Hartford Business Journal

HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | FEBRUARY 23, 2026 13 is largely driven by efforts to grow the firm's client base and capabilities. Donahue, Durham & Noonan was working extensively with Yale Univer- sity, also a Carmody client. Waller Smith and Palmer had expertise in trusts and estates and probate litiga- tion, a growth area for Carmody. In addition to New Haven, the firm has offices in Guilford, Litchfield, Southbury, Stamford, Waterbury and now New London. The Waller Smith acquisition gave Carmody its first presence in southeastern Connecticut. Lahnin said the firm will continue to look for expansion opportunities under her tenure, driven primarily by the need to add talent, particularly in trusts and estates and land use. She said the firm does not see a need to expand beyond Connecticut, noting it already serves clients nationwide. Lahnin said the firm is intentional about why it pursues mergers, arguing that clarity at the outset improves the odds of successfully integrating both lawyers and clients. "We're very deliberate in how we take care of our clients, and I think that's what's given us longevity, and it's allowed us to grow," she said. She added that the firm assigns a single relationship manager to each client to coordinate work across practice areas, so clients have a clear point of contact rather than navigating multiple attorneys. AI and human talent Lahnin is also facing the challenge of implementing artificial intelligence advancements into Carmody's work- flows. Herself a technology enthusiast, she sees the benefits, but stresses that the firm is taking a measured approach to what is still a very unsettled area. "There is utility to it," she said. "Finding the utility — that is more challenging than I think people initially thought." She points to basic workflow tools that have already been incorporated, like transcription software for depo- sitions. She also has colleagues assessing tools for contract drafting, billing and assisting in electronic discovery in litigation cases. "We are very much aware that it's not going anywhere, and so we want to be part of the incorporation of it, but do it in a way that is beneficial to our clients," she said. Lahnin's primary focus, though, is on human talent, both through developing new attorneys fresh out of law school, and in attracting mid-career associates looking for a lateral move. She says it's harder to recruit than it was 10 years ago, and cites the desire for remote work as one of the main points of contention when the firm is hiring. It's become a common demand since the pandemic, but in her view it's not always the best way to grow a career. "There's a place for flexibility, and we certainly try to be flexible," Lahnin said. "However, I will say that in the legal field, especially if you're a young attorney, a lot of how we train is face-to-face." She said remote work can limit opportunities for collaboration and on-the-spot mentoring. What she is ultimately looking for, she said, is the potential for longevity similar to what she has experienced at the firm. "When we look for talent I actu- ally look at the person and say, 'is this somebody who can become a partner?'" she said. "I think we've had success in keeping people and retaining people like that who we can see from the start." After starting in medical malpractice, Fatima Lahnin went on to spend most of her 25-year legal career in intellectual property law. HBJ Photo | Steve Laschever ThomastonSB.com Member FDIC Simplify Payroll. Amplify Productivity. Our Payables & Payroll solutions are designed to simplify your payment processes, enhance cash flow, and save you time and resources. As part of our Treasury Management suite, we offer a range of time-saving, easy-to-use services to make paying your vendors and employees simple – and keep your business running smoothly. Talk to our Treasury Management experts now by calling 860.283.1874. Save Time, Reduce Risk, & Improve Cash Flow Heather Piteo VP, Treasury Management Manager

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