Providence Lawyers Ascend to Leadership Roles/Receive Recognitions During 2023 RI Bar Foundation and Association Annual Meetings

Insurance + Reinsurance lawyers Dana M. Horton and Crystal D. Peralta ascended to leadership positions as part of the Rhode Island Bar Association’s (RIBA) Annual Meeting hosted on June 1 and 2, 2023 at the Rhode Island Convention Center. Dana was elected RIBA Secretary, which in the laddered leadership structure of the RIBA, means she will be elected treasurer at the 2024 annual meeting, followed by president-elect and president at the succeeding annual meetings.

Dana has been an active RIBA member since her admission to practice in Rhode Island, with involvement in several bar committees over the past twenty years, including the Young Lawyer’s Committee, District Court Bench Bar Committee, Federal Court Bench Bar Committee, Annual Meeting Committee and Superior Court Bench Bar Committee. She was the Chairperson of the Annual Meeting Committee for the 2022 Annual Meeting and served as the Chairperson of the Superior Court Bench Bar Committee for five years. Dana has also been a member of the RIBA Executive Committee for the past three years as a Member at Large and has served on the House of Delegates since 2009.

Crystal was appointed to serve as a member of the RIBA House of Delegates. She is currently a member of RIBA’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee.

During the first day of the event, the Rhode Island Bar Foundation (the charitable arm of RIBA) conducted its Fellows Annual Meeting during which, Bankruptcy + Reorganizations Group member Steven J. Boyajian awarded two Thomas F. Black Jr. Memorial Scholarships and two Papitto Opportunity Connection Scholarships, totalling $25,000, to students entering their first year of law school as chair of the Bar Foundation’s Scholarship Committee. Steve was reelected to the Bar Foundation’s Board of Directors for another three-year term and reelected as Treasurer. Also during that meeting, Environmental, Energy + Telecommunications lawyer Peter V. Lacouture was presented with a certificate of recognition in honor of 18 years of service as a member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors and chair of its Real Estate Committee. Bar Foundation President Michael R. McElroy offered remarks commemorating Peter’s nearly two decades of service, as he is not seeking another term on the board, and highlighted how the Foundation’s purchase of the building RIBA currently operates in was negotiated pro bono by Robinson+Cole.

Steve Boyajian and Dana Horton Receive 2023 Rhode Island Monthly Professional Excellence in Law Awards

Bankruptcy + Reorganizations Group member Steven J. Boyajian and Insurance + Reinsurance Group lawyer Dana M. Horton were among the lawyers recognized in Rhode Island Monthly’s 2023 Professional Excellence in Law awards. Nominated and chosen by their peers, the honorees “exemplify the leading local lawyers in their respective areas of practice, from general counsel and personal injury to civil litigation and criminal defense.” For the third consecutive year, Steve was recognized in the area of Bankruptcy And Workout and, for the fourth year in a row, Dana is one of four lawyers, and the only woman, recognized in the Insurance practice area. View the complete list of honorees.

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."

Steve Boyajian and Dana Horton Receive 2022 Rhode Island Monthly Professional Excellence in Law Awards

Bankruptcy + Reorganizations Group member Steven J. Boyajian and Insurance + Reinsurance Group lawyer Dana M. Horton were among the lawyers recognized in Rhode Island Monthly’s 2022 Professional Excellence in Law awards. Nominated and chosen by their peers, the honorees “exemplify the leading local lawyers in their respective areas of practice, from general counsel and personal injury to civil litigation and criminal defense.” For the second consecutive year, Steve was recognized in the area of Bankruptcy And Workout and, for the third year in a row, Dana is one of five lawyers, and the only woman, recognized in the Insurance practice area. View the complete list of honorees.

Steve Boyajian and Dana Horton Reappointed to Rhode Island Bar Association Leadership Positions

Bankruptcy + Reorganizations Group member Steven J. Boyajian and Insurance + Reinsurance Group lawyer Dana M. Horton have been reappointed to serve as members of the Rhode Island Bar Association’s (RIBA) House of Delegates. In addition, Dana was re-elected to a third term to the RIBA Executive Committee. The Executive Committee meets monthly and the House of Delegates, which includes eighty elected delegates, meets quarterly to oversee the administration of the RIBA’s affairs. Steve has served as a member of the RIBA House of Delegates since 2013 and Dana since 2009.

Steve Boyajian and Dana Horton Receive Rhode Island Monthly Professional Excellence in Law Awards

Bankruptcy + Reorganizations Group member Steven J. Boyajian and Insurance + Reinsurance Group lawyer Dana M. Horton were among the lawyers recognized in Rhode Island Monthly’s 2021 Professional Excellence in Law awards. Nominated and chosen by their peers, the honorees “exemplify the leading local lawyers in their respective areas of practice, from general counsel and personal injury to civil litigation and criminal defense.” Steve was recognized in the area of Bankruptcy And Workout and, for the second consecutive year, Dana is one of four lawyers, and the only woman, recognized in the Insurance practice area. View the complete list of honorees.

Steve Boyajian Quoted in Law360 Article on Marijuana-tied Bankruptcies

Bankruptcy + Reorganizations Group lawyer Steven J. Boyajian was quoted extensively in the article “Biden DOJ Not Likely To Open Bankruptcy Up To Pot Cos” published in Law360 on January 20, 2021. The article examines whether a potential softening of the Department of Justice's (DOJ) position regarding cannabis might alter the U.S. Trustee Program's strong stance against marijuana-tied bankruptcies. In a 2017 letter sent to Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 trustees, U.S. Trustee Program Director Clifford White III directed the private bankruptcy trustees to alert the U.S. Trustee Program anytime they uncover assets that appear to be tied to marijuana so the program can file a motion to dismiss. “If the U.S. Trustee Program stopped trying to get these cases dismissed, Boyajian says the courts may be less inclined to [dismiss] the bankruptcy cases of businesses and individuals on the periphery of the industry, especially if they can secure a commitment that the person or business will cut off any ties with the drug after emerging from bankruptcy.” Subscribers can read the full article.

Steve Boyajian Quoted in Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly Article on Increase in Bankruptcy Filings Due to COVID-19 Pandemic

Bankruptcy + Reorganizations Group lawyer Steven J. Boyajian was quoted extensively in the article " Businesses face crossroad as PPP funds, moratoriums end" published in Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly on August 6, 2020. The article focuses on an increase in COVID-related business for Rhode Island bankruptcy and restructuring attorneys as a result of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) monies running thin, federal and state eviction moratoriums expiring, and uncertainty on the prospects for further assistance. Steve expects to see more bankruptcy filings but acknowledges that “’One of the problems businesses are facing is that science changes every day…, ‘so we are in a situation where there is uncertainty on whether closures will again be imposed. As a business owner, I would hesitate to file bankruptcy because I need certainty to reorganize. I would have a hard time confirming a reorganization plan without knowing when the pandemic will subside or how that will impact revenue.” Read the article.

Steve Boyajian Quoted in Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly Article on Small Business Reorganization Act

Bankruptcy + Reorganizations Group lawyer Steven J. Boyajian was quoted extensively in the article "New bankruptcy subchapter offers relief to small businesses" published in Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly on October 24, 2019. The article focuses on the recent enactment of the Small Business Reorganization Act (SBRA) of 2019, which adds a number of new provisions to Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. Taking effect on February 19, 2020, the SBRA provides streamlined procedures for the chapter 11 reorganization of “small business debtors,” defined as generally as businesses with debts of not more than $2,725,625. Steve said that he "saw the SBRA as a positive development in the sense that the majority of businesses that file for bankruptcy are not large enterprises and the new law essentially writes out of the statute the 'absolute priority rule,' which often proves to be an insurmountable hurdle for small businesses." Read the article.

Steve Boyajian Presents on Receiverships & Bankruptcy Law During Annual RIBA Conference

For the sixth consecutive year, Business Litigation Group lawyer Steven J. Boyajian presented a session on "Receiverships & Bankruptcy Law" during the Rhode Island Bar Association's (RIBA) annual Recent Developments in the Law CLE seminar on October 19, 2018 in Warwick, Rhode Island. The full-day program provides attendees with an update on rules changes, legal trends, and new legislation in seven key areas of the law from a designated faculty member. Steve’s session provided an update to approximately 200 attendees on developments in bankruptcy and receivership case law, rules, and practice in Rhode Island and throughout the First Circuit during the last year.

51 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized by Super Lawyers®

A total of 51 Robinson+Cole attorneys were named Super Lawyers® in the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island for 2018. In addition, 32 attorneys at the firm were recognized as “Rising Stars.” The Super Lawyers designation is based on regional balloting by attorneys, third-party research, and a peer review process encompassing myriad practice areas. An explanation of the Super Lawyers methodology can be found here. View the list of recognized attorneys and their areas of practice.

Steve Boyajian Authors Article on Pre-Petition Tax Sales in Bankruptcy

Business Litigation Group lawyer Steven J. Boyajian authored the article “Hope for Redemption – The Treatment of Pre-Petition Tax Sales in Bankruptcy,” published in the June 2018 edition of the American Bankruptcy Institute Journal. The article covers whether a debtor can extend tax sale redemption payments over the life of a plan. “There is no single answer,” said Mr. Boyajian, “because the ways in which state laws unbundle the attributes of property ownership following tax sales are too varied to allow it. However, by examining what a taxpayer retains and what a purchaser takes through a tax sale, bankruptcy courts have developed a consistent analytical framework that should allow for the development of predictable results for debtors that have lost their property to pre-petition tax sales.” Read the full article.

Steve Boyajian Speaks at RIBA's Annual Recent Developments in the Law Conference

For the fifth consecutive year, Business Litigation Group lawyer Steven J. Boyajian presented the session "Receiverships & Bankruptcy Law" at the Rhode Island Bar Association's (RIBA) annual Recent Developments in the Law conference on October 25, 2017, in Warwick, Rhode Island. Mr. Boyajian was one of the eight selected presenters, all well-known practitioners in their respective fields. The presentation updated approximately 200 attendees on developments in bankruptcy case law, rules, and practice in Rhode Island and throughout the First Circuit during the last year. 

Steve Boyajian Writes Article on Marijuana-Related Cases for ABI Journal

Business Litigation Group lawyer Steven J. Boyajian published an article for the September 2017 issue of the American Bankruptcy Institute Journal (ABI Journal). The article, "Just Say No to Drugs? Creditors Not Getting a Fair Shake When Marijuana-Related Cases Are Dismissed," provides a brief history of marijuana-related bankruptcy cases, examines the recent denial of relief to marijuana-related debtors and their creditors, and discusses the implications of Controlled Substance Act forfeiture in bankruptcy. To view the article, click here. 

Steve Boyajian Appointed to U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island's Board of Bar Admissions

Business Litigation Group lawyer Steven J. Boyajian was appointed by the judges of the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island to a three-year term on the court's Board of Bar Admissions. The six-member board is responsible for directing the court's federal bar admission program in conjunction with the district's federal judges. In his role as a member of the board, Mr. Boyajian will lecture annually on bankruptcy, with the district's bankruptcy judge, to all lawyers seeking admission to the federal bar in Rhode Island. 

Steve Boyajian Featured in PBN Article

Business Litigation Group lawyer Steven J. Boyajian is featured in the Providence Business News in the Q&A article “Boyajian named legal Rising Star,” published on November 25, 2016. In the interview, Mr. Boyajian talks about what inspired him to pursue a law career, what is the makeup of a good lawyer, why he chose business bankruptcy law, and what are the greatest challenges in doing business in Rhode Island. To read the full article, please click here. 

Steve Boyajian Elected to Barrington Town Council

Business Litigation Group lawyer Steven J. Boyajian was elected to the Barrington, Rhode Island, Town Council on November 8, 2016. In a race that included six candidates, including two incumbents, he received the most votes. Voters could choose three candidates on the ballot, with the top three vote-getters being elected to the five-member council. Mr. Boyajian will serve a four-year term.

Steve Boyajian Speaks at RIBA's Annual Recent Developments in the Law Conference

For the fourth year in a row, Business Litigation Group lawyer Steven J. Boyajian presented the session "Receiverships & Bankruptcy Law" at the Rhode Island Bar Association's (RIBA) annual Recent Developments in the Law conference on November 1, 2016, in Warwick, Rhode Island. Mr. Boyajian was one of the eight selected presenters, all well-known practitioners in their respective fields. The presentation updated approximately 200 attendees on developments in bankruptcy case law, rules, and practice in Rhode Island and throughout the First Circuit during the last year. 

Steve Boyajian Elected to Day One Board

Business Litigation Group lawyer Steven J. Boyajian has been elected to the Board of Directors of Day One, Rhode Island’s leading organization committed to reducing sexual abuse and violence and supporting those affected by it. Day One, formerly known as the Rape Crisis Center of Rhode Island, has undertaken groundbreaking initiatives to ease the psychological burdens of the criminal justice process for victims of childhood sexual abuse and has been a leader in combating the commercial sexual exploitation of children. The organization offers a 24-hour helpline, legal and law enforcement advocacy programs, counseling, professional training sessions, and prevention education.

