Robert Laplaca

        Partner

        Rob has a diverse practice that focuses on two distinct primary areas—commercial litigation and promotion law. Rob’s skill sets in these disparate areas enable him to provide a holistic approach to meeting each client’s needs: his litigation clients benefit from the practical, real-world advice common in advertising law, while his promotion clients benefit from an outlook that tries to avoid litigation.

        From the companies he represents in contractual, employment, real estate, shareholder, and business disputes to the major national brands that look to him for his in-depth understanding and knowledge in promotions, cause-related marketing, and commercial co-ventures, all praise Rob for his outgoing personality and his pragmatic advice. His clients know they can depend on him to accomplish whatever needs to be done in a timely manner.

        Advertising, Promotions, & Marketing Law

        Rob represents promotional marketing agencies and major brands, including food and beverage, retail, entertainment, personal care, and professional and consumer products in a variety of nationwide marketing activities from traditional promotions and offers to social media, in-app and other online programs.

        Rob also has unique experience representing companies engaged in cause-related marketing, including commercial co-ventures, on which he counsels clients from concept through implementation of programs in this highly-regulated area. For numerous household name brands he provides program concept counseling, contract drafting and review, advertising review and state registration.

        Commercial Litigation

        For more than 25 years in state and federal courts nationwide, Rob has litigated cases before juries in a wide range of commercial actions including contracts, employment issues, intellectual property, commercial lending, and other corporate disputes. He has also arbitrated claims in Connecticut and New York, and before the International Chamber of Commerce.

        Rob represents litigation clients in a wide range of industries, including aircraft, paper, food, energy, entertainment, construction, fashion, real estate, and investment funds. A sampling of results in some of his recent cases includes:

        • Multimillion-dollar arbitration award for a foreign representative against a commercial cargo aircraft company doing business abroad
        • Summary judgment for a member of a Cayman Islands investment fund for wrongful termination of the manager
        • Favorable jury verdicts for:
          • The lessee of two 747 aircrafts in a federal breach of lease trial
          • A regional heating oil company against a former salesperson for breach of a non-solicitation agreement
          • A multimillion-dollar investment trust against its manager for mismanagement
        • Injunctive relief:
          • on behalf of a South Dakota producer of prime beef against a distributor for wrongful termination of an exclusive distributorship agreement
          • where a company that had purchased a multimillion-dollar business brought an action against the seller for breach of a non-compete agreement
          • for a short-term commercial lender concerning a portfolio of secured properties
        • Successful defense of a claim of trademark infringement against a Florida water purification company
        • Enforcing the IP rights of a well-known bicycle manufacturer and the IP rights of a designer of high-end handbags
        • Multiple actions on commercial paper and to foreclose commercial property in New York and Connecticut
        • Satisfactory settlements in:
          • a suit by a national paper distributor against a customer for non-payment
          • a breach-of-employment-agreement case on behalf of a former president of a Broadway sound company against her former employer
          • a patent infringement case on behalf of a national pool products manufacturer against a competitor

        Services/Industries

        Education

        • Brooklyn Law School  (J.D.)
        • Columbia College  (B.A.)

        Public Service

        • State-Certified Firefighter for the Weston, Connecticut, Volunteer Fire Department (2005-present)

        Bar Admissions

        • Connecticut
        • New York

        Court and Other Admissions

        • U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut
        • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
        • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
        • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

        Memberships

        • American Bar Association
        • Connecticut Bar Association

        Honors

        • Recognized in the Legal 500 US City Elite Rankings – Commercial Disputes (Connecticut)
        • Selected by peers for inclusion in New England Super Lawyers under Business Litigation (2013-2016)
        • Top Lawyer in Fairfield County in Civil Law Litigation by Moffly Media

        Learn more about the third-party ratings, rankings, and selection processes used for inclusion.

        megaphone stock photo

        Rob represents promotional marketing agencies and major brands, including food and beverage, retail, entertainment, personal care, and professional and consumer products in a variety of nationwide marketing activities from traditional promotions and offers to social media, in-app and other online programs, as well as cause-related marketing.

        Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Law

        Rob represents promotional marketing agencies and major brands, including food and beverage, retail, entertainment, personal care, and professional and consumer products in a variety of nationwide marketing activities from traditional promotions and offers to social media, in-app and other online programs.

