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Professionals The Team Behind the Results

Hollister_Tim

Timothy S. Hollister

PartnerHartford

Tim Hollister practices land use, environmental and municipal law, and handles a wide range of real estate and administrative law challenges that arise in the context of land use and environmental matters. He has represented developers, corporations, property owners, municipalities, boards of education, and neighborhood and environmental groups in administrative proceedings before local, state, regional and federal agencies and litigation in the state and federal trial courts. He has argued more than 50 cases in the state and federal appellate courts.

When representing applicants seeking land use and environmental permits, Tim’s approach is to work closely with the team of experts and consultants to present the application in a professional, procedurally correct, substantively compliant, and cost-conscious manner, and to create an administrative record that will lead the agency to grant approval.

He is recognized both regionally and nationally for his work in workforce and affordable housing development, wetlands regulation, and eminent domain. Tim also has specific experience in inverse condemnation, unconstitutional takings, exactions and other civil rights violations, fair housing, drafting and enforcement of land use regulations, inclusionary zoning, flood plain management, mineral rights, riparian rights, specific performance, landlord and tenant, quiet title, title insurance, tax appeals, broker’s commissions and foreclosures.

  • Author of a five-part series on legislative reforms to promote affordable housing in the 2025 state legislative session, published by the Connecticut Mirror, September 2024; and follow up on House Bill 8002/Nov. Special Session Act 25-1, published January 2026.
  • Represented developers Wheelers Farm Partners LLC and Greenview Equities in the approval of a zoning regulation amendment, rezoning, and Preliminary Development Plan for the redevelopment of a 47 acre, five building, 460,000 sf, underperforming office park in Milford, CT.
  • Rainbow Housing Corp. v Town of Cromwell: Successfully represented Rainbow Housing Corporation and its affiliate Gilead Community Services, subsidiaries of mental health services providers Connecticut Institute for the Blind and Oak Hill, in a tax exemption case in the Connecticut Superior Court, and then as co-counsel in the Supreme Court.
  • Secured a victory for a neighborhood group of more than 500 residents of the area around Lime Rock Racetrack in Salisbury, Connecticut, a victory in the Connecticut Supreme Court in the case of Lime Rock Park vs Salisbury Planning and Zoning Commission et al.. At issue was the right of the Salisbury Planning and Zoning Commission to adopt revised zoning regulations to control the proposed expansion of the Race Track from a regional, auto-club-based operation into a NASCAR-type national facility capable of hosting multi-day races. Such expansion would require racing on Sundays, which has been banned at Lime Rock since the late 1950’s by a court order in a noise nuisance case brought by neighbors of the Track. The trial court had ruled in 2018 that a state statute as amended in 1998 prohibited local zoning regulation from banning auto racing on Sundays. This ruling generated enormous pressure to prevail in this appeal, to protect the quality of life and property values of our hundreds of clients. The Supreme Court delivered a victory when it reversed the trial court, holding that the 1998 amendment to the state statute had rendered the law ambiguous as to Sunday racing, but the legislative history showed that the General Assembly could not have intended in 1998 to create a statewide right to conduct racing on Sundays, regardless of local regulations banning it.

Work Experience

  • Hinckley Allen
    • Partner (2021-Present)
  • Shipman & Goodwin LLP
    • Partner (1992-2021)

Honors & Awards

  • Best Lawyers in America® (2009-2026)
    • Lawyer of the Year (2011-2014, 2016-2018, 2020-2021, 2024, 2026)
    • Land Use and Zoning Law
    • Litigation – Land Use and Zoning
    • Real Estate Law
  • Chambers and Partners, Chambers USA (2005-2026)
    • Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use
  • Super Lawyers, Connecticut (2006-2025)
    • Land Use/Zoning
    • Top 50 Lawyers in Connecticut (2012-2013, 2016)
  • HOBI Award, Connecticut Home Builders Association (2019)
  • Citizen of the Law Award, Connecticut Bar Association (2012)
  • AV Preeminent® Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
  • Blue Ribbon Commission to Study Affordable Housing, State of Connecticut Office of the Governor (1999-2000)
  • Distinguished Service Award, Connecticut Home Builders and Remodelers Association (2004 and 2007)
  • Local Government Law Fellow, International Municipal Lawyers Association (2002-2007, 2012-2017, renewed in 2017, for 2017-2022)
  • Marvin Glink Private Practice Local Government Attorney/National Public Service Award, International Municipal Lawyers Association (2008)
  • Filed seven petitions or briefs in the United States Supreme Court

