Livia DeFilippis Barndollar

Connecticut

Pullman & Comley LLC
253 Post Road West
P.O. Box 3179
Westport, CT 06880

Tel: 203.330.2205

Email: lbarndollar@pullcom.com
Web: www.pullcom.com

Professional Biography

Livia DeFilippis Barndollar brings more than 40 years of experience representing clients in complex family law matters, including dissolution of marriage proceedings, post-judgment disputes, appellate litigation, and the negotiation of marital and premarital agreements. She also, on a more limited basis, serves in roles involving children in the divorce process, acting as a guardian ad litem or attorney for the minor child, and is occasionally engaged to mediate family law disputes for parties or fellow counsel.

She is a member of Pullman & Comley’s Family Law Practice and serves as co-chair of the firm’s Appellate Practice Group, both of which have been recognized as “Department of the Year” by the Connecticut Law Tribune. Known for her measured and pragmatic approach, Livia is regarded by clients and peers alike as focused, experienced, and effective, with a clear sense of when negotiation should give way to preparation for alternative dispute resolution or trial.

Livia maintains a strong commitment to professional development and legal scholarship, both in her own practice and in her contributions to the wider legal community. She has authored the alimony chapter in the LexisNexis Connecticut Divorce Handbook and has long been involved in family law publications. She has served as senior topical editor for family law for the Connecticut Bar Journal since 2000, having previously acted as editor-in-chief from 1994 to 1997 and as an editor since 1985. She also serves as an editor-at-large of The Family Advocate, published by the American Bar Association’s Section of Family Law, and is a frequent speaker at state and national programs.

Her leadership within the profession is extensive. Livia is a past president of the Connecticut Bar Association and a former chair of its Family Law Section, where she has served in multiple leadership roles since 1996, including a recent term representing the Section in the CBA House. She is also a Sustaining Life Fellow of the Connecticut Bar Foundation, where she served nine years on the board and chaired both the Nominating Committee and Fellows Nomination Committee. Her additional service includes roles with Connecticut Legal Services and the Standing Committee on Professional Ethics of the CBA.

The Family Law Practice at Pullman & Comley advises clients across the full spectrum of matrimonial and domestic relations matters, combining legal, financial, and strategic insight to navigate highly personal and complex disputes. The team regularly represents clients in high-net-worth divorces, sensitive custody matters, and other sophisticated family law issues, often involving intricate asset structures and multi-party considerations.

With a multidisciplinary approach, the group draws on experience in litigation, negotiation, and alternative dispute resolution to achieve tailored outcomes aligned with each client’s objectives. Their work includes divorce and separation proceedings, custody and parenting disputes, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, and post-judgment matters, as well as appellate advocacy before higher courts.

The team is comprised of experienced trial lawyers, mediators, and negotiators who guide clients through both contested and non-contentious processes, placing emphasis on efficiency, discretion, and long-term family considerations. Their practice also extends to collaborative divorce and complex matters involving same-sex relationships, as well as interstate and cross-border issues.

Recognized for its strength in high-value and high-profile matters, the practice is frequently engaged by individuals seeking both strategic advocacy and a measured, solution-oriented approach. Its attorneys are known for their ability to manage the financial and emotional dimensions of family transitions while delivering effective representation at every stage of proceedings.

Pullman & Comley, LLC is a leading full service law firm founded in 1919. The firm’s major practice areas include business and finance; environmental and land use; government finance; health care; labor, employment law and employee benefits; litigation; property valuation; real estate; regulatory, energy and telecommunications; and trusts and estates, as well as various targeted practice sections that provide depth of experience and also the flexibility to regroup for customized, solution-oriented service.

Pullman & Comley represents clients including major financial institutions, health care providers, service businesses, trade and art associations, manufacturers and emerging growth businesses in the biotech and information technology industries, as well as nonprofit organizations and individuals. The firm has offices in Bridgeport, Hartford, and Westport, Connecticut; White Plains, New York; Springfield, Massachusetts; and Wakefield, Rhode Island.

“Livia has built a distinguished career handling complex family law disputes, combining deep legal knowledge with a pragmatic and results-oriented approach. Clients rely on her steady guidance in high-conflict matters, while peers recognize her as a respected authority who has played a significant role in shaping Connecticut family law through writing, teaching, and bar leadership.”
The Family Attorneys, 2025