When my sons were 8 years old, they asked me to explain what I actually did for a living. After some thought, I told them that I help people solve problems. I get great satisfaction from sitting with clients, listening to their goals and helping them to achieve them.

The essence of what we do is distilled in the phrase “Helping you meet challenges and seize opportunities”. Whether it’s assisting clients in resolving a business dispute or a dispute with their neighbor, working with them to establish a new business, or helping them to take advantage of a new opportunity, our focus is always on what the client wants.

I learned early in my career that what I may believe is a great result doesn’t matter, unless the client also has the same goal. That’s why we begin each case by asking the client a simple question: “What would you like to see happen.” We then work with the client to devise a realistic plan to reach that goal.

Memberships & Professional Associations
  • Newport County Bar Association
  • Rhode Island Bar Association
  • American Bar Association, Member, Section on Litigation
  • American Association for Justice, Member, Section on Admiralty Law
  • Maritime Law Association of the United States
 
Education

Boston College Law School, Newton, Massachusetts

  • J.D. – 1985

Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

  • B.A. cum laude – 1982
Published Works

Co-Author, “Admiralty Law for the General Practitioner”, Rhode Island Bar Association, 1996

Classes/Seminars
  • “Rhode Island Judiciary Conference on Drunk Driving Laws”, 1994
  • ‘Admiralty Law for the General Practitioner”, Rhode Island Bar Association, 1996
  • “Maritime Torts”, Rhode Island Bar Association, 1996
  • “Evictions and Landlord/Tenant Law in Rhode Island”, National Business Institute (NBI), 1999
  • “Rhode Island Boundary Law”, NBI, 2004
  • “Boundary Disputes”, NBI, 2006
  • “Real Estate Litigation In Rhode Island”, NBI, 2007
Recent Projects
  • Approval of 280,000 square foot indoor self-storage facility and adjacent day-care in Bristol, Rhode Island, incorporating historic New England design elements.
  • Development approvals for the adaptive reuse of the former Triplett Elementary School in Newport, Rhode Island into 26 residential dwelling units.
  • Zoning, historic and coastal approvals for the restoration and additions to the historic Beechwood and Beacon Rock estates in Newport, Rhode Island.
  • Master Plan approvals for 57 Unit, multi-site affordable housing project in Middletown, Rhode Island.
Presentations & Publications

“Rhode Island Judiciary Conference on Drunk Driving Laws”, 1994;

“Admiralty Law for the General Practitioner”, Rhode Island Bar Association, 1996;

“Maritime Torts”, Rhode Island Bar Association, 1996;

“Evictions and Landlord/Tenant Law in Rhode Island”, National Business Institute (NBI), 1999;

“Rhode Island Boundary Law”, NBI, 2004;

“Boundary Disputes”, NBI, 2006;

“Real Estate Litigation In Rhode Island”, NBI, 2007;

“Boot Camp – Foreclosure and Loan Workout Procedures”, NBI, 2012;

“Rhode Island Foreclosures and Workouts”, NBI, 2013;

“Rhode Island Commercial Real Estate Brokers Lien Act, Presentation to Rhode Island Commercial and Appraisal Board of Realtors, 2013;

Co-Author, “Admiralty Law for the General Practitioner”, Rhode Island Bar Association, 1996.

Community Involvement

Trustee and Past President, Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County; Board Member, Middletown Little League

Honors & Awards
  • Town Solicitor, Town of Middletown, Rhode Island 2014 – present
  • Municipal Court Judge, Town of Middletown, Rhode Island, 1994 – 2004; 2006 – 2014
  • Probate Judge, Town of Middletown, Rhode Island, 1986 – 1994
  • Criminal Prosecutor, Town of Middletown, Rhode Island, 1990 – 1994