We are excited to share that the RIBA will again be appointing a Young Lawyer Delegate (YLD) to the ABA for a two-year term starting in 2025. To be considered for this appointment, this Delegate must be an ABA member in good standing throughout their tenure as Delegate, and, according to §6.4(a) of the ABA’s Constitution, the Delegate must have been admitted to practice in their first bar within the past five years OR must be less than 36 years old at the beginning of the term. ABA Delegates also serve ex-officio on the Rhode Island Bar Association House of Delegates. ABA Delegates attend the annual and midyear meetings of the House of Delegates of the American Bar Association; it is the responsibility of the YLD to prepare a report of activities for publication in the RI Bar Journal.

If you are interested in being considered as the Rhode Island Bar Association's delegate to the American Bar Association, please send a letter of interest and curriculum vitae by Tuesday, September 2nd, to kbridge@ribar.com. The RIBA House of Delegates will vote to elect the Young Lawyer Delegate from among the applicants at the September meeting.

Thriving in the Legal Profession:
Overcoming Burnout, Fostering Well-Being, and Building a Sustainable Practice
Sponsored by Aon Affinity Services
2.0 FREE Ethics Credits 

Join nationally recognized speaker Heidi Alexander for a timely and impactful ethics program focused on the well-being of the legal profession. 

The legal profession is facing a well-being crisis, with lawyers reporting all-time high levels of burnout and many considering leaving the profession altogether. Mental health concerns and suicide rates among lawyers exceed those of the general population—posing serious ethical and professional risks. As the late Chief Justice Ralph Gants once noted, “The health of our legal system depends on the health of the legal profession.” This seminar explores both systemic and individual strategies for creating a healthier, more sustainable legal culture.

Choose your session:

Wednesday, September 10
2:30 – 4:30 pm 
Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet, Cranston
Includes finger foods and refreshments 

Thursday, September 11
5:30 – 7:30 pm 
Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet, Cranston
Includes dinner

Sold out! Friday, September 12
9:00 – 11:00 am | Virtual via Zoom

Learning Objectives:

• Understand current research on lawyer burnout, mental health, and substance use. 
• Recognize the impact of technology, constant connectivity, and availability pressures. 
• Learn practical strategies for boundary setting, stress management, and work-life integration. 
• Explore how civility, inclusion, and community building contribute to attorney well-being. 
• Review national and local efforts aimed at improving the legal workplace. 

Don’t miss this opportunity to invest in your well-being and professional growth! Register today.

This program is sponsored by Aon Affinity Insurance Services, Inc., administrators of the Aon Attorneys Advantage Program and proud partners of the Rhode Island Bar Association. To learn more about Aon's professional liability insurance program, please visit www.attorneys-advantage.com/RIBA or call 800-695-2970.

Now is the time to take an active role in the Rhode Island Bar Association’s work. Serving on a Bar Committee allows you to collaborate with colleagues who share your practice area or interests, exchange ideas, and engage in meaningful discussions. 

Committee enrollment closes in just two weeks, on Thursday, August 15th.

With 27 committees covering a wide range of topics, there’s a place for you. Committees focus on practice areas (e.g., Family Court, Criminal Law, Probate & Trust), service and leadership (e.g., New Lawyers, Public Service Involvement, Lawyers Helping Lawyers), and professional development (e.g., Continuing Legal Education, Annual Meeting Planning). See the full list and descriptions here.

Committee members plan CLE programs, collaborate with the Judiciary, and help shape resources for the legal profession. Many committees also invite guest speakers to share their expertise, giving you even more opportunities to learn and grow. Getting involved in a committee is often the first step toward leadership within the Bar.

The time commitment is minimal. Meetings are often held once a month, either virtually or in person, making it easy to participate. Getting involved is also a great way to take the first step toward future leadership within the Bar.

If you served on a committee during the 2024–2025 Bar year, you must renew your membership for 2025–2026. Log in to the new website, go to your My Dashboard, find the Bar Committees box, click the Bar Committee Renewal tab, and follow the link to update your selections.

If you are new to Bar Committees, log in or create an account, go to your My Dashboard, find the Bar Committees box, and click Join a Bar Committee to make your selections.

Have questions or need assistance? Contact Communications Coordinator NaKeisha Torres at ntorres@ribar.com. 

