Stephen Lapatin is a litigator who represents businesses and individuals in high-stakes litigation in state and federal courts. Stephen’s practice focuses on matters involving complex commercial and business litigation, employment disputes, tort claims, trusts & estates litigation, and appeals.
Before joining AP&S, Stephen served as a law clerk to Justice Maureen McKenna Goldberg of the Rhode Island Supreme Court. During law school, he interned for Justice Francis X. Flaherty of the Rhode Island Supreme Court and Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., of the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island. He also served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Roger Williams University Law Review.
Stephen also has experience in government relations. He previously served as the Legislative Liaison for the Providence City Council where he worked closely with the Rhode Island General Assembly and the Office of the Governor to spearhead the City Council’s legislative agenda at the state level.
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 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.
- Prevailed on a Motion to Dismiss in the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island in a case involving claims for unpaid wages under the Rhode Island Wage Act, breach of contract, unjust enrichment, and quantum meruit.
- Successfully represented a commercial fishing company in a breach of contract action in the Massachusetts Superior Court, where he prevailed on all claims and navigated post-judgment proceedings to identify and attach the defendant’s assets and secure payment for the judgment.
- Assisted in drafting a white paper to the Rhode Island House of Representatives regarding proposed legislation that sought to extend shoreline property rights beyond constitutional limits resulting in an uncompensated taking in violation of the Fifth Amendment.
- 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. d/b/a Twin River, C.A. No. 19-634-JJM-PAS (D.R.I. Oct. 6, 2021).
- Assisted in securing a favorable ruling on a discovery motion involving a matter of first impression in Rhode Island Superior Court. NIR Retail, LLC v. BR Asset Management, LLC, C.A. No. PC-2017-5819 (R.I. Super Court. Oct. 22, 2021).
- Assisted in obtaining a reversal of a district court ruling involving the legislative privilege on behalf of the Governor of the State of Rhode Island and the Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives in the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
- 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.
- Successfully defended a client in a trusts & estates matter involving a will contest in probate court.
- Author, “Rhode Island’s Prescription Drug Database: Warrantless Access by Law Enforcement Pass Constitutional Muster,” 23 Roger Williams U. L. Rev. 526 (2018).
- Editor-in-Chief, Roger Williams University Law Review
- Recipient of the William J. Coffey Excellence in Maritime Writing Prize – 2019
- Awarded “Best Brief” in the 26th Annual Judge John R. Brown Admiralty Moot Court Competition
- Chair, Roger Williams University School of Law Honor Board (2017-18)
- Public Service Award, Roger Williams University School of Law
- Member, Rhode Island Bar Association
- Member, Massachusetts Bar Association
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
