Joseph A. Hourihan is a jury trial and appellate court attorney with over five decades of legal experience.  Mr. Hourihan's practice areas include estate planning, probate, personal injury, residential and commercial real estate, and business law. Attorney Hourihan has handled hundreds of contested probate matters, and has become a go-to in the legal community when attorneys need a referral of whom to assist their clients.

Mr. Hourihan started his legal career as a Prosecutor where he worked with the State Attorney’s Office for 4 years. Thereafter, Mr. Hourihan was with Heffernan & Heffernan in Hartford, Connecticut from 1970 to 2004. He supervised and conducted litigation in a vast array of different types of cases, including plaintiff's personal injury, insurance defense, construction litigation, and contested probate matters. He has also represented The Wetherell Corporation, a union mechanical and electrical company from 1978 through its closure in 2014.  During this period, two of the company's presidents died, and Mr. Hourihan was instrumental in managing a successful transition of the business after these events. 

Thereafter, Mr. Hourihan joined the office of Kenny, Brimmer & Mahoney, LLC becoming a principal in the law firm in 2018. While there his practice involving contested matters grew exponentially. Mr. Hourihan’s practice is grounded in litigation so he has the knowledge and the skill to take on any matter.

Mr. Hourihan has extensive trial experience, including successfully trying a wrongful death and quadriplegic case through verdict. Additionally, he was involved in the trial and appeal of a landmark
case in Connecticut law, concerning the liability of landowner for a sexual assault occurring on the premises.  This case was decided by the Connecticut Supreme Court in Doe v. Manheimer, 212 Conn. 748, (1989). Related to this case, in 1990, Mr. Hourihan was awarded the David H. Neiditz Professional Writing Award for the best-written appellate brief in a Connecticut case in 1989. He was
also lead counsel through trial and appeal in the case of Luster v. Luster, which confirmed the right of a conserved person to maintain a divorce.

Youmay contact Attorney Hourihan at 860-785-8331 or email him at [email protected].

You may also contact Attorney Hourihan's Legal Assistant, Jill Harrison directly at 860-785-8435 or email her [email protected]

If your matter involves real estate, you may reach out to our Real Estate Paralegal Edith Marrero at 860-785-8561 or [email protected]. 

• State Bar of Connecticut, 1969
• U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut, 1973
• Second Circuit Court of Appeals, 1996 

• J.D., University of Connecticut School of Law, 1969
• B.A., Trinity College, 1966 

• Wethersfield Chamber of Commerce
• Bulkeley High School Athletic Hall of Fame, 2016 Inductee
• Trinity College Basketball Hall of Fame, 1982 Inductee