News & Events
Holyoke Revives Its Waterpower Legacy: A Modern Public-Private Partnership for a Sustainable Future
Since its settlement in 1745, its location on the Connecticut River in western Massachusetts has shaped the destiny of the City of Holyoke. Access to reliable, high-quality water and wastewater treatment infrastructure has long been essential to supporting the city’s growth, industry and quality of life. PLDO’s attorneys are proud to have been members of the technical team that helped the City renew its legacy through the procurement of a recently-executed innovative long-term contract for the operation and maintenance of the City’s wastewater, stormwater and flood control facilities. The contract went beyond just infrastructure and operations; the new contractor will be an active partner with the City in its effort to seek a 21st century...
PLDO Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America
We are happy to announce that thirteen of our attorneys have been named Best Lawyers in America, and three more have earned a spot on the Ones to Watch list. These honors shine a light on the skill, dedication, and reputation our team has built within the legal community. Recognized nationwide as the gold standard, Best Lawyers® helps clients connect with trusted, peer-reviewed counsel, and we’re proud to be counted among the best. Congratulations to: Gene M. Carlino, Trusts and Estates William P. Devereaux, Criminal Defense: General Practice & White-Collar Joseph M. DiOrio, Banking and Finance Law, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation - Bankruptcy Leah A. Foertsch, Trusts and...
2025 Rhode Island General Assembly Recesses
The Rhode Island General Assembly recessed shortly before 2:00am on Saturday, June 21. Nearly 2,600 bills were introduced by legislators during the 2025 session. When the 2025 legislative session began on January 7th, RI lawmakers filed into the state house staring down a $250 million deficit. As is true most every session, and especially under the pressure of a growing deficit, the budget bill (budget) was the most important piece of legislation this year. Transmitted to Governor McKee on June 21, the budget bill became effective without his signature on June 29 for Fiscal Year 2026 beginning on July 1. Among the budget’s more noteworthy provisions are the following: Non-Owner-Occupied Tax. Dubbed the “Taylor Swift tax,” the budget...
PLDO Attorneys Make an Impact at Rhode Island Bar Assoc. Annual Meeting
Brian Lamoureux on AI in Legal Practice At the Rhode Island Bar Association Annual Meeting this month, PLDO Partner Brian Lamoureux spoke on the growing role of artificial intelligence in the legal practice. Moderated by R.I. Supreme Court Justice Erin Lynch Prata and R.I. Superior Court Judge Brian P. Stern, the session explored the ethical and practical implications of AI tools in the legal field, including the Rhode Island Supreme Court’s Committee on Artificial Intelligence and the Courts, underscoring PLDO’s commitment to staying at the forefront of emerging legal trends and technologies. Matt Reeber on Attorney Fee Awards Attorney Matt Reeber also spoke at the Annual Meeting, offering an in-depth look at fee recovery after the Rhode...
PLDO Attorneys Lead National Seminar on Estate Planning Ahead of 2025 Tax Sunset
In partnership with MyLawCLE, Pannone Lopes Devereaux & O’Gara (PLDO) attorneys Leah A. Foertsch and Gene M. Carlino led a seminar on wealth management and estate planning—Current Aspects of Wealth Management and Estate Planning: Sunset Preparations, Tailored Vehicles, Post-Mortem Planning, and Leveraging Philanthropy (2025 Edition). The seminar covered strategies for selecting flexible wealth management vehicles, implementing effective post-mortem planning, and leveraging charitable giving to align with client goals amid evolving regulations. Attorneys Foertsch and Carlino also discussed preparations for the 2025 estate tax sunset. A key provision of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act significantly expanded the federal gift and estate...