Charitable & Civic Involvement

  • Commission on Connecticut’s Development and Future
    • Attorney Appointed by Governor Ned Lamont (2021-2023)
    • Co-chair, Affordable Housing Plans Working Group
  • Author, His Father Still: A Parenting Memoir, Oprah's Book Club Recommended Reading, July 2016
  • 2015 Teen Driving Safety Leadership Award, National Safety Council
  • Author, Not So Fast: Parenting Your Teen Through the Dangers of Driving, (Chicago Review Press, 2nd edition 2018), www.nsfteendriving.com; Author, "From Reid's Dad," a national blog for parents of teen drivers, www.fromreidsdad.org; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Public Service Award (2010); Public Service Award, Governor's Highway Safety Association, (2014); Teen Driver Safety Leadership Award, National Safety Council (2015)
  • Governor's Teen Safe Driving Task Force: Member (2007-2008)
  • Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness: Counsel (1988-present)
  • Asylum Hill Congregational Church: Task Force on Inclusiveness and Diversity, Co-Chair (2004-2006); Senior Minister Search Committee (2011)
  • Coro Foundation, New York Center: Founding Member, Board of Directors (1980-86)

Professional Affiliations

  • American Bar Association
  • American Planning Association
  • Connecticut Bar Association
    • Environmental Law Section, Executive Committee (1992-present)
    • Chair (1996-1997)
    • Member, Planning and Zoning Section (1992-present)
    • Chair, Affordable Housing and Homelessness Committee (2005-2008)

Bar Memberships

  • Connecticut
  • United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • United States District Court for the District of Connecticut
  • United States Supreme Court
Publication

CT Mirror: CT Housing Growth Plans, Convoluted Regs and Opportunities for 2026

This third and final article in this series reviews a centerpiece element of the “November Special Session Public Act 25-1,” Connecticut’s new housing law, commonly referred to as HB 8002. It looks at the law's treatment of municipal and regional hous…

Publication

CT Mirror: HB 8002’s New Housing Programs — Some Useful, Some Not

This is Part Two of a three-part series exploring elements of Connecticut's recently adopted housing law, the “November Special Session Public Act 25-1,” commonly referred to as HB 8002. Here we review the new Council on Housing Development; revised par…

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Firm News

Hinckley Allen Marks National Teen Driver Safety Week with Launch of Teen Driving Book Co-Authored by Partner Tim Hollister

This week, Hinckley Allen hosted a book launch celebration for the release of the third edition of Not So Fast: Parenting Your Teen Through the Dangers of Driving, an acclaimed, research-based guide for parents, co-authored by Partner Timothy S. H…

Firm News

Hinckley Allen Earns Wide Recognition Across Six States in 2025 Super Lawyers® and Rising Star Listings

More than 60 Hinckley Allen attorneys have been recognized in the 2025 Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars lists across our Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Upstate New York offices. The honorees include both newly selecte…

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Case Study

Root Center for Advanced Recovery: Expanding Access to Behavioral Health Care in Hartford

Hinckley Allen represented the Root Center for Advanced Recovery, a private, nonprofit behavioral health organization providing mental health and substance use prevention and treatment throughout Connecticut, in connection with the development of its new H…

Case Study

Hinckley Allen Secures Legal Victory Advancing Affordable Housing in Connecticut

In a high-profile land use case that drew statewide attention, Hinckley Allen secured a victory on behalf of real estate developer Arnold Karp in his effort to build a 102-unit apartment complex, 31 of which were designated as affordable housing, on Weed S…

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Past Event

National Association of Home Builders: 2026 International Builders' Show

February 16, 2026

Timothy S. Hollister, co-chair of Hinckley Allen’s Land Use & Development Group, and Partner Andrea L. Gomes will be featured speakers at the 2026 National Association of Home Builders' (NAHB) International Builders' Show (IBS), presenting a nationa…

Past Event

Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Connecticut: Land Use Under HB 8002—What Developers Need to Know

January 8, 2026

Timothy S. Hollister, co-chair of Hinckley Allen's Land Use & Development Group, and Andrea L. Gomes, partner in the firm's Real Estate and Land Use & Development Groups, will be featured speakers at the upcoming program, “Land Use Under HB 8002:…

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