Pictured (l to r): Dana M. Horton, President-Elect, partner, Robinson & Cole LLP; Patrick A. Guida, President, partner, Duffy & Sweeney, LTD.; Holly R. Rao, Treasurer, senior partner, Olenn & Penza, LLP; and Kathleen Wyllie, Secretary, partner, Revens, Revens, St. Pierre & Wyllie.

Immediate Past President Christopher S. Gontarz officially handed over the Bar’s gavel to incoming President Patrick A. Guida, who expressed his gratitude for Chris’s thoughtful leadership and service to the legal community. The 2025–2026 term for the Rhode Island Bar Association’s new slate of officers begins today, July 1.

As President, Patrick Guida plans to prioritize strengthening the Bar’s Law Related Education programs and expanding initiatives that help young people understand the vital role of law in their daily lives. He is also dedicated to enhancing the Bar’s continuing legal education offerings, with an emphasis on practical skills seminars that support members in their day-to-day practice.

2025–2026 Executive Committee

These dedicated individuals are committed to serving the Rhode Island Bar Association and providing quality services and programing for our members. To learn more about our new officers, be on the lookout for the July/August Bar Journal which includes their profiles. 

Please click here to view House Bill H5070 relating to the increase in the service fees that sheriffs and constables can charge.

Please click here to view Superior Court Administrative Order 2025-02 issued by Presiding Justice Gibney outlining the Fourth and First Period assignments for June 29, 2025, through December 18, 2025.

We want to alert members to a recent phishing scam involving fraudulent emails that appear to come from Rhode Island Bar Association staff.

Several members have reported receiving emails that closely mimic official RIBA communications. These messages originate from a deceptive email address ending in “@ribar.com.virumail,” which is not associated with the Bar Association.

Please do not respond to these messages, click on any links, or share personal information.

The Bar Association does not use third-party services like “Virumail” for secure communications. All official staff emails follow the format: first initial, last name @ribar.com. We also do not issue special “ribar” email addresses to the President or other officers. Any communication that does not come from an officer’s verified work email should be treated with caution.

As always, we urge all members to remain vigilant, as scammers continue to develop increasingly sophisticated tactics.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

We’re excited to share the winners of this year’s Annual Meeting raffles!

Attendees who accepted Pro Bono cases or joined the Lawyer Referral Service were entered into a drawing for golf-themed prizes. Congratulations to the following winners:

• TopGolf Grand Prize Gift Bag – Elizabeth Peterson Santilli, Esq.

• Office Practice Putt Sets – William A. DiLibero, Esq.; Timothy J. Duggan, Esq.; and Stefanie DiMaio-Larivee, Esq.

This year, we also introduced our new Sponsor Showcase. Those who participated were entered to win additional prizes. Congratulations to:

• 2026 Annual Meeting Registration – Nelia M. DeStefano, Esq.

• RIBA Vest – Derrik L. Trombley, Esq.

• Lexis Nexis North Face Backpack – James D. Laing, Esq.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 2025 Annual Meeting. We hope you had a great experience and we look forward to seeing you next year on June 11–12, 2026!

We are grateful to all of our sponsors for their generous support of the upcoming 2025 Annual Meeting. Their involvement helps us bring new experiences to this year’s event, including the New Member Coffee Mixer and Headshot Event, designed to make the meeting even more engaging for attendees. 

We’re also excited to launch the Sponsor Showcase, a fun way to connect with our sponsors throughout the event. Visit each sponsor booth to collect signatures and enter to win great prizes, including complimentary registration to the 2026 Annual Meeting. 

We proudly thank the following sponsors for making it all possible: 

Platinum Sponsor: 
Aon Attorneys Advantage 

Gold Sponsors: 
CBIZ 
FasterOutcomes 
LexisNexis 
Secure Future Tech Solutions 

Silver Sponsors: 
Assembly Neos 
Messier, Massad, Burdick & Assoc, LLC 
RI Foundation 

Bronze Sponsors: 
ABA Retirement Funds 
Collaborative Divorce Strategies 
InReach CE 
Justice Assistance 
Morgan & Morgan 
RemiPBX 
Rhode Island Council on Problem Gambling 
Signal Solutions, Inc. 
USI Insurance Services 

We encourage all attendees to visit our sponsors while attending the Annual Meeting on June 12th and 13th and learn more about the organizations that help make this event a success. 

A quick reminder: online registration closes on Friday, June 6th, at 5:00 PM. After this deadline, you will need to register on-site at the walk-in desk. We strongly encourage early registration, as seating and meals cannot be guaranteed for late registrants. 

We look forward to seeing you soon!