Vaughan Finn is Shipman & Goodwin’s Ombuds and Pro Bono Coordinator. She was previously a partner specializing in commercial litigation in federal and state court. Before moving to Connecticut, Vaughan was a Senior Litigation Counsel in the Civil Division of the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, DC, where she represented such clients as the Executive Office of the President, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Health and Human Services, the National Security Council and the Comptroller of the Currency in federal district and appellate courts throughout the country.
As the firm’s Pro Bono Coordinator, Vaughan has overseen and participated in the firm’s pro bono efforts on behalf of indigents and non-profits, including representation of asylum seekers, visa applicants, veterans seeking benefits and discharge upgrades, children in protective supervision proceedings, and tenants in eviction matters. She brings the same passion and commitment to her work as Pro Bono Coordinator as she did to her work as a commercial litigator, and during her time in this role the firm has received the Hartford County Bar Association’s Pro Bono Award and Greater Hartford Legal Aid’s Law Firm Leader Award.
- AV Preeminent® Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
- Listed as a Connecticut Super Lawyer®: Business Litigation (2006-2020); Employee Benefits/ERISA (2006-2014)
- Special Master, U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut
- Counsel, Federal Grievance Committee
- Connecticut Bar Association, Pro Bono Committee (Executive Committee Member)
- American Bar Association, Litigation Section
- International Ombudsman Association, Member
- Pro Bono Volunteer: ACLU of Connecticut, ACLU of Western Massachusetts, Center for Children’s Advocacy, Connecticut Veterans Legal Center, Greater Hartford Legal Aid, Hartford Public Library, Lawyers for Children America, New Haven Legal Assistance, Statewide Legal Services.