George Watson Appointed to New England Legal Foundation Rhode Island Advisory Council

Environmental, Energy + Telecommunications Group lawyer George W. Watson III has been appointed by the New England Legal Foundation (NELF) to serve on its Rhode Island Advisory Council. NELF is the leading non-profit public interest law firm in the region dedicated to addressing policy and constitutional concerns related to free enterprise. “We are thrilled,” NELF President Daniel B. Winslow said, “to have George joining our Rhode Island Advisory Council; he brings with him his impressive legal counsel experience in facility siting, environmental land use restrictions, and real estate transactions, as well as his expertise on general land use matters.” NELF’s ongoing mission is to champion individual economic liberties, property rights, good government based on rule of law, and inclusive economic growth. Read more in the press release.

Providence Lawyers Receive Distinctions During Rhode Island Bar Foundation and Association Annual Meetings

Multiple lawyers in Robinson+Cole’s Providence received distinctions as part of the Rhode Island Bar Association’s (RIBA) Annual Meeting hosted on June 23 and June 24, 2022 at the Rhode Island Convention Center. Insurance + Reinsurance Group lawyer Dana M. Horton is Chair of the 2022 Annual Meeting Planning Committee and, according to the President of RIBA, “produced a diverse and enriching program” for hundreds of attorneys and judges from RI and the surrounding area that attended the two-day event. Dana also serves on the Association’s Executive Committee and is a long time member of the RIBA House of Delegates.

During the first day or the event, the Rhode Island Bar Foundation (the charitable the charitable arm of RIBA) conducted its Fellows Annual Meeting during which Bankruptcy + Reorganizations Group member Steven J. Boyajian was elected to serve as its Treasurer. Steve has been a Fellow of the Foundation since 2010 and was elected as a member of its Board of Directors in 2020. Last year, he was elected chair of the Scholarship Committee, on which he has served since 2013. The Foundation administers both a scholarship fund and an Interest On Lawyers Trust Accounts (IOLTA) fund, which makes grants to organizations providing a variety of services in the community, including for indigent legal services, victims of crimes, interpretive services and other access-to-justice type of functions and organizations. As Treasurer, Steve will chair the Finance Committee, which has oversight of these operations.

In addition, Environmental, Energy + Telecommunications Group member George W. Watson III has been invited to become a Fellow of the Rhode Island Bar Foundation, a distinction that recognizes those lawyers whose professional, public and private careers have demonstrated their outstanding dedication to the welfare of the community and maintenance of the objectives of the Foundation. Fellowship is by invitation only and is evidence of such professional achievement. R+C lawyers Steve Boyajian, Linn Freedman, Dana Horton, Pat Igoe, Roger Peters and Dan Sullivan, along with Of Counsel Peter Lacouture, are also Fellows of the Foundation.

During the Rhode Island Bar Association’s Annual Meeting Luncheon on June 24, Peter V. Lacouture was among those honored “in grateful recognition of 50 years of outstanding service to the legal profession and the Rhode Island Bar Association."

Two Robinson+Cole Lawyers Contribute to Rhode Island Land Use Book

Robinson+Cole lawyers Timothy Twardowski and George Watson each wrote a chapter for the recently released book, A Practical Guide to Land Use Law in Rhode Island. Twardowski, a member of the firm’s Land Use and Real Estate and Development Groups, authored a chapter called “Eminent Domain and Regulatory Takings,” while Watson, a member of the Environmental + Utilities Group, wrote, “Presenting a Case for Zoning Relief and Litigating a Zoning Case on Appeal.” The 11-chapter book, penned by 14 Rhode Island-based lawyers and published by MCLE New England, is designed to serve as a practical guide to the complex challenges of land use law in Rhode Island for state practitioners. It covers topics like comprehensive planning, zoning, subdivision review, eminent domain, First Amendment protection, and environmental regulation, including coastal zone provisions affecting land use.

George Watson Elected to Grow Smart RI Board

Environmental and utilities lawyer George W. Watson III has been elected to Grow Smart RI's Board of Directors for a three-year term. Grow Smart Rhode RI's mission is to promote equitable economic growth by advocating for compact development in revitalized urban, town, and village centers balanced with responsible stewardship of the region's natural assets. The Board of Directors are charged with helping Grow Smart RI achieve its mission.

George Watson Presents at EPOC ELUR Seminar

Environmental and utilities lawyer George W. Watson III, in a repeat presentation of an earlier session in April 2015, spoke at the "Environmental Land Use Restrictions – Advanced Case Studies" seminar on October 15, 2015, in Berlin, Connecticut. This advanced course program was developed by the Environmental Professionals' Organization of Connecticut (EPOC) and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Panelists and presenters used case studies to review legal issues, components, and planning for Environmental Land Use Restrictions (ELURs). The studies included two Harbor Park locations in Stamford, Connecticut: 845 Canal Street, a circa 1960 warehouse-type building rehabilitated into office and commercial spaces, and the historic Yale & Towne Manufacturing site that was redeveloped into a multiple building development with office, retail, and luxury condominiums.

