Welcome Our New Attorneys

Updike, Kelly & Spellacy, P.C. is pleased to announce the addition of two well-known Connecticut attorneys to its ranks.  

James R. Byrne is a principal in the firm’s litigation department. Attorney Byrne graduated from Boston University with a degree in Psychology and from UConn School of Law.  He is admitted to practice in Connecticut, Massachusetts and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Court.  Attorney Byrne is a commercial litigator with 25 years of experience representing financial institutions, lenders and other entities in creditor’s rights, loan workouts, commercial foreclosures and collections, bankruptcies, and check fraud and negotiable instrument litigation.  He also represents businesses of many types in connection with contract and ownership disputes, as well as other types of commercial litigation.  He handles tax assessment appeals for property owners and municipalities. 

Jon P. Antkowiak is of counsel to the firm and also practices in the litigation department.  Attorney Antkowiak graduated from the University of Vermont with a degree in mechanical engineering and from the UConn School of Law.  He is admitted to practice in Connecticut and Massachusetts, as well as before the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Court and the Gaming Disputes Court of the Mohegan Tribe.  Attorney Antkowiak has been practicing law for nearly 30 years.  His primary areas of practice include the defense of product liability, construction site accident, architect and engineer professional liability, premises and general liability claims.  Prior to receiving his law degree, Attorney Antkowiak worked as a nuclear engineer at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.