Robert G. Flanders, Jr.

Robert G. Flanders, Jr.

Partner

Bob is a former Associate Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court, where he served for eight years and authored over 400 opinions before returning to private law practice. In 2018, the Rhode Island Republican Party endorsed and nominated Bob to be its candidate for election to the United States Senate, during which he garnered more votes than any other Republican candidate for a statewide office. In 2011-2012, the State appointed him as the Receiver for Central Falls, which he then led through a first-ever municipal bankruptcy and restructuring of the City’s finances, thereby eliminating a $6 million operating deficit and providing the City with a 5-year consensual recovery plan.

A former chairman of RI’s Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education (2007-11), and a former Barrington Town Councilman (1982-86), Bob’s practice focuses on high-stakes, problem-solving engagements across a broad range of dispute and transactional areas for individuals, businesses, and employers, including shareholder and partnership disputes, real estate and construction litigation, the defense of employee and consumer finance class actions, insurance coverage matters, mergers and acquisitions, health care issues, complex litigation, government investigations, municipal restructuring, and arbitration matters. He is also a AAA certified arbitrator and mediator for commercial disputes.

During his college years at Brown, he was a student–athlete who was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, captained the baseball team, quarterbacked the football team, and set the Brown, Ivy League, and Yale Bowl records for the longest run from scrimmage. Drafted by the Detroit Tigers during his senior year at Brown, Bob played professional baseball for that organization during the summer months while he was a student at Harvard Law School.

EDUCATION

  • Harvard Law School, J.D.
  • Brown University, A.B., magna cum laude Phi Beta Kappa 

BAR MEMBERSHIPS

  • United States Supreme Court
  • Rhode Island
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for The First and Second Circuits
  • Massachusetts
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
  • New York
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern & Eastern Districts of New York

WORK EXPERIENCE

  • WHELAN, CORRENTE & FLANDERS, LLP
    Partner (2016 – Present)
  • HINCKLEY ALLEN
    Partner (2004 – 2016) (Litigation Practice Group Chair 2009 – 2014)
  • CITY OF CENTRAL FALLS, RHODE ISLAND
    Receiver (2011 – 2012)
  • ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL
    Distinguished Visiting Professor (Constitutional Law) (2004 – 2006)
  • BROWN UNIVERSITY
    Adjunct Professor (Constitutional Law) (2006 – 2010)
  • RHODE ISLAND SUPREME COURT
    Associate Justice (1996 – 2004)
  • FLANDERS & MEDEIROS
    Founding Partner (1987 – 1996)
  • EDWARDS & ANGELL
    Partner (1975 – 1987) (Litigation Department Chair)
  • PAUL WEISS RIFKIND WHARTON & GARRISON
    Associate (1974 – 1975)

SPECIAL HONORS

  • Recognized in the 2023 and 2024 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® for his high caliber work in Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Banking and Finance, Litigation – First Amendment, Litigation – Real Estate and Litigation – Securities.
  • 2022 Best Lawyers “Recognized for Excellence” in the following areas:
    • Bet-the-Company Litigation
    • Commercial Litigation
    • Litigation – Banking and Finance
    • Litigation – First Amendment
    • Litigation – Real Estate
    • Litigation – Securities
  • 2020 Super Lawyers in Banking and Finance
  • 2020 Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” award recipient for Banking and Finance
  • Anthony A. Giannini Award for Professionalism (2004) (R.I. Trial Lawyer Association)
  • Mr. Flanders has been recognized by Martindale-Hubbell with its highest rating of “AV”
  • Woodward/White Inc.’s Best Lawyers in America
  • 2019 Super Lawyers Top Attorney in Business Litigation
  • 2019 “Lawyer of the Year” award recipient for “Bet the Company Litigator in Providence”
  • Named Best Lawyers in America® 2016 “Lawyer of the Year” for Banking and Finance Litigation; 2014 for Litigation – First Amendment, 2013 Litigation – Real Estate and 2012 Litigation – First Amendment
  • Listed in 2016 for Commercial Litigation, Banking and Finance Litigation, First Amendment Litigation, Real Estate Litigation and Securities Litigation
  • 2014 Peter Perlman Service Award
  • Litigation Council of America, Elected Fellow (2013 – 2022); Elected Senior Fellow (2022 – Present)
  • Operation Clean Government – Golden Broom Award (2004)
  • Public Service Award – Rhode Island Common Cause (2004)
  • Listed in 2014 and 2012 Providence Litigation – First Amendment “Lawyer of the Year”
  • Listed in 2013 Providence Litigation – Real Estate “Lawyer of the Year”
  • Currently listed in Chambers USA America’s Leading Lawyers for the category of Litigation: General Commercial (Band 1)
  • Martindale Hubbell Peer Review Rating – AV Preeminent® 2014 (for Litigation)

