Experienced and Trusted Lawyers

Kara J. Summa has recently joined the law firm of Pilicy & Ryan, P.C. located in Watertown, Connecticut. Attorney Summa brings to the firm years of experience practicing employment and labor law, primarily representing management, in both the private and public sector. Additionally she is bringing her vast experience in transactional work, non-profits, and municipal law. With the arrival of Kara to the firm, Pilicy & Ryan, P.C. is excited to announce the expansion of its practice areas to include labor and employment law.

Upon graduation from law school, Kara counseled and defended employers at a boutique labor & employment law firm, primarily representing management, in both the public and private sector. Ms. Summa represented clients in collective bargaining contract negotiations; a myriad of employment and labor matters; litigation in federal and state court as well as administrative agencies for claims of harassment, discrimination, wrongful termination, retaliation, breach of contract, etc.; various mediation and arbitration proceedings; municipal law, and more. She provided representation, guidance, and counseling to non-profit organizations and their Boards. She served as independent counsel to the Waterbury Charter Revision Commission in 2014. Kara was appointed by the U.S. District Court of Connecticut as a pro bono attorney in a civil rights matter in which she successfully negotiated a settlement with the Connecticut Attorney General’s office. Subsequently, Kara worked as the senior transactional attorney for a large municipality, overseeing all contracts and grants and providing counsel to all city departments throughout the procurement and contract processes while occasionally also providing counseling on employment and labor issues. Kara is experienced in and has extensive knowledge of procurement processes, contracts, and grants, covering an incredibly broad range of subject matter on local, state, and federal levels.

Kara has a BA in political science from the University of San Diego and graduated magna cum laude from Quinnipiac University School of Law where she received the distinguished Dean of Student’s Award along with several other recognitions including Service to the Community, Service to the Law School, and Superior Classroom Performance. She also was the recipient of a merit scholarship during her time in law school, as well as a recipient of the Waterbury Bar Association Scholarship and American Jurisprudence Awards for distinguished academic achievement in Non-Profit Organizations and Employment Law. While in law school, Ms. Summa was President of the International Human Rights Law Society, in which she led fundraising efforts and organized service projects to Nicaragua and Guatemala, where she traveled and led delegations consisting of local attorneys, judges, professors, and fellow law students.

Ms. Summa was appointed by the Judges of the Superior Court to serve as an attorney member of the Statewide Grievance Committee for the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch in July of 2013 and served the maximum of two three-year terms until 2019. She has served as the Chairperson of the Board of Directors for United Way of Greater Waterbury and on the Board of Directors for the United Way of Greater Waterbury for 9 years, where she also sat on several committees, including Executive, Community Impact Cabinet, Governance, and (as Chair) Personnel. Kara was a member of the New Haven Chapter of Inns of Court; she has served as a member of the Governance Committee and subsequently on the Board of Directors for Saint Mary’s Hospital/Trinity Health of New England for several years. Ms. Summa is currently a voting member for United Way of Greater Waterbury and is on the Board of Directors for Southmayd Homes.