Sobre Mark D. Leighton
                
                
                   Mark D. Leighton is the founding, and current managing attorney of the firm of Leighton, Katz & Drapeau. He was admitted to practice in Connecticut in 1981 and Massachusetts in 1980.
His practice consists primarily of representation of injured persons in both work and nonwork-related accidents. Attorney Leighton is a Board Certified Workers’ Compensation Specialist and is the past Chair of the Workers’ Compensation Section of the Connecticut Bar Association.
Attorney Leighton has represented both plaintiffs and defendants over the course of his career, having previously been an attorney for an insurance company defense firm as well as a claim representative. He also worked for the Attorney General’s Office in Massachusetts.
He received his Juris Doctorate from Western New England University, School of Law in Springfield, Massachusetts, and his Bachelor of Arts from Westfield State University in Westfield, Massachusetts.
Attorney Leighton serves on a number of professional organizations, including the Connecticut Bar Association where, in addition to service as Chair, he served as Vice Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer of the Workers’ Compensation Section, and is a member of the Executive Committee. He currently serves as the Tolland County representative to the CBA House of Delegates. He is a member and past President of the Tolland County Bar Association. In addition, he is a member of the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association.
He has served on a number of town and civic organizations including the Board of Selectmen and Board of Finance for the Town of Ellington where he and his wife resided for over 30 years.
Attorney Leighton has authored articles including “Surveillance - Duty to Disclose” in the Compensation Quarterly. He has lectured to other attorneys in the areas of workers’ compensation and personal injury/workers’ compensation law suits. In addition, he has served as an adjunct facility member at the University of Connecticut, School of Law and Asnuntuck Community College.
BAR ADMISSIONS: 
Connecticut 1981 
Massachusetts 1980 
EDUCATION: 
J.D, Western New England University - 1980 
B.A, Westfield State University - 1977 
WORK EXPERIENCE: 
Leighton Katz & Drapeau (Founding and Managing Attorney) 1989 - Present 
UConn Law School (Adjunct Professor) 2002 - 2003 
Trowbridge Ide Courtney & Mansfield (Associate Attorney) 1987 - 1989 
Asnuntuck Community College (Adjunct Professor) 1984 - 1985 
Draghi & Leighton (Associate Attorney) 1981 - 1987 
Insurance Company of North America (Legal Intern/Claim Representative) 1980 - 1981 
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS: 
Connecticut Bar Association, House of Delegates member (current) 
Workers’ Compensation Section, past Vice Chair and Chair 
Continuing Legal Education, past Chair 
Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, member 
Workers’ Compensation Section 
Tolland County Bar Association, past President 
AWARDS: 
Peer Review Rated AV (Martindale-Hubbell) 2016 
Super Lawyer (Super Lawyers Magazine) 2016 
Lead Counsel Rated - Workers' Compensation (Lead Counsel Review Board) 2016 
Board Certified Workers' Compensation Specialist (Connecticut Bar Association) 2001 
PUBLICATIONS: 
Compensation Quarterly (Connecticut Bar Association, Workers' Compensation Section) - [Here We go Again - Proposed Budget Cuts to Workers' Compensation Commission] 2011 
Compensation Quarterly (Connecticut Bar Association, Workers' Compensation Section) - [A Call for Healthcare Reform (In Workers' Compensation)] 2010 
Compensation Quarterly (Connecticut Bar Association, Workers' Compensation Section) - [The Worth of a Life] 2010 
Compensation Quarterly (Connecticut Bar Association, Workers' Compensation Section) - [A Call to Arms] 2009 
Compensation Quarterly (Connecticut Bar Association, Workers' Compensation Section) - [Surviellance - Duty to Disclose] 2003 
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS:
Seminar - "Landmines In the Workers' Compensation/Personal Injury Case" - (Legal Issues of a Workers' Compensation/Personal Injury case) 2005 
Seminar - "Mock Trial Demonstration - CRB and Supreme Cour Arguments" - (Presentation of a Workers' Compensation case - start to finish) 2001 
CONTACT:
Leighton, Katz & Drapeau
20 E Main St
Vernon, CT 06066
Ph: (860) 875-7000
Business Email: lawoffice@leightonlawyers.com