Steve Boyajian Quoted in 'Buyer Beware' Article in Law360

Steven J. Boyajian was quoted in Law360 on July 15, 2016, in an article that discusses the Second Circuit's decision to strike down, in part, a prior bankruptcy court decision that protected General Motors from liability related to ignition switch defects. In the article, "2nd Circ. Says 'Buyer Beware' In GM Ruling On Ch. 11 Sale," Mr. Boyajian, business litigation lawyer in Robinson+Cole's Providence office, says that the most important work in a Chapter 11 case starts at the negotiating table. He adds, "Had the ignition-switch plaintiffs been there, they could have leveraged a better result for themselves." Click here to view the article.

Steve Boyajian Examines Series LLCs in ABI Journal Article

Business litigation lawyer Steven J. Boyajian wrote the article "Series LLCs: Can a Series File for Bankruptcy, and What if It Does?," featured in the March 2016 issue of the American Bankruptcy Institute Journal (ABI Journal). In the article, Mr. Boyajian discusses whether individual series of series limited liability companies are statutorily eligible to seek relief under the Bankruptcy Code, how to determine what property will be included within a series' bankruptcy estate, and issues that may arise in the claims reconciliation process. To view the article, please click here.

Providence Lawyer Speaks at RIBA's Annual Recent Developments in the Law Conference

Business litigation lawyer Steven J. Boyajian presented the session "Receiverships & Bankruptcy Law" at the Rhode Island Bar Association's (RIBA) annual Recent Developments in the Law conference on October 22, 2015. Mr. Boyajian was one of the eight selected presenters, all well-known practitioners in their respective fields. The presentation updated approximately 200 attendees on developments in bankruptcy case law, rules, and practice in Rhode Island and throughout the First Circuit during the last year.

Steven Boyajian Writes ABI Journal Article on Federal Debt Collection Laws

Providence lawyer Steven J. Boyajian wrote the article "Continued Disagreement: Use of Federal Debt Collection Laws to Expand Fraudulent Transfer Look-Back Periods," featured in the March 2015 issue of the American Bankruptcy Institute Journal. In the article, Mr. Boyajian reviews conflicting case law concerning the use, by debtors in possession and bankruptcy trustees, of expanded statutes of limitations available to governmental entities in challenging fraudulent transfers. Specifically, the article discusses (1) the statutory framework that could allow using governmental entities' expanded statutes of limitations in the bankruptcy context and (2) the differing reasoning applied by those courts that have considered whether bankruptcy trustees and debtors in possession may take advantage of these beneficial statutes of limitation. To view the article, please click here.

Providence Lawyer Speaks at Rhode Island Bar Association's Annual Recent Developments in the Law Conference

Business litigation lawyer Steven J. Boyajian presented the session "Receiverships & Bankruptcy Law" at the Rhode Island Bar Association's annual Recent Developments in the Law conference on October 23, 2014, in Warwick, Rhode Island. Mr. Boyajian was one of eight presenters selected, all of whom are leading practitioners in their respective fields. The presentation updated roughly 200 attendees on developments in bankruptcy case law, rules, and practice in Rhode Island and throughout the First Circuit during the last year.

Steven Boyajian Authors Article for American Bankruptcy Institute Journal

Steven J. Boyajian's article "Reconsidering the Uniformity of Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act" was featured in the April 2014 issue of the American Bankruptcy Institute Journal. In the article, Mr. Boyajian, a business litigation lawyer in the Providence office, responds to considered amendments to the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act (UFTA), focusing on the conflicting judicial interpretations that the amendments propose to resolve. Specifically, he explores (1) presumption of insolvency under § 2 of the UFTA, (2) standards of pleading and proof for actions to recover fraudulent transfers, and (3) abolition of shifting burdens of persuasion in avoiding constructively fraudulent transfers and obligations. To view the article, please click here.

