Joanna M. Achille

Joanna-Achille

Contact Info

Email:

Tel:

(401) 453-1200

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Bar Admissions

  • Rhode Island
  • Massachusetts
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 1st Circuit
  • United States Supreme Court

Education

  • Roger Williams University School of Law, J.D., cum laude
  • Roger Williams University, B.A., cum laude

Accolades:

  • Super Lawyers – Rhode Island Rising Stars, 2017-2022

Partner

Overview

Joanna M. Achille is the Co-Chair of our Family Law Practice Group and a member of the firm’s Private Client Group. Her practice concentrates on complex family court and fiduciary litigation. Joanna offers significant experience in representing clients in high-net-worth divorces involving business assets and trusts as well as high-conflict custody disputes with problematic layers including parental alienation, mental health and substance abuse issues. She has extensive experience representing clients in interstate and international child custody disputes. Joanna has expertise in negotiating and drafting pre- and post-nuptial agreements. She regularly assists clients in unwinding complex trusts and estates.

Joanna is known for constructive and creative resolution of cases and guides her clients through the intricacies of litigation with a compassionate yet pragmatic approach, ensuring consistent and steadfast advocacy. She has a comprehensive background in all aspects of civil and appellate litigation including matters before the Rhode Island Supreme Court.

Additionally, as a certified mediator, Joanna provides services in mediating domestic, fiduciary, and business-related disputes.

Representative Matters

• Achieved successful verdict in international custody dispute wherein the child was not required to repatriate and remained in the U.S. with client.
• Represented client in interstate custody dispute, successful in maintaining Rhode Island as the home state of the child and gaining additional parenting time for client.
• Reunited client with child, obtaining an award of custody and placement after years of severe parental alienation.
• Established common law marriage to obtain division of marital assets for client.
• Negotiated divorce settlement involving alternate reproductive technology.
• Resolved division of executive incentive/equity compensation to obtain tax advantageous result for client.

Prior Experience

Prior to joining the DarrowEverett team, Joanna was a partner at a large, Boston-based law firm where she specialized in all aspects of domestic relations and fiduciary litigation. Joanna previously worked at premier family law firm in Providence that provided counsel for complex family issues as well as boutique business litigation firm in downtown Providence.

Related Practices

Publications and Media Appearances

  • “Family Law Update”, Presenter/Moderator, Rhode Island Bar Association, 2019-2024

Involvement

  • The Edward P. Gallogly Family Law Inn of Court, Vice President
  • The Rhode Island District Court Prosecutors Association, Executive Board
  • Rhode Island Bar Association, Member
  • Town of Foster, Assistant Solicitor
  • City of Cranston, former Municipal Court Judge