Freed Marcroft’s Connecticut divorce and family law attorneys are honored to have received numerous awards and honors. We are consistently recognized as one of Connecticut’s top divorce and family law firms by clients, peers, and respected publications. Our attorneys have earned honors from Super Lawyers®, Hartford Magazine, Avvo, and other national and local organizations, reflecting our commitment to strategic advocacy, ethical excellence, and client-centered results.
At Freed Marcroft, we’ve built a reputation that extends beyond the courtroom. We are regularly recognized for legal excellence, business innovation, and the trust we’ve earned from those we serve. The honors below reflect who we are, how we work, and what we make possible for the people we represent.
Our Attorneys Are Consistently Named Among Connecticut’s Most Recognized Lawyers By Super Lawyers®
Super Lawyers® is a rating service of outstanding lawyers published by Thomson Reuters. The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes peer nominations, independent research, and evaluations. No more than 5% of attorneys in each state are named to the Super Lawyers list, and no more than 2.5% are named to the Rising Stars list.
Firm Recognition:
In 2017, New England Super Lawyers® magazine published a feature on Meghan Freed and Kristen Marcroft’s family law practice entitled “Dedicated Duo.”
Freed Marcroft has multiple attorneys included in the Connecticut Super Lawyers firm listing by Thomson Reuters.
View Firm Profile →
Individual Selections:
- Lisa J. Cappalli was selected to the Connecticut Super Lawyers® list each year from 2007 through 2023 (17 consecutive years).
- Meghan Freed was selected to the Connecticut Super Lawyers® list from 2017 through 2026, and for the Connecticut Rising Stars list each year from 2013 through 2016.
- Kristen Marcroft was selected to the Connecticut Rising Stars list each year from 2015 through 2023.
- Laura Ann Simmons was selected to the Connecticut Super Lawyers® list from 2021 through 2026.
- David Post was selected to the Connecticut Super Lawyers® list for 2024, 2025, and 2026.
- Lisa Faccadio was selected to the 2015 Connecticut Super Lawyers® list.
- Brandy Thomas was selected to the Connecticut Rising Stars list from 2021 through 2024.
- Nicholle Guerette was selected to the 2025 and 2026 Connecticut Rising Stars lists.
See Super Lawyer’s selection process here.
Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent® Rating – Peer-Recognized Excellence
Freed Marcroft Attorneys Achieve AV Preeminent® Rating – The Highest Standard of Professional Excellence
Meghan Freed and Judge Ken Shluger (Ret.) have been awarded the prestigious AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale-Hubbell®, the highest peer rating standard available to attorneys. This distinguished recognition places her among an elite group of legal professionals nationwide. They also awarded Attorney Lisa Faccadio the Distinguished rating.
What Makes the AV Preeminent® Rating Significant
The AV Preeminent® rating represents more than 130 years of trusted peer evaluation in the legal profession. This rating signifies that Meghan’s fellow attorneys and judges rank her at the highest level of professional excellence across five critical areas:
- Legal Knowledge – Mastery of family and divorce law
- Analytical Capabilities – Creative problem-solving in complex legal matters
- Judgment – Identifying key factors that drive successful case outcomes
- Communication Ability – Persuasive and credible advocacy for clients
- Legal Experience – Demonstrated expertise in Connecticut divorce and family law
An Elite Distinction
According to Martindale-Hubbell®, only approximately 10 percent of all attorneys nationwide achieve the AV Preeminent® rating. This peer-reviewed distinction is awarded exclusively to lawyers who consistently demonstrate the highest levels of professional competence, integrity, and ethical standards as evaluated by their colleagues in the legal community.
The rating reflects the confidence that judges, opposing counsel, and fellow family law attorneys place in Meghan’s legal abilities and ethical practice.
Learn more about Martindale-Hubbell’s rigorous peer review process here.
The Best Lawyers In America®
Freed Marcroft Attorneys Selected to The Best Lawyers In America Rating – The Highest Standard of Professional Excellence
- Lisa Cappalli, recognized for Family Law in The Best Lawyers in America® (2027 Edition), recognized in Best Lawyers since 2026
- Cheryl Cassella, recognized for Family Law in The Best Lawyers in America® (2027 Edition), recognized in Best Lawyers since 2018
- Lisa Faccadio, recognized for Family Law in The Best Lawyers in America® (2027 Edition), recognized in Best Lawyers since 2027
- Meghan Freed, recognized for Family Law in The Best Lawyers in America® (2027 Edition), recognized in Best Lawyers since 2027
- Judge Kenneth Shluger (Retired), recognized for Family Law and Family Law Mediation in The Best Lawyers in America® (2027 Edition), recognized in Best Lawyers since 2027
- Nicholle Guerette was recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America® (2027 Edition), recognized in Ones to Watch since 2026
Why Best Lawyers® “Sets the Standard for Merit-Based Legal Distinction”
Best Lawyers® provides trusted, peer-reviewed recognition of top legal professionals and helps clients find credible, experienced counsel with confidence. The process is highly selective, with only 5% of U.S. lawyers and 3% globally earning this honor. “Rigorous bias-filtering ensures integrity and fairness.”
