Bruce Connolly

Assistant Professor of Law | Director, Rodney L. Smith Business Law Institute

Appellate Advocacy Business Law Civil Litigation Commercial Law Corporate Law Criminal Defense Criminal Law Criminal Litigation Employment Law Ethics & Professional Responsibility Federal Criminal Law Film & the Law Litigation Trial Advocacy

Professor Bruce Connolly is Director of the Rodney L. Smith Business Law Institute at Ave Maria School of Law, where he teaches business organizations, commercial law, and criminal law. A former New York litigation and criminal defense attorney, his practice experience includes federal and state trials, commercial litigation, and civil rights matters.

Phone: (239) 687-5366
Office: Administration Building

Education

  • J.D., Notre Dame Law School, 2007
  • B.A., Fordham University (Economics and Political Science), 2004

Professional Experience

Professor Connolly began his career as a corporate associate at Cahill Gordon & Reindel in New York City. He then joined the law firm of Raiser & Kenniff, P.C., first as an associate and then a partner, where he practiced mainly criminal defense in both state and federal courts. He has been lead counsel on bench and jury trials, and many of his cases have drawn attention in the New York City media. He was also active in the firm’s civil department for matters involving civil rights, employment, personal injury and general commercial litigation.

 

Honors & Professional Affiliations

  • Summa Cum Laude (Fordham University)
  • Phi Beta Kappa (Fordham University)
  • Editor-in-Chief Notre Dame Journal of Law, Ethics & Public Policy (2006-2007)
  • New York Metro Super Lawyers Rising Star in Criminal Defense (2015-2019)
  • Board Member: Lee County Legal Aid Society
  • Member:
    • Bar of the State of Florida
    • Bar of the State of New York
    • United States Supreme Court
    • United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
    • United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
    • United States District Court for the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida
    • United States District Court for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York
    • Southwest Florida Federal Court Bar Association
    • Lee County Bar Association
    • Collier County Bar Association
    • Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers