Lawyer of Year, Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch for 2026

Congratulations to all Stevens & Lee New England Team members listed in the 2026 edition of Best Lawyers. Recognitions are based on peer review with a focus on legal expertise, but also ethics and professionalism of the highest caliber. 

Jean Harrington was distinguished as a 2026 “Lawyer of the Year” in Providence, RI, in the practice area of Securities/Capital Markets Law by Best Lawyers.

Additional team members recognized in the Providence metro region include Bob Duffy, Mike Sweeney, Stacey Nakasian and Josh Celeste. 

Three attorneys were also named among the “Ones to Watch:” Sophie Bellacosa, Andrew Blais and Sam Eckel

In total, firm attorneys were noted for 19 different practice areas for 2025, including:

Lawyers of the Year

Jean Harrington

  • Securities / Capital Markets Law

Best Lawyers

Joshua L. Celeste

  • Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
  • Corporate Law

Robert M. Duffy

  • Commercial Litigation
  • Litigation – Health Care
  • Litigation – Insurance
  • Litigation – Intellectual Property
  • Litigation – Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Litigation – Securities

Jean A. Harrington

  • Banking and Finance Law
  • Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
  • Corporate Law
  • Information Technology Law
  • Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Real Estate Law
  • Securities / Capital Markets Law

Stacey P. Nakasian

  • Commercial Litigation
  • Litigation – Banking and Finance
  • Litigation – Construction
  • Litigation – Intellectual Property
  • Litigation – Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Litigation – Securities
  • Litigation – Trusts and Estates

Michael F. Sweeney

  • Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
  • Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
  • Corporate Law
  • Mergers and Acquisitions

Ones to Watch

Sophie Bellacosa

  • Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
  • Corporate Law
  • Mergers and Acquisitions Law

Andrew Blais

  • Commercial Litigation
  • Construction Law
  • Land Use and Zoning Law

Samuel  Eckel

  • Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
  • Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
  • Corporate Law
  • Mergers and Acquisitions Law

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“The attorneys at Duffy & Sweeney are intelligent, honorable, and reliable and have a deep understanding of the client’s situation. They work for the good of the client giving a genuine assessment of the matter at hand.”
- Marylu Nadeau, Nadeau and Associates CPAs
“We will ONLY litigate with Duffy & Sweeney. They listen and push back on us to make sure we truly understand the likely outcomes before we spend a lot of time, energy and money. They ALWAYS out-prepare the competition and it’s not even close.“
- Matt Sluter, New England Construction
“Bob Duffy and his team are the premier trusts and estates litigators in Rhode Island. As an estate planning, and trust and estate administration attorney, the first place I turn for trust and estate litigation is Duffy & Sweeney.”
- John Harpootian, Paster & Harpootian, Ltd.
"Well-regarded corporate law department providing clients with advice and representation in a diverse array of transactions including M&A and the renegotiation of sales agreements."
- Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business
"Displays expertise in capital markets transactions and debt financing. Also deals with employee and shareholder issues and has considerable strength in IP licensing."
- Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business
"Consilium Partners has been fortunate to work with Duffy & Sweeney on multiple successful M&A transactions over the past 10 years..."
- Greg Sneddon
"Satisfied clients praise the firm’s approach to client service saying 'They are one of the easiest to communicate with, they stay in touch with you during the process. Their client service is tops – they’re the best of the bunch.'"
- Anonymous client comment in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business
"This well-respected Providence firm acts for clients in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, but also provides advice extending to national and cross-border clients.'"
- Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business
One impressed client notes: "They are one of the top law firms in this marketplace and everyone there is dedicated to ensuring that the client's needs are always met or exceeded."
- Chambers USA: America’s Leading Guide for Business
Clients appreciate the team's "attention to detail" and praise its performance in negotiations: "They play well with others and are highly organized."
- Chambers USA: America’s Leading Guide for Business
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