ATTORNEYS - Joshua L. Celeste

Practice Areas
Joshua Celeste is a partner in the firm with a broad-based corporate law practice. He is known for his numerous business transactions that fortify his clients’ businesses and position them to prosper. He often works with corporate clients on high-stakes acquisitions, dispositions, and mergers; complex restructurings and recapitalizations; and diverse governance issues. He has handled significant real estate development matters in conjunction with his corporate practice including property acquisitions; project development and construction; and leasing and financing.

Work for Clients
Josh has counseled a variety of forward-thinking companies ranging from local, start-up private entities to national, publicly traded companies. He has handled offerings and placements of debt and equity securities, equity investments and acquisitions ranging in value from $10 to $100 million, venture capital financings ranging in value from $500,000 to $10 million, and revolving credit and term loan facilities ranging in size from $1 to $50 million.

Specifically, Josh has effectively represented clients in the following transactions:

• The acquisition of a 450,000 square-foot manufacturing facility in connection with a sale/leaseback transaction.
• The refinancing of a hotel portfolio comprised of twelve (12) hotels by a real estate private equity fund.
• The merger and consolidation of two significant Southeastern New England waste transportation and recycling businesses that doubled in size, revenue and market share.
• The successful capitalization of a Rhode Island start-up company in the bio-technology sector through both angel and venture capital financing that allowed the company to successfully commercialize its technology on a national scale.

Professional Activities
Josh is member of the Board of Directors for the March of Dimes, Rhode Island Chapter, whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. He recently led a firm-sponsored team from Duffy & Sweeney for the Walk for Babies.

In addition, he was one of the event chairs for the RISE Cinco de Mayo Fiesta which raised over $9,000 for the organization which provides scholarship and mentoring to children of currently and formerly incarcerated parents. He is also a new member of the Jewelry District Association.

Education
University of Rhode Island (B.S. 1997 with distinction); Roger Williams University School of Law (J.D. 2000)

Bar Admissions and Associations
Rhode Island (2000); Federal District Court, RI (2001); Rhode Island Bar Association; American Bar Association.

jceleste@duffysweeney.com