        Rob also has unique experience representing companies engaged in cause-related marketing, including commercial co-ventures, on which he counsels clients from concept through implementation of programs in this highly-regulated area. For numerous household name brands he provides program concept counseling, contract drafting and review, advertising review and state registration. Some of his representative campaigns in this niche area include:

        • Starbucks Born This Way promotion
        • Disney Nature films: Born in China, Monkey Kingdom and Chimpanzee
        • Corona’s Hoops for Hope
        • Huggies No Baby UnHugged

        Generally, Rob’s counsel in this area of law includes:

        • Advising from concept development through implementation in promotional activities like sweepstakes, contests, instant win games, mobile marketing, business-to-business, direct mail, sponsorships, user-generated content, endorsements, premiums, coupons, rebates and loyalty programs
        • Reviewing marketing programs for compliance with federal and state laws and industry best practices, including gambling and lottery laws, FTC guidelines, COPPA, CAN-SPAM, TCPA, CARU, MMA, and unfair trade practices and consumer protection statutes
        • Drafting agency contracts, publicity agreements, licensing agreements, validation documents, privacy policies, terms of use and other matters affecting intellectual property, marketing and promotions

        Rob maintains an interesting and informative blog, You Might Be a Winner, covering newsworthy topics in advertising, promotions and marketing.

        Events
        When: July 2, 2026 at 12:00pm ET
        Location: Webcast
        When: November 21, 2024 at 10:00 am
        Location: Webinar
        When: August 15, 2024 at 1:00pm – 2:05pm (EDT)
        Location: Webinar
        When: July 14, 2023 at 12:50pm – 2:20pm
        Location: Zoom

        Firm Highlights

        Blog

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        Alerts and Newsletters

        Can AI Pass the Doctor Test? FDA Considers Physician-Inspired Evaluation of GenAI Devices and Other Regulatory Measures

        AI is entering healthcare with indomitable will. It promises to increase efficiency, reduce administrative burden (which healthcare providers so...
        Press Releases

        Verrill Attorney Annabel Rodriguez Named Top Women of Law by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly

        BOSTON, Massachusetts – Verrill attorney Annabel Rodriguez has been recognized as a Top Women of Law by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, and will be...
        Blog

        What Employee Benefits Lawyers Do (and How to Make the Best Use of Us)

        What do employee benefits lawyers do all day and how can clients make the best use of them? This post offers an overview of the kinds of things...
        Media Mentions

        Bloomberg Law Quotes Robert Keach on Expanded Access to Small Business Reorganization

        Verrill attorney Bob Keach was recently featured in Bloomberg Law, discussing legislation that would raise debt limits for bankruptcy relief and...
        Blog

        Phil Bartlett to Step Down as Chair of the Maine Public Utilities Commission

        On September 15, 2026, Governor Janet Mills announced that Phil Bartlett will step down as Chair of the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC)...
        Published Works

        Jay McCormack and Michael Fee Co-Author AHLA Article on Skin Substitute Enforcement Trends

        Verrill Partners Jay McCormack and Michael Fee co-authored an article for the American Health Law Association's Fraud and Abuse Practice Group...
        Press Releases

        Verrill Welcomes Health Care & Life Sciences Attorney Elpida Velmahos

        BOSTON, Massachusetts – Verrill is pleased to announce that Elpida Velmahos has joined the firm’s Health Care & Life Sciences Group as an...
        Press Releases

        Verrill Welcomes Litigation & Trial Attorney Emma Pooler

        PORTLAND, Maine – Verrill is pleased to announce that Emma Pooler has joined the firm’s Litigation & Trial Group as an Associate, resident in...
        Published Works

        Four Verrill Attorneys Co-Author Massachusetts Trends and Developments Chapter for Chambers and Partners Child Relocation 2026 Guide

        Verrill attorneys Mary H. Schmidt, Rachel A. Deering, Hannah R. Zukoff, and Mariah G. Tappan co-authored the “Trends and Developments” chapter...
        Blog

        A New Protected Class in Maine: Holders of Final Protection Orders

        In the lead-up to Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October, employers may be taking a closer look at how their policies and practices respond to...
        Alerts and Newsletters

        Verrill Secures SJC Victory for Boston Legacy FC in White Stadium Litigation

        Verrill has secured a significant appellate victory for Boston Legacy FC in the litigation challenging the redevelopment of White Stadium in...