Clarine Nardi Riddle

The Hon. Clarine Nardi Riddle is a member of the Board of Advisors at the National Bureau of Asian Research’s Board.

Clarine is Counsel, Kasowitz Benson Torres, LLP, Chair of the firm’s Government Affairs and Strategic Counsel Practice Group and former United States Senate Chief of Staff to Senator Joseph I. Lieberman, draws on her insider’s perspective of the legislative and judicial systems to provide legal, strategic and policy advice to national and international clients on matters at the intersection of law, business and public policy.

Clarine served as the first female state Attorney General of Connecticut. In addition, she served as a Judge of the Connecticut Superior Court, Connecticut’s highest trial court of general jurisdiction, and Special Counsel to Senator Lieberman, as well as his Deputy and Counsel, when he was Attorney General of Connecticut. Prior to becoming Senator Lieberman’s Senate Chief of Staff, she was Senior Vice President and General Counsel of the National Multi Housing Council. She also served as Deputy Corporation Counsel for the City of New Haven, Connecticut.

Clarine has a wide range of experience at the local, state and federal levels of government. While advocating for her clients, she collaborates with the White House and decision-makers to shape legislation. She also regularly works with political action committees and advocacy groups to advance legislative goals. She has experience with virtually every major area of public policy, including national and homeland security, foreign policy, fiscal policy, environmental protection, human rights, health care, trade, energy, cybersecurity and taxes.

At Kasowitz, Clarine has represented defense, aerospace, technology, telecommunications, education, and government clients, as well as individuals, in developing relationships with key decision makers on both sides of the aisle on Capitol Hill; advocating for legislative, regulatory and policy changes; creating and executing complex government strategies; conducting outreach efforts to various think tanks; and building coalitions to ensure her clients’ government affairs and public policy objectives are achieved.

Clarine has been named a Government Relations Trailblazer by The National Law Journal in recognition of her path-breaking career in government affairs and public service. Additionally, the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General established The Clarine Nardi Riddle Award for Outstanding Leadership, which recognizes an employee of the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General who has demonstrated the highest ideals of leadership, including professional integrity, diplomacy and superior strategic decision-making skills. Clarine was awarded a 2020 Women, Influence & Power in Law Award for Lifetime Achievement by Corporate Counsel. She was also honored with the Indiana University Bicentennial Medal, which recognizes organizations and individuals who have broadened the reach of Indiana University. Clarine was awarded Connecticut History Maker by The U.S. Department of Labor and the Women’s Bureau & Permanent Commission on Status of Women; Woman of the Year by The Greater Hartford Federation of Business & Professional Women’s Clubs; the Award of Merit by The Connecticut Bar Association; Doctor of Humane Letters by Saint Joseph College, Hartford, Connecticut; and the Annual Award for Contributions to Women and the Law in Connecticut by The Hartford Association of Women Attorneys.

Clarine is an active co-founder of No Labels, an organization of Republicans, Democrats and Independents, whose mission is to move America from the old politics of point-scoring toward a new politics of problem-solving. Clarine is also an appointed member of the Economic Club of Washington, D.C., a non-profit, non-partisan corporation established to reflect the unique and critical role that Washington plays in the national and world economies. Additionally, she serves as Chairperson on the Indiana University Maurer School of Law Center for Constitutional Democracy Advisory Board, the Board of Advisors to the National Bureau of Asian Research, the Board of Trustees and Counsel of the Center for Excellence in Education, the Board of Directors of the National Campaign to Stop Violence, and the Connecticut Bar Association Gender Bias in the Profession Committee. She is also a member of the Connecticut Judicial Department’s Executive Committee, CT Chief Justice’s Task Force on Gender: Justice and the Courts, YWCA of the USA National Nominating Committee, and Indiana University Bloomington School of Law Board of Visitors and School Alumni Association.