Francis A Connor III

Frank Connor is an experienced trial and appellate attorney in federal and state courts in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. His expertise includes cases involving medical professional liability defense, business disputes, insurance and reinsurance issues, as well as catastrophic personal injuries. Mr. Connor’s peers in the trial bar have recognized his skill and experience in the courtroom by inviting him to membership in the American Board of Trial Advocates (). He has been named to Best Lawyers in America for four consecutive years (2012-15), a leading directory of attorneys across the U.S., and was also named to the 2013 and 2014 Rhode Island Super Lawyers directory. Mr. Connor maintains an AV Preeminent rating from the Martindale-Hubbell National Law Directory, the highest rating available for legal ability and ethical standards.

Small businesses, professional groups, hospitals and insurance carriers also consult Mr. Connor on legislative and risk management matters. He has lectured on trial practice and numerous other topics to local, regional and national groups of attorneys, medical
professionals and administrators.

Mr. Connor also regularly serves as a Mediator and Arbitrator. He received mediation certification training at both the Harvard Law School Program on Negotiation in Cambridge, Mass., and the Center for Dispute Settlement in Washington, D.C. The Presiding Justice of
the Superior Court of Rhode Island has appointed him to the panel of arbitrators for disposition of Superior Court civil cases. Mr. Connor has served as one of the firm’s administrative partners for nine of the past fourteen years, while continuing to maintain his full-time litigation practice. He received both his B.A. and J.D. from Georgetown University.
 

Representative Accomplishments

In the medical professional liability area, Mr. Connor has for many years defended hospitals, clinics, physicians, nurses, physician assistants, psychologists and other health care professionals. These cases have involved allegations of malpractice in virtually every
medical and surgical specialty, investigations by state licensing boards and other credentialing organizations, as well as billing investigations by Medicare, Medicaid and private health insurers. He has also successfully handled many business and employment practices disputes in which health care clients have become embroiled.

Mr. Connor has represented clients in a wide variety of other disputes, including business litigation, legal professional liability and other personal injury actions. He has successfully pursued multi-jurisdiction litigation against a commercial tenant for breaching a commercial lease, resulting in a pre-trial settlement payment to his client. He also obtained a fair distribution of assets for a departing general partner in a complex multi-partnership dispute in federal court involving the Uniform Partnership Act. He also has significant experience representing excess carriers and reinsurers in arbitrations with other insurers and in connection with coverage litigation. On behalf of an insurance carrier, Mr. Connor persuaded a U.S. District Court judge to enforce an arbitration clause in an international reinsurance treaty.

Clerkships

Mr. Connor served as a law clerk for U.S. Magistrate Judge Jacob Hagopian of the U.S. District Court, District of Rhode Island, in 1991-92.

Professional and Civic Affiliations

Mr. Connor is a member of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce Small Business Council. He is very active in his local community, serving on the Special Olympics Rhode Island Board of Directors, and volunteering in the Barrington, R.I. public schools and as a youth sports coach. Mr. Connor also enjoys Tuesday night sailboat racing on Narragansett Bay.