Peter Lacouture Edits Recent Developments in Public Utility, Communications and Transportation Industries for 11th Year

The American Bar Association's Section of Public Utility, Communications and Transportation Law has published its annual report, Recent Developments in Public Utility, Communications and Transportation Industries – 2015, edited by environmental and utilities partner Peter V. Lacouture. Mr. Lacouture, who was recently elected vice chair of the section, is chair of the section's Publications Committee and has edited the report since 2005. The report outlines judicial decisions, administrative rulings, and legislative actions in public utility, communications, and transportation industries through March 31, 2015, and a few major developments since that date. Each member of the section receives the 450-page volume. George W. Watson III, environmental and utilities lawyer, and Sharon Onga-Nana, the 2015 National Grid/Robinson+Cole summer fellow, assisted Mr. Lacouture in editing the report. In his introduction, Mr. Lacouture recognizes Providence LAAs Brenda Vucci and Heidi Seddon for their help on the book.

George Watson Presents at EPOC Environmental Land Use Restrictions Seminar

Environmental and utilities lawyer George W. Watson III spoke at the "Environmental Land Use Restrictions – Advanced Case Studies" seminar on April 9, 2015, in Berlin, Connecticut. This advanced course program was developed by the Environmental Professionals' Organization of Connecticut (EPOC) and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Panelists and presenters used case studies to review legal issues, components, and planning for Environmental Land Use Restrictions (ELURs). The studies included two Harbor Park locations in Stamford, Connecticut: 845 Canal Street, a circa 1960 warehouse-type building rehabilitated into office and commercial spaces, and the historic Yale & Towne Manufacturing site redeveloped into a multiple building development with office, retail, and luxury condominiums.

Peter Lacouture Edits Recent Developments in Public Utility, Communications and Transportation Industries for 10th Year

The American Bar Association's Section of Public Utility, Communications and Transportation Law has published its annual report, Recent Developments in Public Utility, Communications and Transportation Industries – 2014, edited by environmental and utilities partner Peter V. Lacouture. Mr. Lacouture is chair of the section's Publications Committee and has edited the report since 2005. The report outlines judicial decisions, administrative rulings, and legislative actions in public utility, communications, and transportation industries through March 31, 2014, and a few major developments since that date. Each member of the section receives the 550-page volume. George W. Watson III, environmental and utilities lawyer, and Jorge Ghazal, the 2014 National Grid/Robinson+Cole summer fellow, assisted Mr. Lacouture in editing the report.

Providence Office Sponsors RICH's Annual Luncheon

Robinson & Cole's Providence office was a sponsor of the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless's (RICH) annual awards luncheon, held on March 24, 2014, in Warwick, Rhode Island. Representing the firm were Providence lawyers Patricia J. Igoe, and George W. Watson. The event provided an opportunity for RICH members to celebrate their achievements, honor their community heroes, and show their commitment to ending homelessness in Rhode Island. The mission of RICH is to "promote and preserve the dignity and quality of life for men, women, and children by pursuing comprehensive and cooperative solutions to the problems of housing and homelessness."

Robinson & Cole Lawyers Participating in Lawyers Collaborative for Diversity Mentoring Program

Lawyers participating are Nicole A. Bernabo, Britt-Marie Cole-Johnson, Pamela H. Del Negro, Edward J. Heath, Keisha S. Palmer, Scott E. Sebastian, Evan J. Seeman, Matthew S. Spaeder, B. Moses Vargas, and George W. Watson. Robinson & Cole has more lawyers participating than any other partnering organization.

The Lawyers Collaborative for Diversity was formed in 2003 by concerned lawyers to increase the recruitment, retention, and advancement of lawyers of color.

National Association of Realtors Honors LandLaw Partner and Firm

LandLaw partner Brian W. Blaesser and Robinson & Cole were honored by the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) at its national conference in November. Mr. Blaesser and his R&C team were recognized for their 12 years of work on behalf of NAR through programs developed to address issues important to Realtors® and the real estate industry. These programs include the Land Use Initiative, through which the team provides analyses of proposed state and local regulatory initiatives, the Customized State Legislation Program, through which the team prepares Realtor®-sponsored state legislation, the Smart Growth Quarterly e-Newsletter, which provides a 50-state update of pending smart growth-related legislation and initiatives at the state and local levels, and the Coordinating Realtor® Campaign, NAR’s national legislative campaign to address state real estate transfer taxes. The Robinson & Cole NAR team of attorneys and land use analysts is drawn from across the firm’s offices and includes Anne F. Campbell, Amanda S. Eckhoff, Michael Giaimo, Michele L. Maresca, Linnea C. McCaffrey, Gregory S. Sampson, Timothy C. Twardowski and George W. Watson III.

