William Tong (D-CT-Senate)

William Tong Senate Candidate Connecticut

William Tong Biography from House Democrats of Connecticut

Biography of Representative William Tong

William Tong is honored to serve the 147th District, representing parts of Stamford and New Canaan. Geographically the largest district in Stamford, the 147th includes Westover, North Stamford, Scofieldtown, as well as the western side of New Canaan. Representative Tong serves on the Judiciary, Energy and Commerce committees.

A Connecticut native, Representative Tong attended public and private schools in West Hartford. He graduated from Phillips Academy Andover, Brown University and the University of Chicago Law School. Representative Tong is now an attorney with Finn Dixon & Herling LLP, one of Connecticut’s leading corporate law firms. Before joining Finn Dixon & Herling, Representative Tong was an attorney with the international law firm of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, and a Management Consultant with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. He is a member of the state bars of New York and Connecticut, and regularly practices before various state and federal courts. Representative Tong formerly served as a Commissioner on the Personnel Commission of the City of Stamford, and is a member of the Board of Directors for one of Fairfield County’s leading social service organizations, Person-to-Person.

Representative Tong is married to his law school classmate and colleague, Elizabeth Tong, who is a corporate tax lawyer at Finn Dixon & Herling LLP. They are very proud parents of two little girls, Eleanor (“Ming Ming”) and Penelope (“Ping Ping”), and they live with their two fox terriers in North Stamford on Chestnut Hill Road.

Representative Tong is proud to be the first Asian American to serve in the General Assembly, and the first Asian American to be elected at the state level in Connecticut’s history.

Biography from Finn Dixon & Herling LLP

William Tong has broad experience representing clients in commercial litigation in federal and state courts, negotiating multi-party settlements, conducting internal investigations, and responding to federal and state government investigations. Mr. Tong is a leader of the firm’s Dispute Resolution and Risk Management team, and regularly counsels clients on resolving business disputes related to mergers and acquisitions, business torts and employment matters. Mr. Tong also provides crisis management assistance and counseling and assists clients in managing special business risks.

In addition to his practice at the firm, Mr. Tong is a State Representative and represents the 147th District (Stamford/New Canaan) in the Connecticut General Assembly. In that role, Representative Tong is Co-Chairman of the Banks Committee and also serves on the Judiciary and Energy and Technology Committees.

Prior to joining Finn Dixon & Herling, Mr. Tong was as associate in the Litigation Department at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, and before that a Management Consultant with the Law Firm & Law Department Consulting Group of Price Waterhouse LLP.

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS:

• Trial counsel for former Chief Executive Officer in wrongful termination action in Connecticut federal court
• Represented private equity fund in dispute and settlement with a Fortune 100 financial services company concerning the sale of a portfolio company
• Special counsel on strategic trial and settlement matters to private equity fund in an arbitration involving a portfolio company in the technology industry
• Managed internal investigation of alleged criminal conspiracy at portfolio company of private equity fund
• Independent counsel to a consortium of leading companies in the medical devices industry concerning antitrust and general legal matters

Associations and Memberships

State Representative, 147th District (Stamford/New Canaan), Connecticut General Assembly, 2007 – Present

Personnel Commission, City of Stamford, CT, 2001 – 2005, Commissioner

Connecticut Bar Association

Fairfield County Bar Association

City Bar Association

Pro Bono Counsel, Connecticut Legal Services

2005 Connecticut Bar Association Pro Bono Honor Roll

In Motion (Women’s Legal Services), 2001 – 2003

Person-to-Person, 2004 – Present, Board of Directors

Speaking Engagements

International Discovery, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, 2002

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