C. Ian McLachlan

C. IAN McLACHLAN received his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University in Finance and graduated from the Fordham University School of Law on the Dean's List. He served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve attending the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California. He is a member of the New York and the Connecticut Bars.

Upon completion of his military duty, Justice McLachlan practiced law in both Fairfield and Hartford Counties until his appointment to the Superior Court in 1996.

Justice McLachlan has been active in Bar organizations, including the Connecticut Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.  He authored numerous articles dealing with dissolution of marriage and taxation and other topics. As a judge, he served on commissions and task forces, including the Governor's Commission on Children, Custody & Divorce, the Chief Justice's Task Force on Pro Se Litigants and the Judicial Task Force on Pro Se’s in Connecticut. He has been on the adjunct faculty of the University of Connecticut Law School and Trinity College. He represented the Judicial Branch on the Health Care Cost Containment Committee from 1998 to 2009 and served on the Rules Committee of the Superior Court from 2007 to 2009 and acted as its temporary chair in 2010. He has served as a member of the Connecticut Bar Examining Committee and the Legislature’s Commission on Pension Stability. Justice McLachlan is a life fellow of the Connecticut Bar Foundation and has been an active member of the American Bar Association, Connecticut Bar Association, the American Bar Foundation and the Hartford County Bar Association. He presently serves on the Board of Managers of the Connecticut Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. He was elected a member of the American Law Institute.  Justice McLachlan served in all divisions of the Superior Court including presiding over the Complex Civil Litigation Docket where he was involved in products liability claims, insurance coverage claims, condemnations and tax appeals and other civil cases.  He was appointed to the Appellate Court in 2003 and in February 2009 was appointed to the Supreme Court.  He retired in 2012. 

In 2016, Justice McLachlan was inducted into the Connecticut Chapter of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals. Membership is by invitation only, limited to mediators and arbitrators who are well established as trusted neutrals.  Academy members must meet stringent practice criteria and are amongst the most in-demand ADR practitioners in their respective state, as voted by both local peers and litigation firms.

Since joining McElroy Deutsch, Judge McLachlan has served clients and other attorneys as a mediator and arbitrator, and has assisted counsel in the appellate process, including preparing oral arguments.  He is available to assist in discovery disputes and internal investigations, as well as in alternative dispute resolution. 

  • Listed in Best Lawyers® (1995-1996, 2017-2024) a Woodward/White, Inc. business and partners with U.S. News & World Report, in the area of Appellate Practice.  A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolade is based can be found HERE. (No aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court)
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rated (2023) - Martindale-Hubbell's highest peer rating standard. This is given to attorneys who are ranked at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal expertise, communication skills, and ethical standards by their peers. A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolade is based can be found HERE (No aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court).

C. IAN McLACHLAN received his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University in Finance and graduated from the Fordham University School of Law on the Dean's List. He served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve attending the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California. He is a member of the New York and the Connecticut Bars.

Upon completion of his military duty, Justice McLachlan practiced law in both Fairfield and Hartford Counties until his appointment to the Superior Court in 1996.

Justice McLachlan has been active in Bar organizations, including the Connecticut Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.  He authored numerous articles dealing with dissolution of marriage and taxation and other topics. As a judge, he served on commissions and task forces, including the Governor's Commission on Children, Custody & Divorce, the Chief Justice's Task Force on Pro Se Litigants and the Judicial Task Force on Pro Se’s in Connecticut. He has been on the adjunct faculty of the University of Connecticut Law School and Trinity College. He represented the Judicial Branch on the Health Care Cost Containment Committee from 1998 to 2009 and served on the Rules Committee of the Superior Court from 2007 to 2009 and acted as its temporary chair in 2010. He has served as a member of the Connecticut Bar Examining Committee and the Legislature’s Commission on Pension Stability. Justice McLachlan is a life fellow of the Connecticut Bar Foundation and has been an active member of the American Bar Association, Connecticut Bar Association, the American Bar Foundation and the Hartford County Bar Association. He presently serves on the Board of Managers of the Connecticut Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. He was elected a member of the American Law Institute.  Justice McLachlan served in all divisions of the Superior Court including presiding over the Complex Civil Litigation Docket where he was involved in products liability claims, insurance coverage claims, condemnations and tax appeals and other civil cases.  He was appointed to the Appellate Court in 2003 and in February 2009 was appointed to the Supreme Court.  He retired in 2012. 

In 2016, Justice McLachlan was inducted into the Connecticut Chapter of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals. Membership is by invitation only, limited to mediators and arbitrators who are well established as trusted neutrals.  Academy members must meet stringent practice criteria and are amongst the most in-demand ADR practitioners in their respective state, as voted by both local peers and litigation firms.

Since joining McElroy Deutsch, Judge McLachlan has served clients and other attorneys as a mediator and arbitrator, and has assisted counsel in the appellate process, including preparing oral arguments.  He is available to assist in discovery disputes and internal investigations, as well as in alternative dispute resolution. 

  • Listed in Best Lawyers® (1995-1996, 2017-2024) a Woodward/White, Inc. business and partners with U.S. News & World Report, in the area of Appellate Practice.  A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolade is based can be found HERE. (No aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court)
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rated (2023) - Martindale-Hubbell's highest peer rating standard. This is given to attorneys who are ranked at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal expertise, communication skills, and ethical standards by their peers. A description of the standard or methodology on which the accolade is based can be found HERE (No aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court).

Education

Fordham University School of Law (LL.B. 1967)
Georgetown University (B.S.,B.A. 1964)

Admissions

State of Connecticut
U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut
State of New York

Memberships

American Bar Association
Connecticut Bar Association
Hartford County Bar Association
Committee on Juvenile and Family Law
Connecticut Judges' Association
International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Founding Member
Fellow, American Bar Foundation
American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
Connecticut Bar Foundation
Chairman of the Connecticut Law Revision Commission's Alimony Study Committee
Connecticut Chapter of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals