Stephen D. Lapatin is a litigator who represents clients in Rhode Island and Massachusetts state and federal courts. His practice includes complex commercial and business litigation, employment disputes, intellectual property litigation, real property disputes, white-collar criminal defense, and tort actions involving products liability and negligence claims. Stephen provides advice and counsel to clients at all stages of litigation specifically tailored to their business, goals, and interests.
As a member of the firm’s government relations group, Stephen also represents businesses and associations in various industries—primarily retail, health care, and financial services—before the Rhode Island General Assembly, and advocates on their behalf to protect their business interests and achieve their legislative goals.
Before joining AP&S, Stephen served as a law clerk to Justice Maureen McKenna Goldberg of the Rhode Island Supreme Court. He is a summa cum laude graduate of Roger Williams University School of Law, where he served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review, and former student-athlete at the University of Rhode Island.
Education
- Roger Williams University School of Law (J.D., summa cum laude, 2019)
- University of Rhode Island (B.A., 2015)
Admissions
- Rhode Island
- Massachusetts
- U.S. District Court, District of Rhode Island
- U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts
- Successfully represented the Governor of the State of Rhode Island as second chair at trial in a case involving constitutional challenges under the First Amendment, achieving dismissal of all claims following a bench trial in the Rhode Island Superior Court. Doe v. McKee, PC-2022-06877 (R.I. Super. Ct. Jan. 4, 2023).
- Successfully briefed a Motion to Dismiss in a case brought in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, achieving a dismissal of claims under the Rhode Island Minimum Wage Act, breach of contract, unjust enrichment, and quantum meruit.
- Initiated post-judgment proceedings in the Superior Court of Massachusetts in a breach of contract case brought by a commercial fishing company against a commercial fishing broker, and successfully identified and attached the defendant’s assets through post-judgment discovery, securing payment of the judgment.
- Assisted in obtaining summary judgment on behalf of Twin River Casino in an employment action brought in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island. Sankey v. UTGR, Inc., C.A. No. 19-634-JJM-PAS (D.R.I. Oct. 6, 2021).
- Assisted in securing a favorable ruling in the Rhode Island Superior Court on a discovery motion involving a matter of first impression. NIR Retail, LLC v. BR Asset Management, LLC, C.A. No. PC-2017-5819 (R.I. Super Court. Oct. 22, 2021).
- Assisted in advising waterfront property owners about the constitutionality of proposed legislation involving coastal property rights in Rhode Island and its impact on the relationship between public and private waterfront property use.
- Author, “Rhode Island’s Prescription Drug Database: Warrantless Access by Law Enforcement Pass Constitutional Muster,” 23 Roger Williams U. L. Rev. 526 (2018).
- Named a Rhode Island Rising Star by Super Lawyers, 2023.
- Recipient of the William J. Coffey Excellence in Maritime Writing Award – 2019
- Awarded “Best Brief” in the 26th Annual Judge John R. Brown Admiralty Moot Court Competition
- Public Service Award, Roger Williams University School of Law
- Member, Rhode Island Bar Association
- Member, Massachusetts Bar Association
Return of the Gatekeepers: Amendments to Rule 702 Clarify the Standard of Admissibility for Expert Witness Testimony
A Recent Rhode Island Supreme Court Decision Provides Important Guidance on Choice-of-Law Provisions in Commercial Contracts
Give and Take: How the U.S. Supreme Court’s Ruling in Cedar Point Nursery v. Hassid May Impact Rhode Islanders Who Own Property Abutting Public Lands
