Areas of Practice

Photo by David Potvin Photography

Appellate Litigation

Whelan Corrente’s Appellate Litigation team is one of the premier appellate practices in the state.

The practice is led by Robert G. Flanders, Jr., a former Justice on the Rhode Island Supreme Court, and an experienced appellate litigator, who is admitted to the bars of the United States Supreme Court, the First Circuit Federal Court of Appeals, and the Rhode Island Supreme Court, among other bar memberships.  He served for eight years as a Rhode Island Supreme Court justice, writing over 400 opinions and serving with three of the five justices on the present Court.  He has unparalleled knowledge of how the Court actually functions, both as an appellate lawyer and as a judge sitting on that Court for eight years.

Employment Litigation

We handle all aspects of employment litigation, from executive compensation disputes, defense of whistleblower actions, and enforcement of restrictive covenants, to wage and hour class actions and everything in between. We routinely litigate claims in all areas of employment law in both federal and state agencies and in federal and state court. We regularly handle matters pending at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the United States Department of Labor, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, various state departments of labor, and numerous state administrative agencies, including the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination and the Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights.

Employment Law

We have extensive experience in all areas of employment law, from the application stage through termination. This includes day to day advice on compliance with wage and hour laws, anti-discrimination statutes, affirmative action requirements, and all other workplace statutes and regulations. We routinely provide counsel and advice related to personnel policies, sexual harassment, employee terminations and large scale reductions in force, non-compete and confidentiality agreements, Family and Medical Leave Act, electronic communication policies, including social media policies, discrimination laws, privacy laws, corporate raiding, and independent contractor issues. We have extensive experience in preparing employee handbooks, executive employment contracts, severance agreements, and all types of employment related forms and notices.

Education Law

We provide legal counsel and advice in all areas of school law, including regulatory compliance, administrative proceedings, policy review and drafting, and student legal issues.

David Potvin Photography

Labor Law

We also represent employers in all aspects of labor law. We regularly represent employers in collective bargaining negotiations with all major trade unions and in labor arbitrations. We routinely appear before the NLRB and the state labor boards. We frequently counsel clients concerning the implementation and administration of labor-related policies and practices.

Business Litigation

We also handle business and health care litigation matters. We have a proven record of success in the courtroom and appear regularly in state and federal courts and before administrative bodies locally and across the country. We know how to prepare cases efficiently and effectively. We also have the experience to resolve disputes advantageously for our clients outside the courtroom through arbitration, mediation and other alternative dispute mechanisms.

Business and Corporate Tax

We guide clients through the many complex legal and business issues that can impact their assets and provide practical and effective business law solutions and tax advice and legacy management to individuals, financial institutions, and private businesses.

Trusts and Estates

Estate Planning is the implementation of legal advice and documentation to have one’s property and affairs properly in order in the event of death or disability. While the concept has been around for hundreds of years, more recently, Estate Planning has become increasingly more complex and burdensome due to the changes in tax law rules and the need to address complex multistate planning issues. Without question, having an estate plan is like having peace of mind.