and Practice 2009- 5 CM Credits
April 3, 2009  The Federal Stimulus Package: What it Means for Your Connecticut Business
June 5, 2008  Connecticut Developers Council Legal & Legislative Update
November 29, 2007  Affordable Housing Speed-Dating
April 2, 2007  Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce Member Breakfast
October 30, 2006  Affordable Housing Land Use Appeals: Scorecard and Evaluation
March 2, 2006  A Primer on Eminent Domain
November 10, 2005  Perspectives on Kelo v. New London
March 5, 2005  Things to Watch Out For: Affordable Housing, Fair Housing, and Religious Land Uses
October 13, 2003  Fair Housing Act Accessibility Requirements

This distinction is only awarded to one attorney per practice area in each geographical metro area.

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Practice Areas

Education

  • Boston University School of Law, J.D., 1982
  • Occidental College, M.A., 1980
  • Coro Foundation Fellows Program in Public Affairs, , St. Louis, 1978-1979
  • Wesleyan University, B.A., 1978, cum laude

Bar Admissions

  • Connecticut

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, District of CT
  • Minnesota Court of Appeals, pro hac vice
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