Joanna M. Achille
Partner
jachille@darroweverett.com
(401) 453-1200
Practice Areas
- Family Law
- Fiduciary Litigation
- Private Wealth Services
- Municipal Law
- Civil Litigation
Bio
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 focuses on complex family court and fiduciary litigation, offering legal representation for clients navigating high-stakes, high-conflict family matters. Concentrating in high-net-worth divorce, she routinely handles cases involving intricate business assets, trusts, and complex financial issues. She has a proven track record of successfully representing clients in contentious custody disputes, with extensive experience in interstate and international child custody cases.
Joanna is also skilled in negotiating and drafting pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements, helping clients secure their financial futures while ensuring legal protections are in place.
Known for her strategic approach and unwavering dedication, Joanna combines legal acumen with empathy to support clients through some of the most challenging and sensitive times in their lives. She takes the time to truly listen to her clients, ensuring they feel heard, respected, and supported throughout the legal process.
Additionally, as a certified mediator, Joanna provides services in mediating domestic, fiduciary, and business-related disputes.
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.
Accolades
- Super Lawyers – Rhode Island Rising Stars, 2017-2022
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
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
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.
Insights
Media
- “Family Law Update”, Presenter/Moderator, Rhode Island Bar Association, 2019-2024