While at the conference, Mr. Blaesser met with NAR’s leadership to discuss Robinson & Cole’s work for NAR and was asked to address the controversial issue of private transfer fees (PTFs), which are fees required to be paid to a private third party upon the sale or transfer of real property. They are typically imposed in the form of a covenant recorded against the property. NAR and the American Land Title Association (ALTA) have opposed PTFs on the ground that they constitute an unreasonable restraint on the transferability of real property. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) acted to prohibit issuance of FHA insurance on properties with PTFs in June 2010. The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) recently proposed guidance that would instruct Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac not to purchase mortgages secured by properties that are encumbered by private transfer fees.

Attorneys Represent Robinson & Cole at George W. Crawford Black Bar Association Annual Dinner

74 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2023

74 Robinson+Cole lawyers were selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2023. Of the 74 lawyers from across the firm’s practice groups and offices named to the list, 54 are from Connecticut. The firm continues to have the highest number of recognized lawyers in the state. Robinson+Cole also has the highest number of listed lawyers in Connecticut in the areas of environmental law insurance law and construction litigation. Only the top 5.3 percent of all practicing lawyers in the U.S. were selected by their peers for inclusion in the 29th edition of The Best Lawyers in America®.

Additionally, the following five lawyers were named the Best Lawyers® 2023 “Lawyer of the Year” in Hartford, Connecticut, in the noted practice areas: Brian R. Smith in Land Use and Zoning Law, Christine E. Bromberg in Tax Law, James P. Ray in Litigation – Environmental, Joey Lee Miranda in Energy Regulatory Law, Norman H. Roos in Banking and Finance Law, Rachel V. Kushel in Employment Law – Management, Theodore J. Tucci in  Health Care Law and Virginia E. McGarrity – in Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law.

The third edition of Best Lawyers: “Ones to Watch” was also released, includes 23 Robinson+Cole lawyers. The “Ones to Watch” recognition is given to attorneys early in their careers for their outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States. The firm has the highest number of lawyers to receive this designation in Hartford, Connecticut. Read more in the press release.

65 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2022

65 Robinson+Cole lawyers were selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2022. Of the 65 lawyers from across the firm’s practice groups and offices named to the list, 49 are from Connecticut. The firm continues to have the highest number of recognized lawyers in the state. Robinson+Cole also has the highest number of listed lawyers in Connecticut in the areas of environmental law and insurance law.

Additionally, the following five lawyers were named the Best Lawyers® 2022 “Lawyer of the Year” in Hartford, Connecticut, in the noted practice areas: Patrick M. Birney in Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Michael F. Maglio in Banking and Finance Law, Robert S. Melvin in Environmental Law, Joey Lee Miranda in Energy Law and Jacqueline Pennino Scheib in Trademark Law. Peter V. Lacouture was also named a Best Lawyers® 2022 “Lawyer of the Year” in Providence, Rhode Island in the area of Energy Law.

The second edition of Best Lawyers: “Ones to Watch” was also released, of which 17 total Robinson+Cole lawyers are listed in. The “Ones to Watch” recognition is given to attorneys who are earlier in their careers for their outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States. Read more in the press release.

61 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2021

61 Robinson+Cole lawyers were selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2021. Of the 61 lawyers from across the firm’s practice groups and offices named to the list, 46 are from Connecticut. The firm continues to have the highest number of recognized lawyers in the state. Robinson+Cole also has the highest number of listed lawyers in Connecticut in the areas of environmental law and insurance law.

Additionally, the following six lawyers were named the Best Lawyers® 2021 “Lawyer of the Year” in Hartford, Connecticut, in the noted practice areas: Michael R. Enright in Litigation – Bankruptcy, Gregory R. Faulkner in Litigation – Construction, Virginia E. McGarrity in Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Joey Lee Miranda in Environmental Law, James P. Ray in Litigation – Environmental and Theodore J. Tucci in Health Care Law. Michael S. Giaimo was also named a Best Lawyers® 2021 “Lawyer of the Year” in Boston, Massachusetts, in the area of Land Use and Zoning Law.

The inaugural edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch was also released, of which 17 total Robinson+Cole lawyers are listed in. The “Ones to Watch” recognition is given to attorneys who are earlier in their careers for their outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States. Read more in the press release.

Robinson+Cole Elects New Partners

Robinson+Cole is pleased to announce the election of seven new partners, effective January 1, 2018. The new partners are Kendra L. Berardi, Stephen O. Clancy, Dana M. Horton, Rachel V. Kushel, Keisha S. Palmer, Timothy C. Twardowski, and George W. Watson III.

“The development and advancement of our lawyers is critical to our continuing success,” said Stephen E. Goldman, Robinson+Cole’s Managing Partner. “The advancement of these new partners is representative of the ways in which the firm continues to grow and be successful. It gives me great pleasure to congratulate our new partners, and also congratulate the R+C community for helping them achieve their success.”

Read more in the press release.

Robinson+Cole Elects New Partners and Counsel