As a trial lawyer for three decades, Bob has handled hundreds of commercial and intellectual property cases across the country, many through trial and appeal.

He has served as lead trial counsel for clients in intellectual property, maritime, broker dealer, ERP, trade secret, technology and contract litigation in numerous states including Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, California, Texas and Florida.

He has represented clients as lead counsel in matters of corporate governance and fiduciary disputes,  life insurance coverage and settlement litigation, merger-and-acquisition litigation and beyond.

Recent matters include:

• After an 11-day trial in Superior Court, Robert Duffy successfully defended trustees against fiduciary claims and obtained an award of both executor and trustee compensation.
•  After a 9-day arbitration, Robert Duffy successfully defended a boat manufacturer against claims of fraud, defect and product liability arising out of the manufacture of 3 large passenger ferries.
• Robert Duffy successfully prosecuted to settlement, on the eve of trial, claims on behalf of its technology client arising out of a failed SAP global ERP implementation.

Bob continues to be recognized by numerous lawyer-ranking and other rating organizations. He is consistently included as a Best Lawyer in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation, Insurance Litigation, Intellectual Property, M&A Litigation and Securities Litigation. He was recognized by Best Lawyers as the sole 2019 “Lawyer of the Year” for Intellectual Property Litigation in the Providence metro region.  

He has consistently been named a Super Lawyer and was also included in the Super Lawyers’ Top Ten List for Rhode Island. He continues to be recognized annually by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Guide for Business for Commercial Litigation. He was selected by the National Trial Lawyers Association as a “Top 100” trial lawyer and has been named a Litigation Star for Benchmark Litigation and an IP Star by Managing Intellectual Property magazine.

He was selected by the National Trial Lawyers Association as a “Top 100” trial lawyer. He continues to be included as a Litigation Star in Benchmark Litigation and as an IP Star by Managing Intellectual Property magazine.

“Robert Duffy has an excellent reputation in the market for his practice in complex business litigation, which focuses particularly on IP matters. He specializes in cases involving ERP software. He also frequently advises clients on product liability and fiduciary duty disputes. Market commentators describe him as “unflappable” and “nimble in court,” as well as highlighting his “complete grasp of facts and strategies.” (Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business)

“I consider Bob Duffy to be the best commercial litigator in Rhode Island. I’ve seen him go toe-to-toe with the biggest and most reputable firms in the country, and consistently outmaneuver and outperform them across the board. It’s not just his combination of toughness, experience and knowledge of the law and our business, but also the strategic thinking that makes him the right choice for our lead trial attorney in nearly any case.” (Client comment from Best Law Firms.)

“Bob Duffy is one the best businessmen I know, and he brings that perspective to his role as an attorney. He understands value and is relentlessly focused on delivering it. I trust Bob and his team to act in the best interest of my company, which is why I will use them again and again.” (Client comment from Best Lawyers.)

Professional & Community Involvement

Our Lady of Mercy Parish, Co-Trustee 

Rhode Island Bar Foundation, Member

Providence College School of Business, Adjunct Professor

Amos House, Former Chair of the Board

“Service Charge Added to Trustees’ Indemnification” was the title of the April 2018 article in Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly — featuring Stacey Nakasian and Robert Duffy — that addressed a Court decision approving payment of interest by a trust on legal fees incurred by the trustees. More here.

Common Law Application of the Philosophy of Property: Where the Rubber Meets the Road (German-American Philosophical Colloquium 2012) See presentation here.

Advising Victims of Securities Fraud (Rhode Island Bar Association, May 2009)

The Law of the Internet in Rhode Island (National Business Institute 2001)

Internet Basics for the Rhode Island Attorney (National Business Institute 1999)

Education

J.D., Suffolk University Law School (cum laude)
B.A., Providence College (cum laude)

Bar and Court Admissions

Massachusetts (1988)
Rhode Island (1990)
United States District Court, District of Massachusetts (1989)
United States District Court, District of Rhode Island (1991)
United States Court of Appeals, First Circuit (1990)
United States Tax Court (2000)