Connor S. Bleakley joins Wright, Constable & Skeen from the world of personal injury and civil rights litigation. Prior to joining WCS’s Richmond office, Mr. Bleakley litigated injury-based disputes such as motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, and workers’ compensation. In his capacity as a civil rights litigator, Mr. Bleakley pursued constitutional torts claims such as Fourth Amendment claims against police officers for use of excessive force and Eight Amendment claims against correctional officers for denial of medical care to inmates. Mr. Bleakley’s prior litigation experience has included work for both plaintiffs and defendants, giving him a perspective from both sides of the negotiating table. As an associate with WCS, Mr. Bleakley practices in the construction and surety and fidelity groups. In that capacity, he represents sureties in construction and estate litigation, as well as representing other individual and corporate entities in various litigation contexts.

Mr. Bleakley graduated from the College of William & Mary in 2013 and remained at William & Mary to pursue his joint J.D./M.B.A., which he completed in 2017. While in law school, Mr. Bleakley was an active member in both the National Trial Team and Moot Court, serving on the leadership boards of both organizations. Mr. Bleakley saw considerable success as a competitor with both teams and was inducted into the Order of the Barristers for his efforts.

Immediately after graduating from law school, Mr. Bleakley joined a personal injury firm because he knew he wanted to get into the courtroom. Within his first four years of practice, Mr. Bleakley had tried three jury trials as first chair, conducted dozens of bench trials, and handles numerous mediations. His significant experience in the courtroom has led him to be comfortable arguing before the court and thinking on his feet.

Outside of his work, Mr. Bleakley is passionate about woodworking and home improvement. He always strives to have a project at home and will look for any excuse to build something new. He’s always happy to have guests at his house, if only to have an opportunity to show off the various improvements he has built by hand.