PLDO Attorneys Named Rhode Island Super Lawyers of 2025
Attorneys Devereaux, DiOrio, Reeber and Carlino Named Among Top 5 Percent of RI Lawyers Johnston, RI – Pannone Lopes Devereaux & O’Gara LLC (PLDO) is proud to announce that four of its attorneys—William P. Devereaux, Principal; Joseph M. DiOrio, Chairman of the firm’s Banking and Creditor’s Rights Practice; Matthew C. Reeber, Partner; and Gene M. Carlino, Partner—have been named to the 2025 Rhode Island Super Lawyers list. Super Lawyers®, a division of Thomson Reuters, is a peer-reviewed rating platform that recognizes exceptional attorneys in each state who have demonstrated significant professional accomplishments and earned high levels of peer recognition. Only up to 5 percent of lawyers in each state are chosen for inclusion in...
PLDO Partner Brian J. Lamoureux to Present at University of Rhode Island’s Labor & Employment Conference
Rhode Island – March 31, 2025 – Pannone Lopes Devereaux & O’Gara LLC (PLDO) Partner Brian J. Lamoureux, a prominent business litigator and employment attorney who is a leading voice on social and digital media law, will present at the 37th Annual Labor and Employment Conference on Friday, April 4, 2025. The conference, hosted by the University of Rhode Island’s Schmidt Labor Research Center for Labor Relations & Human Resources in partnership with Roger Williams University School of Law, brings together the state’s leading labor and employment lawyers, scholars, and representatives from federal and state agencies to discuss key legal updates from state and federal courts, a significant Supreme Court case, legal challenges to...
Joseph M. DiOrio Esq. to Present at Rhode Island Bar Association’s “Excelling in Commercial Law Litigation” CLE Seminar
Rhode Island – March 26, 2025 – The Rhode Island Bar Association has invited Joseph M. DiOrio, Esq., Chairman of Pannone Lopes Devereaux & O’Gara LLC’s (PLDO) Banking and Creditor’s Rights Practice, to present at the “Excelling in Commercial Law Litigation” Continuing Legal Education (CLE) seminar on Wednesday, April 2, from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, at the RI Law Center in Cranston. The program is designed to deepen Attorneys’ expertise in commercial law, provide insight into frequently encountered litigation scenarios, and offer best practices for drafting commercial documents, with particular attention on identifying and mitigating potential risks. Joining Attorney DiOrio on the panel are the Hon. Diane Finkle, Chief Judge US Bankruptcy...
The National Black Lawyers Names PLDO Attorney LaTri-c-ea McClendon- Hunt Top 100 Lawyer in Rhode Island
Rhode Island – March 12, 2025 – Pannone Lopes Devereaux & O’Gara LLC (PLDO) and The National Black Lawyers proudly announce that LaTri-c-ea McClendon-Hunt has been named a distinguished Top 100 Black Lawyers in the state of Rhode Island. This exclusive recognition is reserved for the top 100 African American lawyers in each state, recognized for their outstanding legal skills and professional contributions. Membership is exclusively by invitation, based on referrals from existing members, the Executive Committee, and independent research. LaTri-c-ea McClendon-Hunt, Senior Counsel, is a member of the firm’s Alternative Dispute Resolution and Special Masterships Teams. She focuses her practice in Prison Monitoring for the U.S. District...
PLDO Sponsors Providence Business News’ 2025 Business of Cannabis Summit
Attorney Benjamin L. Rackliffe to be a Featured Panelist Rhode Island – February 27, 2025 – Pannone Lopes Devereaux & O’Gara LLC (PLDO) announced its sponsorship of Providence Business News’ (PBN) 2025 Business of Cannabis Summit on Thursday, March 6 from 9:00am - 11:00am, at the Providence Marriott. PLDO Partner Benjamin L. Rackliffe, a leading authority and advisor to cannabis industry business owners and investors, will be a featured panelist, alongside Ronald Crosson II, Executive Director of Urban Ventures, Inc. & Chair and Social Equity Officer, Cannabis Advisory Board; and Michelle Reddish, Administrator of the RI Cannabis Office, RI Commerce. In January, Rhode Island’s Cannabis Control Commission released its long-awaited...
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