A former Norwalk City Council president is the lead attorney in the new Connecticut office of a nationwide litigation firm.

Michael Coffey will head up the Norwalk office of Wood, Smith, Henning & Berman, which has 160 attorneys in 17 locations. Other locations include Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, Oregon and Washington state. Coffey is already managing partner of the firm's New York City office, which opened in November 2013. He will remain in charge of the New York office.

According to the firm's website, three other attorneys will be initially based in Connecticut. The practice areas in the new Connecticut office will include construction, toxic tort, professional liability, environmental business, employment and real estate. “We are thrilled about the addition of the Connecticut location, as it represents a strategic expansion in the greater New York metropolitan area,” Coffey said in a statement. “We are also confident our clients will appreciate our newly enhanced presence as we continue to bring world-class legal representation to the area.”