News & Events
Pannone Devereaux & O’Gara LLC Ranked Among Top Firms in 2027 Best Law Firms®
Rhode Island – November 5, 2026 – Pannone Devereaux & O’Gara LLC (PDO) has earned national and metropolitan rankings in the 2027 edition of Best Law Firms®, placing the firm among a select group representing approximately 2–4% of law firms nationwide recognized for practice group excellence. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers®, which produces Best Law Firms, has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. PDO’s recognition across 24 regional practice areas reflects both the strength of its legal talent and its sustained reputation within the profession. Pannone Devereaux & O'Gara LLC received the following rankings in the 2027 Best Law Firms®: Regional Tier 1 Rhode Island Corporate Law...
Gilstein, Kinder & Levin, LLP Joins Pannone Devereaux & O’Gara LLC
Rhode Island – September 28, 2026 – Pannone Devereaux & O’Gara LLC (PDO) today announced that established law firm Gilstein, Kinder & Levin, LLP (GKL), formerly Armstrong, Gibbons & Gnys, LLP, has joined the firm. Attorneys Andrew M. Gilstein, Ralph M. Kinder and Carl S. Levin will serve as Partners of PDO, along with Paralegals, Linda Kelly and Cathy Brien and Legal Administrative Assistant, Roxanne Castano. Gilstein, Kinder & Levin bring decades of legal experience and successful practice areas that complement many of PDO’s existing capabilities, including corporate and business law, real estate, employment law, construction law, civil litigation, and trust and estate planning, administration and probate. The team also...
PDO Partner Bill Devereaux’s Notorious Criminal Case Featured on the Dark Downeast Podcast
The Dark Downeast podcast revisited one of Rhode Island's most notable criminal cases: the murder of Victoria Cushman. The episode tells the extraordinary story of a wrongful conviction that was ultimately overturned after the true perpetrator came forward years later. At the center of that pivotal moment was PDO Partner Bill Devereaux, who represented the individual who confessed and helped navigate the legal and ethical complexities that led to an innocent man's exoneration. While the case is decades old, the podcast is a reminder that the pursuit of justice can have a lasting impact. We're proud to have Bill's experience, integrity, and commitment to justice as part of the PDO team. Listen to the episode:...
Employment Law Advisory: Preparing Your Business for State and Federal Changes
Rhode Island Expands Workplace Protections to Include Menopause Rhode Island has become the first state in the nation to define menopause as a protected class under its Fair Employment Practices Act (RIFEPA). The new amendment requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations for employees experiencing menopause, perimenopause, or related medical conditions. What Employers Should Know: Update policies: Review employee handbooks and anti-discrimination policies to reflect menopause as a protected class. Train managers and HR: Ensure staff understand the RIFEPA and ADA interactive process for accommodation requests. Prepare for accommodation requests: Expect increased requests for flexible scheduling or environmental adjustments....
Trusts & Estates, Legacy Briefly, Newsletter
This edition of our Trusts & Estates newsletter kicks off the New Year with a fresh look at fiduciary responsibility, estate planning updates, and long-term legacy building. From a practical “trustee bootcamp” on fiduciary duties, to why your will may be due for a seasonal refresh, our attorneys explore how annual check-ins can prevent costly oversights. We also take a longer view—examining dynasty and purpose trusts for multigenerational planning—and close with a reminder that true financial fitness starts with a strong, up-to-date estate plan. Whether you’re a trustee, business owner, or planning for the future of your family, this issue offers timely insights to start the year on solid footing. To see the January 2026 edition of...
General Assembly Returns After Winter Recess, Blizzard of ’26
Lawmakers returned to work on Thursday, February 26 after their mid-February winter recess and after a historic blizzard canceled session and committee hearings on Tuesday, February 24 and Wednesday, February 25. To date, over 1,100 bills have been introduced in the House while over 700 bills have been introduced in the Senate. With the exception of the COVID shortened 2020 session, approximately 2,500 to 2,600 total bills are introduced during any given General Assembly session, so we expect to see more bills introduced now that lawmakers are back. The bulk of these bill introductions will come over the next few weeks. Although committee hearings began in January, committees will truly begin meeting in earnest on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or...
Cannabis Retail Licensing Update: How Rhode Island’s Rollout is Taking Shape
Rhode Island’s Cannabis Control Commission is working through how licenses will be allocated, and exactly how many will be issued for the rollout of new adult use cannabis retail licenses. Originally, the state expected to issue 24 new retail licenses across six geographic zones (pictured right), with a maximum of four licenses per zone. Under that model, six licenses would be reserved for certified social equity applicants, six for worker-owned cooperatives, and the remaining 12 for general retail applicants. However, the Commission’s plan to evenly distribute licenses has been complicated by an uneven concentration of the nearly 100 applications submitted across each zone. 31 applications were received for Zone 6, which includes East...
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. PDO’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...
PDO 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...