Jonathan A. Kaplan

Jonathan Kaplan

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Age: 35

Title: Attorney

Company: Pullman & Comley

Location: Hartford

Hometown: West Hartford

College: Cornell University, UConn Law School

Bio

As a commercial litigator at Pullman & Comley LLC, Jonathan A. Kaplan regularly appears in state and federal, bankruptcy and appellate state courts. He handles complex litigation involving business disputes in a variety of fields and industries. He represents clients in contract disputes, business torts, commercial landlord-tenant litigation, commercial foreclosures and business bankruptcies.

He has been named a Super Lawyers' Connecticut Rising Star in the field of business litigation every year since 2013. He is a member of the firm's diversity committee, focusing on making the firm as well as the entire legal industry more diverse and inclusive. Kaplan is on the board of the Connecticut Turnaround Management Association, an organization of restructuring and turnaround professionals.

Last year, Kaplan participated in Leadership Greater Hartford's Quest Program. His taskforce focused on increasing employment opportunities for developmentally disabled adults.

Born and raised in West Hartford, Kaplan resides in his hometown with his wife and their two ill-behaved dogs.

Q&A

What is the best thing someone would say about your career thus far? I've ended up at the right place for me. I've worked at different size employers from Hartford to New York City. I now work at a place where I'm challenged every day, provided with opportunities to grow as a lawyer, encouraged to support my community, and where my colleagues inspire me and my contributions are respected and valued. Having endured through some challenging and difficult times, I truly appreciate being at such a unique place.

Who gave you your best career advice? First, 'God gave you two ears and one mouth for a reason.' I used to focus more on what I was going to say next as opposed to truly listening to the speaker. Listening is the most important thing that I do, which helps me not only as an attorney, but in every phase of my life. A second piece of advice focuses on the fact that my generation expects everything to happen overnight but it is important to be patient. If you work hard and treat other people with respect, things tend to work out in your favor in the long run.

What would the title of your autobiography be? “The Grass Isn't Greener.” Following law school in Hartford, I felt that success required me to go to New York City and work at an international law firm. After a brief stint there, I realized that Hartford had everything that I wanted and was the perfect place all along.