Learn more about Best Lawyers methodology here.
Lawdragon 500 Leading Family Law Attorneys
Meghan Freed was named to the 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Family Lawyers — a national guide to the country’s top family law attorneys, selected through Lawdragon’s combination of nominations, independent journalistic research, and peer vetting.
Lawdragon is one of the most respected independent legal media organizations in the country. Its 500 Leading Family Lawyers guide identifies the top family law attorneys in the United States through what Lawdragon describes as a process rooted in journalism: “We research each guide extensively, studying which lawyers and law practices have had significant impact, including an emphasis on recent matters handled.” Selections also incorporate submissions, independent candidate research, and review by editorial advisors who specialize in family law.
Learn more about Lawdragon’s methodology here.
Connecticut Bar Foundation James W. Cooper Fellows
The Connecticut Bar Foundation is the charitable arm of the Connecticut bar, dedicated to promoting access to justice and advancing the legal profession across the state. Its James W. Cooper Fellows program recognizes attorneys who are, in the Foundation’s own words, “outstanding Connecticut lawyers, judges, and teachers of law who show a commitment to the advancement of the legal profession and concern for promoting access to justice.” Fellowship is by invitation only.
Four Freed Marcroft attorneys have been named James W. Cooper Fellows:
This distinction reflects not only individual excellence but a firm-wide culture of professional leadership and service to the Connecticut legal community.
View the CT Bar Foundation Fellows Roster here.
American Bar Foundation Fellows
Meghan Freed has been inducted as a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. Fellows membership is by invitation only and limited to 1% of licensed attorneys.
American Bar Foundation Fellows are a “global honorary society of attorneys, judges, law faculty, and legal scholars whose public and private careers have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the highest principles of the legal profession.” The American Bar Foundation was founded in 1952 by the American Bar Association (ABA), filling the need for an independent center for interdisciplinary research into the law.
Recognized as Hartford’s Best Law Firm or Hartford’s Best Family Law Firm for Eleven Years in a Row By the Readers of the Hartford Courant and Hartford Magazine
Hartford Courant and Hartford Magazine’s Best of Hartford Awards
The readers of the Hartford Courant and Hartford Magazine have voted Freed Marcroft:
- Best Law Firm / Best Family Law Firm for 12 consecutive years: 2014–2026
These awards are based on reader votes, reflecting the consistent trust and respect we’ve earned in the community.
Very few law firms earn this honor once. Fewer still do it year after year. Freed Marcroft has been Hartford Magazine readers’ top choice for more than a decade.
Also recognized by Hartford Magazine for:
- Our commitment to green renovation and sustainable office practices, “Green is Good,” Hartford Magazine, Green Office Edition, April 2013
Freed Marcroft has also received extensive praise from the press, and the media frequently features our divorce attorneys when covering divorce and family law news.
National Recognition for Legal Excellence and Advocacy
National LGBT+ Bar Association
This national honor recognizes attorneys for professional distinction, leadership, and service to the LGBTQ+ community.
Nationally Recognized for Growth, Innovation, and Client-Centered Strategy
Inc. 5000 – America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies
Freed Marcroft has been named to the Inc. 5000 — the most prestigious ranking of fast-growing companies in the U.S. — five times:
- 2019 Inc. 5000 List: #732, one of only ten law firms and one of only two family law firms in the country selected, and the only Connecticut law firm honoree.
- 2020 Inc. 5000 List: #2024, one of only 17 law firms and one of only two family law firms in the country selected, and the only Connecticut law firm honoree.
- 2024 Inc 5000 List: #4517, one of only two Connecticut law firms selected, and the only Connecticut family law firm honoree.
- 2025 Inc. 5000 List: #3930, the only New England law firm selected, 94% 3-year growth.
- 2026 Inc. 5000 List: #4506, one of only three Connecticut law firms selected.
Only a fraction of U.S. law firms ever appear on this list. Fewer still return.
See Inc. 5000 methodology here.
Inc. Magazine – Best in Business
Inc. Magazine explained the 215 Best in Business honorees selected from a nationwide pool: “From contributing to their local communities, to transforming their industries, to making the world a better place, these inspiring companies prove that business can do well and do good.”
- Freed Marcroft received the 2023 Best in Business, Legal award for its pro bono work.
See Inc. Best in Business methodology here.
Law Firm 500 – Fastest-Growing Law Firms in the U.S.
The Law Firm 500 recognizes the 500 fastest-growing law firms in the United States, for their “growth story — the one built on clarity, courage, and real business decisions.”
Honored every year since 2017, including:
- 2017 Law Firm 500 List: #42, one of only 9 Connecticut law firms recognized and the only Connecticut family law firm honoree.
- 2018 Law Firm 500 List: #18, highest ranked Connecticut law firm and one of only 5 Connecticut honorees.
