Congratulations to Stacey Nakasian and Josh Celeste who were named Lawyer-of-the-Year in the practice area of Litigation – Trusts and Estates and Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law (respectively).
Additional shout-outs to the D&S partners — Bob Duffy, Mike Sweeney, Jean Harrington, Patrick Guida, Joelle Rocha — who were recognized by Best Lawyers in the Providence metro region.
Four attorneys were included in Best Lawyers’ Ones to Watch: Sam Eckel, Sophie Bellacosa, Andrew Blais and Michael Sandfort.
In total, firm attorneys were noted for twenty two (22) practice areas for 2025.
Best Lawyers awards are based on peer-review with a focus on legal expertise, but also ethics and professionalism of the highest caliber. The Lawyer of the Year designation is awarded to individual lawyers with the highest overall peer-feedback for a specific practice area and geographic region. Only one lawyer is recognized as the “Lawyer of the Year” for each specialty and location. Rankings capture the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues.
Our attorneys were recognized in the following practice areas:
Lawyers of The Year:
⭐Joshua L. Celeste for Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
⭐Stacey P. Nakasian for Litigation – Trusts and Estates
Best Lawyers:
⭐Joshua L. Celeste:
- Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
- Corporate Law
⭐Robert M. Duffy:
- Commercial Litigation
- Litigation – Health Care
- Litigation – Insurance
- Litigation – Intellectual Property
- Litigation – Mergers and Acquisitions
- Litigation – Securities
⭐Patrick A. Guida:
- Banking and Finance Law
- Commercial Finance Law
⭐Jean A. Harrington:
- Banking and Finance Law
- Corporate Law
- Information Technology Law
- Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Real Estate Law
- Securities / Capital Markets Law
⭐Stacey P. Nakasian:
- Commercial Litigation
- Litigation – Banking and Finance
- Litigation – Construction
- Litigation – Intellectual Property
- Litigation – Mergers and Acquisitions
- Litigation – Securities
- Litigation – Trusts and Estates
⭐Joelle Rocha:
- Commercial Litigation
- Land Use and Zoning Law
- Litigation – Construction
- Litigation – Land Use and Zoning
- Litigation – Real Estate
⭐Michael F. Sweeney:
- Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
- Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
- Corporate Law
- Mergers and Acquisitions
Ones to Watch:
⭐Sophie Bellacosa:
Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
⭐Andrew Blais:
- Commercial Litigation
- Construction Law
⭐Samuel Eckel:
- Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
- Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
- Corporate Law
- Mergers and Acquisitions Law
⭐Michael Sandfort:
- Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
- Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Congratulations to all those recognized for 2025.