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

  • Co-Author, Rhode Island Civil and Appellate Procedure (2022-2023 edition), the Rules of Civil Procedure with Commentaries (Thomson Reuters)
  • American Law Institute, Elected Member (1999 – Present)
  • Rhode Island Bar Foundation Board Member (1994 – Present)
  • Rhode Island Commodores (1994 – Present)
  • Superior Court Bench/Bar Committee
  • Member of committee to review and revise Superior Court Rules of Civil Procedure (2004 – 2011)
  • Member of the Working Group Subcommittee, on Civil Procedure Rules (1991 – 1995)
  • Chairman and member of the Standing Advisory Subcommittee on the Rules of Civil Procedure (1982 – 1986)
  • Rhode Island Supreme Court’s User-Friendly Courts Committee (1997 – 2004), Chairman
  • Rhode Island Supreme Court Continuing Legal Education Committee (1996 – 2004), Chairman
  • Federal Court Bench/Bar Subcommittee to Revise the Local Rules of the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island (1983 – 1984), Past Chairman
  • Federal Court Rules of Civil Procedure for the Federal Bar Exam (1983 – 1995), Instructor and Bar Examiner
  • Chairman, Board of Federal Bar Examiners for the District of Rhode Island (1993 – 1996)
  • American Bar Association, Judicial Division and ABA Sections on Antitrust, Litigation, Business and Banking Laws, Patents & Trademarks, Tort and Insurance, and Governmental Law Federal Bar Association
  • National Trial Lawyers
  • Rhode Island Bar Association
  • House of Delegates (1996 – 1998)
  • Rhode Island Law Practice, Roger Williams School (1996 – 1997), Instructor
  • Member, Trial Law Institute
  • Member, Diversity Law Institute
  • Barrister, Order of Centurions
  • Advocate, Order of Certus

CHARITABLE AND CIVIC INVOLVEMENT

  • Co-Author, A Practical Guide to Land Use Law in Rhode Island MCLE New England, 2017
  • Greater Providence YMCA Trustee (2004 – 2016); Chairman of the Board of Trustees (2009 – 2011); Chairman of the Board (2000 – 2003)
  • Care New England, Director (2004 – 2017); Chair, Governance and Nominating Committee (2011 – 2017)
  • Providence Public Library Foundation, Trustee (2012 – 2016)
  • Research Engineering and Manufacturing, Inc. and Conti Fasteners A.G. Director (1990 – Present)
  • Professional Facilities Management, Inc., Director and Chairman of the Board (2022 – Present)
  • Brown University Football Association Board of Directors (2010 – Present)
  • Brown University Leadership Advisory Committee, Member (2003 – 2015)
  • Providence Performing Arts Center, Director and Member of Finance Committee (1996 – 2015)
  • Brown University Committee on Diversity (2010 – 2014)
  • Rhode Island Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education, Chairman (2007 – 2011)
  • Women & Infants Hospital, Trustee (1996 – 2017); Vice Chairman (2003 – 2011)
  • Brown Club of Rhode Island, co-chair of Athletic Facilities Subcommittee (2004 – 2008)
  • Brown Corporation Committee on Athletics (2001 – 2003); President (1986 – 1987); Board Member (1978 – 1987)
  • Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium Foundation, Director (1997 – Present); President and Chairman (2007 – 2010)
  • University of Rhode Island Commission for Research and Innovation, Chairman (2007)
  • Chairman, SHAPE II Subject Matter Expert Committee on the Future of Health Care Facilities in Rhode Island (2004 – 2006)
  • Brown Sports Foundation, Director (2000 – 2003)
  • Brown Humanities Institute, Fellow (1995 – 2003)
  • Brown Alumni Association, former Secretary and Board Member (elected by Alumni)
  • Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless, founding Board Member and legal counsel (1987 – 1990)
  • Elected Town Councilman (1982 – 1986) and Vice President (1984 – 1986) of the Barrington Town Council
  • Town Solicitor, Glocester, Rhode Island (1978 – 1990)
Litigation Counsel of America - Senior Fellow
Robert G Flanders Jr Top Ranked Chambers 2022