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One Citizens Plaza, 8th Floor
Providence RI 02903-1345
TEL: 401.274.7200
FAX: 401.751.0604
Practice Areas
Clerkships
  • Judicial law clerk to Judge Joseph J. Longobardi, Jr. of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware
Education
  • American University, Washington College of Law (J.D., summa cum laude, 1988)
  • Cornell University (B.A., 1981)
Bar & Court Admissions
  • Rhode Island
  • Massachusetts
  • United States District Court,District of Connecticut
  • United States Courts of Appeals for the First, Fourth, Fifth, and District of Columbia Circuits
  • United States Supreme Court

Joseph Avanzato has achieved notable success for his commercial litigation, bankruptcy/creditors’ rights, healthcare and technology clients—and recognition by his peers and legal organizations for top performance—by working to understand clients’ underlying business issues and goals, and then tailoring innovative solutions to their complex problems.

His client-focused approach also extends to numerous Asian clients, helping guide them through the American legal system.  Having worked in Japan and other Asian countries for four years, Joseph is attuned to cross-cultural issues and conversant in Japanese.

The veteran trial and appellate litigator has successfully handled multimillion dollar cases for governmental agencies, financial institutions and varied businesses in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and federal courts.  He was formerly associated with the Washington, D.C., office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher and previously served as a judicial law clerk to Judge Joseph J. Longobardi, Jr. of the U.S. District Court in Delaware.

Significant Matters

  • He helped the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation (RIEDC) recover a significant amount on a defaulted $28 million commercial loan to a bio-medical start-up company.  After the borrower commenced court proceedings in Massachusetts, Joseph instituted a receivership proceeding against the debtor in Rhode Island, where laws did not include preferential transfer provisions. Thanks to that move and vigorous representation, the debtor’s assets were liquidated at a reasonable price and a substantial amount paid toward the RIEDC’s claim.
  • For the trustee of a failed mortgage and loan company, Joseph successfully handled a number of litigation matters involving fraud by one of the company’s principals, breach of fiduciary duty and constructive trust, resulting in a $2 million judgment for the trustee.
  • When a shipyard corporation defaulted on a $1 million loan from the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation (RIEDC), he was able to marshal the debtor’s assets to maximize the payment to the RIEDC, a second-priority secured creditor.  He successfully argued to the bankruptcy court that regardless of the order in which collateral was liquidated, the RIEDC, rather than unsecured creditors, should receive the proceeds.

Honors & Distinctions

  • Selected by his peers for inclusion in the 2007 - 2010 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® in the field of Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights.
  • Selected as Rhode Island SuperLawyer, 2007 - 2009, an honor that recognizes him as a leader in the legal community.
  • AV rating by Martindale-Hubbell, highest rating given to attorneys.
  • Served as judicial law clerk to Judge Joseph J. Longobardi, Jr. of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware.
  • Summa cum laude graduate and valedictorian, American University, Washington College of Law.

Professional Affiliations

  • Member, Japan-America Society of Rhode Island.

News

Publications & Seminars

  • Speaker at Seminar on "E-Commerce in Rhode Island – Legal & Business Issues."
  • Speaker at Seminar on "Law of the Internet in Rhode Island."
  • Served as executive editor, American  University Law Review.
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