Thomas J. Liguori, Jr.

Thomas J. Liguori, Jr. came to the law firm in the summer of 1975 as an intern under founder Natale L. Urso while a law student at Catholic University. Following completion of law school in December 1976 and admission to the Rhode Island Bar in May 1977, he became immersed in the firm's representation of National Education Association Rhode Island and other labor unions, representing public and private sector employees; appearing before school committees; interest and grievance arbitration; the Commissioner and Board of Regents for Education; the National and Rhode Island Labor Relations Board; Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights; the Rhode Island District, Superior and Supreme Courts.

In federal court, he assisted in the trial and successful appeal invalidating the termination of two Providence teachers in Corrigan v. Donilon, 639 F.2d 834 (1st Cir. 1981). He was co-counsel with M. Linda Urso of the firm in Belcher v. Mansi, 569 F. Supp. 379 (D. RI 1983) establishing the right of citizens to record public meetings.

Early in his career, Mr. Liguori also served as Probate Judge for the Town of Hopkinton. He later served multiple terms as Town Solicitor for the Town of Hopkinton. Mr. Liguori was Hopkinton Town Solicitor in the period of 1990 to 1996, during which it adopted its Comprehensive Plan and a new Zoning Ordinance.

He was on the brief and/or argued over 40 cases before the Rhode Island Supreme Court from his admission in 1977 through 1997.

Commencing in 1997 through 2023, while remaining of counsel to the firm, he was house counsel and Treasurer of the Cherenzia Companies, construction, land development and civil engineering entities.

He also completed state and local permitting for additional elements to Weekapaug Inn, which is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. The new elements are intended to allow the Inn to operate beyond its traditional summer season by creating a "meetinghouse" to attract corporate retreats. In the process, covenants, conditions and restrictions were successfully negotiated with neighbor groups and Weekapaug Fire District.

With decades of experience, Mr. Liguori is a frequent author and lecturer on Land Use, Environmental and Municipal Law, including most recently:

Land Use Law, Current Issues in Subdivision and Zoning, National Business Institute, 2019

Commercial Land Use and Zoning Law, National Business Institute, 2018

Mr. Liguori is also a former Member of the Westerly Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee and past Chairman of the Westerly Zoning Ordinance Review Committee.

Mr. Liguori is admitted in the State Courts of Rhode Island, the U.S. District Court, District of Rhode Island and the U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit.

Mr. Liguori has a deep commitment to his community. He was a founder of the Westerly Education Endowment Fund and remains as an advisory member of its Board. He served as a court-appointed community representative on the Westerly Hospital Area Residents' Committee in the receivership of the Westerly Hospital. Following the receivership, he served as a member of the board of LMW Healthcare, Inc., which acquired Westerly Hospital and continued to serve after its acquisition by Yale New Haven Health Services Corporation until term limited.  He is currently a member of the Presidents' Council of Mystic Aquarium and secretary and a member of the Board of the United Theatre.

In addition to United Theatre he has served as pro bono legal counsel to numerous charitable and religious organizations, including: Ocean Community YMCA, for which he received the 2023 Service to Youth Award, Westerly Adult Day Services, Inc., St. Pius X School, St. Clare's Church, and Sisters of St. Joseph. For his pro bono representation in the erection of an animal shelter and dog park by Stand Up For Animals, he was awarded the 2011 Rhode Island Bar Association Dorothy Lohmann Award for community service.

Mr. Liguori is a 1974 graduate of University of Rhode Island. He earned his JD from Catholic University of America in 1977, ranked 13 of 162 in his class.

Long respected by his peers and the judiciary Mr. Liguori has maintained a Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent^TM Rating, served in the Rhode Island Bar Association House of Delegates, and currently sits as the chairperson of the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island. He is a Fellow of the Rhode Island Bar Foundation.