Providence Lawyer Speaks at RIBA's Annual Recent Developments in the Law Conference

Providence Lawyer Writes Article for American Bankruptcy Institute Journal

Providence Lawyers Elected to Rhode Island Bar Association's House of Delegates

Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized for “Excellence in the Law” by Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly

Robinson+Cole Bankruptcy + Reorganizations Group lawyer Steven J. Boyajian and Environmental, Energy + Telecommunications Group lawyer Leticia C. Pimentel were among the lawyers selected for recognition as part of Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly’s 2023 Excellence in the Law awards. Steve was honored as a “Leader in the Law” and Leticia was named an “Up & Coming Lawyer.” The annual awards program took place on June 6, 2023 at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick and honors excellence in all areas of the Rhode Island legal community. Read more in the press release.

Robinson+Cole Elects New Partners and Counsel

Robinson+Cole is pleased to announce the election of Steven J. Boyajian, J. Tyler Butts, Ryan V. Leichsenring, Krista L. Patterson, Jonathan H. Schaefer, Emilee Mooney Scott, Jonathan E. Small, Anthony J. Vogel and Abby M. Warren as partner as well as the promotion of Katherine M. Fix, and Kathryn M. Rattigan to counsel, effective January 1, 2021.

“All of these lawyers have been extraordinarily strong contributors to our firm and it is wonderful to be able to recognize their achievements and be a part of the continuing growth of their careers,” said Stephen E. Goldman, Managing Partner of Robinson+Cole. “Congratulations to this outstanding group of lawyers and future leaders on their well-deserved promotions.” Read more in the press release.

47 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized in Super Lawyers®

A total of 47 Robinson+Cole attorneys were named to Super Lawyers® lists in the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island for 2020. In addition, 29 attorneys at the firm were recognized as “Rising Stars.”

Also, Bruce B. Barth was named to the Top 50: 2020 Connecticut Super Lawyers list and Linda L. Morkan appears on the Top 25: 2020 Women Connecticut Super Lawyers list.

The Super Lawyers designation is based on regional balloting by attorneys, third-party research, and a peer review process encompassing myriad practice areas. An explanation of the Super Lawyers methodology can be found here. Read more in the press release.

52 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized by Super Lawyers®

A total of 52 Robinson+Cole attorneys were named to Super Lawyers® lists in the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island for 2019. In addition, 32 attorneys at the firm were recognized as “Rising Stars.”

The following lawyers were named to the Top 50: 2019 Connecticut Super Lawyers list: Denis C. Cavanaugh, Gregory R. Faulkner, Linda L. Morkan, Todd R. Regan, and Jeffrey J. White. Linda also appears on the Top 25: 2019 Women Connecticut Super Lawyers list.

The Super Lawyers designation is based on regional balloting by attorneys, third-party research, and a peer review process encompassing myriad practice areas. An explanation of the Super Lawyers methodology can be found here. Read more in the press release.

Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized by Super Lawyers®

A total of 56 Robinson+Cole attorneys were named Super Lawyers® in the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island for 2017. The Super Lawyers® designation is based on regional balloting by attorneys, third-party research, and a peer review process encompassing myriad practice areas.

In addition, 29 attorneys at the firm were recognized as “Rising Stars.” An explanation of the Super Lawyers methodology can be found here.

See the list of included lawyers in the news release.

Steven Boyajian Named to Providence Business News’ “40 Under Forty”

Providence Business News (PBN) recognized bankruptcy lawyer Steven J. Boyajian as a “40 Under Forty” winner during the publication’s annual event on July 20, 2017 at the Aldrich Mansion in Warwick. PBN's 40 Under Forty recognizes and honors the region's brightest young leaders, innovators, and business professionals. This year’s recipients were chosen from nearly 200 applicants and selected based on career success and community involvement. Read more and view a photo in the press release.

Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized by Super Lawyers®

A total of 51 Robinson+Cole attorneys were named Super Lawyers® in the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island for 2016. The Super Lawyers® designation is based on regional balloting by attorneys, third-party research, and a peer review process encompassing myriad practice areas.

In addition, 23 attorneys at the firm were recognized as “Rising Stars.” An explanation of the Super Lawyers methodology can be found here.

See the list of included lawyers in the news release.

Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized by Super Lawyers®

A total of 54 Robinson+Cole attorneys were named Super Lawyers® in the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island for 2015. The Super Lawyers designation is based on regional balloting by attorneys, third-party research, and a peer review process encompassing myriad practice areas.
In addition, 21 attorneys at the firm were recognized as “Rising Stars.” Read an explanation of the Super Lawyers methodology here. See the list of included lawyers in the news release.

Robinson+Cole Elects New Partners and Counsel