The Office of the Corporation Counsel manages the entire legal function of our municipal government.  The office, comprised of attorneys skilled in municipal law and a variety of other legal disciplines, advises the Mayor, City Council, and all city departments, agencies and boards of their legal rights, duties and responsibilities.  The office also provides the employees of the city with legal advice upon their request.   There are many occasions when the office also assists visitors who, without knowledge or experience with the system of local government, arrive at our door seeking help with a problem with a home, road, business or other similar matter that involves city input.

            Attorney Robert J. Yamin is the Corporation Counsel and Chief Legal Officer of the City of Danbury. He is assisted by Associate Corporation Counsels Dianne E. Yamin and Raymond P. Yamin, as well as the entire Law Firm of Yamin & Yamin LLP. Three in-house staff attorneys maintain the office, Deputy Corporation Counsel Laszlo L. Pinter, Asst. Corporation Counsel Robin L. Edwards, and Asst. Corporation Counsel Dianne E. Rosemark, as well as Legal Secretary, Robin Shepard. In addition to the Corporation Counsel and in-house legal staff, the city often retains specialized outside legal counsel when needed, in cases dealing with such matters as labor relations, and major or complex litigation.

Our accomplishments: 

            In general, the Office of the Corporation Counsel begins its work when it receives requests for legal opinions from its city clients. This is followed by a review of the law, consultations with affected parties and, finally, issuance of recommendations or opinions regarding the issue at hand.

            The office continues to be intensively involved in the process of acquiring a number of properties, as may be authorized by the voters and City Council, in order to allow for the development and completion of significant public projects, as well as the acquisition of significant parcels of open space land for preservation.  The office completed one of the most substantial open space acquisitions in our city's history, comprising nearly 200 acres, last year, and is now assisting in placing the land in service to our citizens. 

The office has also continued to aggressively defend corporate and private tax appeal litigation in an effort to hold property values stable and to preserve the city’s strong tax base. The office also continues to defend workers compensation and heart and hypertension claims, while at the same time recognizing the need to assist those injured in the line of duty. Corporation Counsel also defends the city in numerous land use claims and appeals, and other litigation matters, as well as advise the city’s land use departments and agencies regarding important issues safeguarding the rights of property owners through enforcement and other activities.  

            The office’s most successful stories often derive from the ability of our staff to assist our clients in working collaboratively with businesses.  For example, our office is playing a central role in achieving a Renaissance on South Main Street, through our administration of the recent sale of the old police station properties to Union Savings Bank, which, in collaboration with Connecticut Institute for Communities, Inc., will construct an impressive complex including a new bank branch, and elderly housing and related facilities.

            We look forward to continuing to approach legal issues, concerns and requests with an eye to not only resolving the issues and concerns, but to improving and supporting the betterment of our city and its residents. Our office will continue to advise our clients regarding efforts to protect natural resources, and property rights, and to safeguard public safety while balancing municipal rights and the public interest.