June 23, 2009 Boston, June 23, 2009 – Robert Clark Corrente, the former U.S. attorney for Rhode Island who oversaw prosecution of federal criminal and civil cases and large-scale corruption and organized crime statewide for the past five years, will join Burns & Levinson LLP, a leading Boston-based law firm with offices in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Corrente, 52, who announced a week ago that he would be leaving his high-profile federal post, will join Burns & Levinson as a partner in its Providence, RI office on July 1.
“Bob is one of the most prominent attorneys in Rhode Island and we are thrilled to have him join our growing Rhode Island litigation practice,” said David Rosenblatt, managing partner for Burns & Levinson. “As a U.S. attorney he has earned a reputation as a fearless and diligent prosecutor and we know as a private practice attorney he will show these same attributes in the pursuit of our clients’ interests.”
Partners in the Providence office say that Corrente’s experience will help expand its practice offerings.
“His addition gives us the ability to better serve the Rhode Island business community and will enable us to establish a niche in the white collar crime area that is somewhat unique to a full service law firm,” said Sean Coffey, partner in the Rhode Island office and member of the firm’s executive committee. “We are very pleased to have such a top-flight attorney join our team.”
Corrente said he is excited to be joining Burns & Levinson, a firm he views as complementing his longtime experience. “Burns & Levinson has a very strong presence in the Boston market, and they have established a solid foothold in Providence,” he noted. “Their litigation department is deep and well-balanced, and provides an excellent platform for my practice in the areas of business litigation, white-collar defense, and internal and government investigations. I’m looking forward to helping them grow the Providence office and the firm as a whole.”
Before joining Burns & Levinson, Corrente served for five years as the United States Attorney for the District of Rhode Island, the office responsible for prosecuting all federal criminal and civil cases in the state. During his tenure, the office undertook a large public corruption investigation that resulted in the conviction of several state lawmakers and the CEO of a local hospital, and Deferred Prosecution Agreements with the hospital and a major health insurer, which paid a penalty of $20 million. Among other highlights, the office also investigated and prosecuted a number of complex fraudulent white-collar and health care schemes, and convicted a large national utility in a lengthy Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) trial.
Corrente also expanded the coordination and training elements of the District’s Anti-Terrorism Advisory, and established the nation’s first Transportation Security Working Group which brought together law enforcement and industry partners to enhance security on trains and other modes of mass transit.
Corrente has more than 25 years of trial experience in business and commercial litigation in both the federal and state courts and is no stranger to private practice. He began his legal career in 1981 and eventually founded the Providence firm of Corrente, Brill & Kusinitz, where he served as managing partner. In 1998 he became a partner in the litigation department at Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP also in Providence, where he practiced until he became United States attorney.
In 1997 Corrente was appointed to the Rhode Island Supreme Court’s Ethics Advisory Panel and was named its chairman in 2002. He also chaired the Rhode Island Judicial Nominating Commission from1998 to 2000. In addition, he is listed in The Best Lawyers in America, Chambers USA and New England Super Lawyers directories for litigation. He is a member of the bar in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
Corrente graduated from Dartmouth College, with highest distinction, in 1978, and earned his J.D. from New York University School of Law in 1981.
About Burns & Levinson LLP
Burns & Levinson, with over 120 attorneys in four offices in New England, is a full-service Boston-based law firm. The firm has grown steadily and strategically throughout the years and has become a premier law firm with regional, national and international clientele. The firm has expertise in corporate law, finance, venture capital, private equity, tax, bankruptcy, lending and leasing, real estate, business litigation, government investigations and white collar crime defense, intellectual property - including patent law, and a large private client group – including estate planning, probate and trust litigation, divorce and other family law issues. In addition, the firm has a wholly-owned subsidiary office in Montreal, Quebec, to service its Canadian clients. For more information, visit Burns & Levinson at www.burnslev.com .
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