Providence, RI. AmLaw 100 firm Nixon Peabody LLP has appointed commercial and real estate litigator Armando Batastini as managing partner of the international law firm’s Providence office, which provides a full range of legal services across litigation and transactional practices.
Attorneys in Nixon Peabody’s Providence office are particularly focused on employment, litigation, privacy, and corporate services, as well as health care, life sciences, real estate development, financial services, insurance, and education. The 2021 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business recognized the office for the strength of its labor and employment and commercial litigation practices. Chambers also named several Providence Nixon Peabody attorneys as leaders in their field. In addition, the Providence office recently received Tier 1 ranking from U.S. News – Best Lawyers®, recognizing five Providence Nixon Peabody attorneys as “Lawyers of the Year” and three attorneys as “Ones to Watch.”
Having joined Nixon Peabody in 2008, Armando was elected partner in 2012. He is a member of the firm’s Complex Commercial Disputes practice, focusing on commercial real estate litigation, and he also leads the firm’s Distressed Commercial Debt Litigation team. Armando succeeds Andrew Prescott as Providence office managing partner.
“Armando is a natural leader with strong relationships throughout Rhode Island and beyond,” said Stephen D. Zubiago, CEO and managing partner of Nixon Peabody. “I’ve known Armando and his family my entire life, and I am sure he will bring a unique perspective and great ideas to this leadership role.”
In addition to his office managing partner role, Armando represents businesses and owners in a wide variety of contractual, shareholder, and commercial realty disputes. He devotes a large portion of his practice to representing holders of commercial debt in all aspects of workouts, foreclosures, receiverships, and guaranty enforcement actions. Armando also advises and represents candidates before the Rhode Island Board of Elections, Rhode Island Supreme Court, Federal Court for the District of Rhode Island, and First Circuit Court of Appeals with respect to election challenges and other election law issues, including ballot access disputes.
Armando previously served as president of the Rhode Island Bar Association, is the secretary and assistant treasurer of the Rhode Island Bar Foundation, and was the recipient of the Rhode Island Bar Association Pro Bono Publico award. He was named as a “Leader in the Law” by Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly earlier in 2021 and “New England Lawyer of the Year” for Bankruptcy/Restructuring by U.S. News – Best Lawyers®.
“I am both honored and humbled to lead such a great team of attorneys and professional colleagues,” said Armando.
Armando received his undergraduate degree from the United States Naval Academy and his law degree from Roger Williams University School of Law, where he was valedictorian. He served as a judicial law clerk for Chief Justice Joseph Weisberger of the Rhode Island Supreme Court. Armando is a Navy veteran who served in Operation Desert Storm. A lifelong Rhode Island resident, he resides in Harmony, Rhode Island, with his wife and son.