- 2019 Law Firm 500 List: #29, one of only 2 Connecticut law firms recognized and the only Connecticut family law firm honoree.
- 2020 Law Firm 500 List: #42, one of only 2 Connecticut law firms recognized and the only Connecticut family law firm honoree.
- 2021 Law Firm 500 List: #131, one of only 2 Connecticut law firms recognized and the only Connecticut family law firm honoree.
- 2022 Law Firm 500 List: #179, one of only 2 Connecticut law firms recognized and the only Connecticut family law firm honoree.
- 2023 Law Firm 500 List: #93, one of only 3 Connecticut law firms recognized and the only Connecticut family law firm honoree.
- 2024 Law Firm 500 List: #113, the only Connecticut law firm honored.
- 2025 Law Firm 500 List: #98, one of only two Connecticut law firms recognized and the only Connecticut family law firm honoree.
These awards reflect how we run our firm: with the same level of thought, care, and precision that we bring to every case.
See Law Firm 500 selection criteria here.
Honors for Leadership, Vision, and Legal Impact
- Brandy Thomas – New Leader in the Law, Connecticut Law Tribune (2022)
- Meghan Freed – Law Firm Innovator Award, Connecticut Law Tribune (2021)
- Freed Marcroft – Best Family Business Award, Hartford Business Journal (2017)
- Meghan Freed – 40 Women for the Next 40 Years, Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund (2014)
- Meghan Freed – New Leader in the Law, Connecticut Law Tribune (2013)
- Meghan Freed – 40 Under Forty, Hartford Business Journal (2013)
- Meghan Freed – Named one of the Top 5 commencement speakers in the country by Glamour Magazine for her Mount Holyoke College address (1998)
Verified Excellence Inside and Beyond the Courtroom
Better Business Bureau – Better Business Bureau Accredited, A+ Rating
Our accreditation and A+ rating from the BBB reflects Freed Marcroft’s long-standing commitment to transparency, professionalism, and ethical client service. View Freed Marcroft’s Better Business Bureau profile →
See the BBB Standards for Trust and ratings system overview.
Avvo Rating – 10.0 Superb
Meghan Freed holds a perfect 10.0 rating on Avvo, based on client and peer reviews of legal skill, communication, and integrity.
View Meghan’s Avvo Profile →
See the Avvo Ratings criteria and explanation here.
Law Info® – 10.0 Superb
Freed Marcroft’s Meghan Freed has been Lead Counsel Verified in Divorce since 2016 and in Family law since 2023. According to Law Info, “the ‘Lead Counsel Verified’ status has been granted to attorneys who possess:
- The Right Professional Experience
- A Spotless Record
See the Law Info Lead Counsel Verified standards here.
We’re Not Just Award-Winning — We’re Client-Focused
Every honor on this page reflects something deeper: the trust our clients place in us. We don’t measure our impact in plaques or badges — we measure it in lives transformed, futures protected, and decisions made with clarity.
Don’t take our word for it, see our reviews here.
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Awards & Honors
What does it mean to be selected to Super Lawyers®?
Super Lawyers® is a rating service published by Thomson Reuters. Lawyers are selected through peer nominations, independent research, and evaluations. No more than 5% of attorneys in each state are named to the Super Lawyers list, and no more than 2.5% to Rising Stars. See Super Lawyer’s selection process here.
How are the Hartford Magazine “Best Law Firm” and “Best Family Law Firm” awards determined?
It’s a public vote. Members of the Greater Hartford community choose their preferred law firms each year. Freed Marcroft was voted Best Law Firm or Best Family Law Firm eleven years in a row (2014–2025). Learn more here.
What is the Inc. 5000, and why does it matter?
The Inc. 5000 recognizes the fastest-growing private companies in America. Freed Marcroft’s inclusion shows that we’ve built not only a respected legal practice but also a stable, client-centered business. See Inc. 5000 methodology here.
What is the Law Firm 500, and why does it matter?
The Inc. 500 recognizes the fastest-growing law firms in the nation. Freed Marcroft’s annual inclusion since 2017 is particularly meaningful to us because our consistent appearance on the Law Firm 500 list reflects the reality that entrepreneurial excellence necessitates premier client service. This award places Freed Marcroft among the fastest-growing and most operationally disciplined law firms in the country for 8 years running. Learn more about the Law Firm 500 here.
Are these awards based on client reviews?
Some are. For example, Avvo ratings include client and peer reviews. Others, like Super Lawyers, are based on peer evaluation and research. Hartford Magazine’s award is based on community voting. To read Freed Marcroft’s client reviews, please go here.
Why do these recognitions matter for clients?
Awards offer third-party confirmation of what our clients already experience — strategic legal work, clear communication, and results delivered with integrity. They’re one more way to know you’re in capable hands. We have also received significant praise from both local and national media, which you can view here.
See why Freed Marcroft is one of Connecticut’s most recognized divorce and family law firms →
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