President - Alicia J. Samolis
Attorney Alicia J. Samolis is an associate at Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP and concentrates her practice on complex business litigation with a focus on employment law. Alicia represents management in all stages of the employment relationship and advises clients on employment laws and pending legislation, including wage and hour compliance, employment discrimination, individual and group terminations, and represents clients in state and federal courts and administrative agencies. Alicia was named a "Rising Star" by Rhode Island Super Lawyers and received the 40 Under Forty award from Providence Business News. Alicia has been a member of the RIWBA Board since 2007, is the chair of the website committee and currently serves as president. Click here to contact

Vice President - Denise Cassisi
Attorney Denise Cassisi is an associate at Lynch, Lynch & Friel. She practices general civil litigation including Divorce, Custody, Visitation, Child Support, and DCYF cases. In addition, she practices criminal litigation in District Court and Juvenile Criminal proceedings. She is licensed to practice in both State and Federal Court for the District of Rhode Island and Connecticut State Court. Denise S. Cassisi has been a member of the RIWBA Board since 2006 and currently serves as Vice President. Click here to contact

Secretary - Kate Ahern
Attorney Kate Ahern is an associate at Hinckley, Allen, & Snyder LLP and works from the firm's Providence and Boston offices. Kate's practice is focused in a wide rage of federal and state tax issues of businesses, individuals, and other entities, such as municipal finance, partnership tax, corporate tax, non-profit organizations, and sales tax issues. She is admitted to the Rhode Island and Massachusetts bars and is earning her LL.M. in Taxation this year. Kate has been a member of RIWBA since 2008 and currently serves as Secretary. Click here to contact

Treasurer - Amanda J. Argentieri
Amanda J. Argentieri is a graduate of the Roger Williams University School of Law and is currently a law clerk in the chambers of Rhode Island Supreme Court Justice Gilbert V. Indeglia.  Prior to undertaking this clerkship, Amanda served as a judicial law clerk with the Rhode Island Supreme Court’s Trial Court Law Clerk Department for both the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 terms.  A lifelong resident of Rhode Island, Amanda was formerly a law clerk for both LaPlante Sowa Goldman and Rhode Island Legal Services. Amanda has been a member of the RIWBA since 2007, is chair of the membership committee, and currently serves as Treasurer. Click here to contact

Ex Officio - Leah Donaldson
Attorney Leah Donaldson is an associate attorney at Motley Rice LLC, one of the nation's largest plaintiffs' litigation firms, where she works with the firm's medical device and 9/11 and anti-terrorism practice groups. She currently represents individuals harmed by defective Composix Kugel hernia mesh products in both state court and the federal Kugel Mesh MDL in Rhode Island. Leah has been a member of RIWBA since 2007. Click here to contact

Gina M. Renzulli
Attorney Gina M. Renzulli is an associate at The Law Office of William J. Conley, Jr., a general practice law firm focusing on civil litigation and municipal law. She is licensed to practice in the State and Federal Courts for both Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Gina has been a member of the RIWBA since 2007. Click here to contact

Melody Alger
Attorney Melody Alger is a principal in the firm of Alger Parker LLP and focuses her practice on civil litigation, trial work and appellate advocacy. She has extensive trial experience and is the only woman to have earned membership in the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, an invitation-only organization whose members must demonstrate a record of extensive trial experience and meet the organization's high standards for skill and integrity as trial lawyers. Melody has been a member of RIWBA since 1992. Click here to contact

Sara Sweeney
Sara E. Sweeney is an experienced civil litigator focusing her trial practice on professional liability defense, employment law, premises liability, business litigation and insurance coverage issues. Sara, an associate at Taylor Duane Barton & Gilman, LLP, has been involved in all facets of civil litigation practice, including participating in jury trials, preparing witnesses, arguing motions in court, and handling numerous arbitrations and mediations. Sara has been a member of RIWBA since 2008. Click here to contact

Hon. Patricia A. Hurst
Hon. Patricia A. Hurst is a senior trial justice with the State of Rhode Island Superior Court. Justice Hurst has served on the Superior Court Bench for 20 years during which she has presided over countless cases including complex civil and criminal jury trials, and cases involving complex discovery disputes. By special assignment of the Presiding Justice of the State of Rhode Island Superior Court, Justice Hurst has managed and tried multi-party and complex litigation including cases involving multifaceted constitutional issues, intricate legal and factual questions, and evidence of a highly technical and scientific nature. Justice Hurst has written decisions and rulings that have set new law in Rhode Island and which have been cited in state appellate court decisions, federal administrative rulings, law journals, and law review articles. During her tenure on the bench, Justice Hurst also pioneered the use of modern jury techniques in the Rhode Island state trial court including the use of preliminary charges, juror note taking and other innovations. Currently, Justice Hurst is active with the National Association of Women Judges of which she is a member. She has served on a number of that organization’s significant boards and committees including the Board of Directors, Executive Committee, and Audit and Compliance Committee. She is also an active member of the International Association of Women Judges. Justice Hurst serves on the Board of Directors for the Rhode Island Women’s Bar Association.

Lauren A. Broccoli
Lauren A. Broccoli is a third year law student at Roger Williams School of Law and a graduate of Boston University. She currently serves as President of the Women's Law Society. She has interned at CBS Corp. in Boston, the law offices of Dennis Roberts, II, and is currently employed at Pannone, Lopes, Devereaux and West, LLC. Click here to contact