Our Attorneys

Mary M. “Molly” Ackerly
Practice Areas:
- Estate & Trust Administration
- Estate Planning
- Elder Law
- Real Estate
- Taxation
Professional Experience:
Molly has been a partner of the firm of Ackerly Brown since the firm was founded in 2001, having previously been associated with other Connecticut firms since her admission to the Connecticut Bar in 1977.
Professional Associations:
Molly was elected to the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel in 1995 , and currently serves on the Elder Law Committee. She is also a member of the American Bar Association and the Connecticut Bar Association, where she is a long-standing member of Executive Committee of the Estates and Probate Section.
She was appointed by the governor as a Connecticut delegate to Uniform Law Commission in 2013; she served on the drafting committee for the Uniform Trust Decanting Act (approved by the commission in 2015), and is currently serving on drafting committees for the Revised Principal and Income Act, the Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Act, and the Parentage Act.
Other Professional Activities:
Molly served as a Probate Judge for the district of Norfolk from 1987 through 1994. While acting as Probate Judge, she served on the Executive Committee of the Connecticut Probate Assembly, and was the probate judge member of the Council on Probate Judicial Conduct from 1989 through 1994.
She serves on the special committee appointed by the Probate Court Administrator, to draft a comprehensive update of the Probate Practice Book, setting forth uniform rules of practice and procedure in the courts of probate. These rules were initially adopted by the Connecticut Supreme Court in November, 2012, and became effective on July 1, 2013. The rules were revised, effective in 2015, and the committee is currently working to consider additional revised.
Molly also served on the Probate Advisory Committee, Connecticut Law Revision Commission, until the commission was disbanded in 2004.
Civic Organizations:
Trustee, The Chore Service, Sharon, Connecticut
Chair, Ad Hoc Committee for “City Meadow” appointed by Norfolk Board of Selectmen
Alternate Member, Norfolk Conservation Commission
Former Trustee, CT Chapter of The Nature Conservancy; Norfolk Land Trust; Norfolk Library
Education:
Yale Law School, New Haven, CT
(J.D. 1977)
Barnard College, New York, NY
(B.A., 1970, magna cum laude)
Resident in Litchfield Office
Phone: (860) 567-0828
Estate Planning & Probate
General Selection Process
CT Selection Statistics
Estate Planning & Probate
General Selection Process
CT Selection Statistics
Estate Planning & Probate
General Selection Process
CT Selection Statistics
Top Lists Selection Criteria
Estate Planning & Probate
General Selection Process
CT Selection Statistics
Top Lists Selection Criteria

Louise F. Brown
Practice Areas:
- Real Estate
- Estate & Trust Administration
- Estate Planning
- Elder Law
Professional Experience:
Louise has been a partner of the firm of Ackerly Brown since the firm was founded in 2001, having previously been associated with its predecessor firms since her admission to the Connecticut Bar in 1973.
Professional Associations:
Louise is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association and the Litchfield County Bar Association, for which she has served as treasurer and president. She also served as a member of the Litchfield Standing Committee on Recommendations to the Bar for many years.
Civic Organizations:
Louise has served on the Boards of Directors or Trustees of numerous local non-profit organizations including: The Hotchkiss Library of Sharon, Women’s Support Services, Indian Mountain School, Town Hill School, Housatonic Mental Health Center, and the Cornwall Conservation Trust.
She is a past member of the Ethics Committee of the Sharon Hospital and a member of the Advisory Board of the Martha Boschen Porter Fund of the Berkshire Taconic Community Association.
Education:
Boston University School of Law, Boston MA
(J.D. 1972 cum laude)
Columbia University, New York, NY
(M.A. 1966)
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
(A.B. 1965 cum laude)
Resident in the Sharon Office
Phone: (860) 364-5531

J. Michael Sconyers
Practice Areas:
- Civil Litigation
- Probate Litigation
- General Civil Practice
- Real Estate
- Charitable Organization Law
- Planning and Zoning Law
Professional Experience:
Michael has been a partner of the firm of Ackerly Brown since the firm was founded in 2001, having previously been associated with other Connecticut firms since his admission to the Connecticut Bar in 1981. Prior to 1981, Michael practiced in Virginia and Washington, D.C. and was a Judge Advocate in the United States Marine Corps.
In addition to being admitted to practice in Connecticut, Washington D.C. and Virginia, Michael is also admitted in the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Military Appeals, and the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut.
Professional Affiliations:
In addition to being a member of the Litchfield County Bar Association and the Connecticut Bar Association, Michael has long served the Litchfield County area at the Connecticut Bar Association as its representative in the House of Delegates and on the Board of Governors. He serves as a Family Master at both the Litchfield Superior Court and the Regional Family Trial Docket. He also serves as an Attorney Trial Referee, Attorney Fact Finder, and Attorney Arbitrator in the Litchfield Judicial District.
Civic Organizations:
Chairman, Norfolk Board of Finance
Donor, National Bone Marrow Registry
Donor, American Red Cross
Education:
George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
(J.D., 1976)
Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA
(B.A., 1973, Summa Cum Laude)
Military Experience:
USMCR (Ret) LtCol Active Duty 1965-1971; 1975 to 1978
Retired as Lieutenant Colonel in 1990 after 20 years of active and reserve service
Awarded Bronze Star with Combat V, Strike/Flight Medal (38)
Combat Action Ribbon, Vietnamese Air Cross of Gallantry,
National Defense Medal, and numerous unit awards and citations
Designated Naval Aviator 1967
Resident in the Bantam Office
(860) 567-0828

Emily D. Vail
Practice Areas:
- Estate & Trust Administration
- Estate Planning
- Elder Law
- Real Estate & Land Use Law
Professional Experience:
Emily has been an associate of the firm of Ackerly Brown since 2015, having previously been associated with Vail & Vail, LLP. Prior to moving back to the Northwest Corner, Emily practiced environmental law in New York, New Jersey and Southern Connecticut. Currently, Emily primarily focuses her practice on estate planning, real estate and land use planning.
Professional Associations:
Emily is a member of the American Bar Association, the Connecticut Bar Association, and the Litchfield County Bar Association. She is licensed to practice in New York, New Jersey, as well as Connecticut.
Civic Organizations:
Vice Chair, Board of Directors, Women’s Support Services, Sharon, CT
Treasurer, Board of Directors, SOAR Educational Enrichment Inc., Salisbury, CT
Treasurer, Board of Directors, Salisbury Housing Committee, Salisbury, CT
Chair, Parks and Forest Commission, Salisbury, CT
Education:
Pace Law School, White Plains, New York
(J.D., 2004, Cum Laude with a certificate in Environmental Law)
Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania
(B.A., 1997)
Resident in the Sharon Office
Phone: (860) 364-5531