Dove A. E. Burns Brings Team of Four to Kaufman Dolowich in Connecticut and New York City; Burns to Manage Connecticut Offices; Will Split Time Between CT and LA, 2-6-2025

Westport, Conn. (February 6, 2025) – Kaufman Dolowich, a leading national law firm, today announced the addition of a four-person team led by Dove A.E. Burns from Obermayer, Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel LLP. The team’s move will also establish the firm’s second Connecticut office in New Haven. The group includes partner Stacey Pitcher, associates Ana Montoya and Kylie Ayal.

Burns will serve as the managing partner of the firm’s two Connecticut offices in Westport and New Haven. During 2025, Burns will be splitting her time in the Connecticut, New York and Los Angeles offices while she prepares to take the California bar exam in anticipation of a planned 2026 relocation to L.A.

The 2026 transition will include Pitcher taking the helm of the Connecticut offices once Burns moves full time to California.

“Dove has been at the forefront of employment practices liability practice and is a leader in the insurance community. For more than a decade I have come to admire her depth of knowledge and connections in our industry,” said Michael Kaufman, co-managing partner of Kaufman Dolowich. “Dove has a proven track record as a strong leader, client advocate and networker. We are thrilled to welcome her as a partner to the firm.”

Dove A.E. Burns, Partner (Connecticut, New York City & Los Angeles (pending bar results in Calif.)

Burns focuses her practice on employment law and commercial litigation. She has significant experience in employment practice liability claims, defending clients in a variety of areas including class actions, complex wage and hour matters, discrimination and harassment claims, trade secrets, crypto/blockchain, sexual misconduct, fiduciary claims and restrictive covenant disputes. She is an accomplished trial attorney with experience defending corporate clients and executives, professional service providers, multibillion-dollar international restaurant chains, hospitals, municipalities, housing authorities, nonprofits, higher education institutions, and boards of directors in a variety of high-exposure matters.

Burns has notable experience in litigation involving business disputes and non-compete agreements, which includes providing successful counseling and obtaining injunctive relief to help clients enforce their rights and protect their proprietary and trade information. Her experience also includes securities and antitrust litigation, special education law, and condominium/co-op law, as well as commercial matters.

“We welcome Dove and her group to the firm, and look forward to working together to further the firm’s reputation as national leader in employment law ,” said Keith Gutstein, chair of the firm’s Labor & Employment Law Practice Group.

“I look forward to working with the many talented legal professionals at Kaufman Dolowich,” said Burns. “I am excited to be leading the firm’s Connecticut offices during the next year and working with Stacey to ensure a strong hand-off, before moving to Los Angeles, where I have many clients, friends and family.”

Burns is a well-regarded leader in the EPL and women lawyer community, having founded the sellout Women in Insurance Leadership ExecuSummit, which she has co-chaired for more than 10 years. She is a recurring speaker and moderator for the PLUS International Conferences and has been a featured speaker and guest at many other employment law and D&O conferences and meetings and is also frequently quoted in the media on workplace-related topics.

Burns earned her J.D. from the University of Connecticut School of Law, and her B.A. from Northwestern University.

Stacey Pitcher, Partner (New Haven, Conn. and New York City)

Pitcher has more than two decades of experience defending employers, before federal and state courts and government agencies, involving claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wage and hour. Pitcher also defends large corporations and other businesses in matters of professional liability and miscellaneous commercial litigation.

Pitcher earned her J.D. from the University of Connecticut School of Law and her B.A. from Fairfield University. She is involved with various organizations aimed at improving the lives of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth.

Ana Montoya, Associate (New York City)

Montoya, who will join the firm’s New York City office, has broad experience representing corporate clients in employment litigation and commercial matters. She litigates on behalf of organizations faced with complex high-exposure risks.

Montoya earned her J.D. from Harvard Law and an LL.M. in Intellectual Property Law at Queen Mary, University of London. She earned her B.A. in history summa cum laude, with distinction from the University of Pennsylvania. She is a member of the Cafecito Network for Hispanic and Latina lawyers and LeGaL, the LGBT Bar Association of New York.

Kylie Ayal, Associate (New York City and Hackensack, N.J.)

Ayal, also joining the firm’s New York City office and spending time in the Hackensack, N.J. office, represents employers in all aspects of labor and employment law, including litigation, employment–related agreements, wage and hour matters, executive compensation, employee benefits, internal investigations, and labor arbitration. She also litigates a variety of commercial matters.

Ayal earned her J.D. cum laude from Pace Law School and her B.S. from Boston University.

About the Firm

Kaufman Dolowich LLP is a leading national law firm serving a broad range of industries in practice areas including labor and employment, directors and officers liability, professional liability, commercial litigation, insurance coverage and litigation, data privacy and cybersecurity, consumer financial services, real estate, general liability and construction law. Headquartered on Long Island, N.Y., Kaufman Dolowich attorneys represent national and global clients of all sizes nationwide. Kaufman Dolowich is a six-time Mansfield Certified law firm recognized for its diverse and inclusive employment strategies. For more information, visit kaufmandolowich.com and follow the firm on LinkedIn.