Paul M Sanford

Paul M. Sanford is a partner in Burns & Levninson's Business Litigation group, where he oversees the firm's civil litigation practice in state courts and the federal court in Rhode Island. He is a seasoned, business trial lawyer, having served as counsel in hundreds of cases in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine, New Jersey and Virginia.

Mr. Sanford represents individuals and corporations in complex commercial business, real estate, trust and estate, and marine related disputes. In the area of fiduciary litigation, he works closely with the firm's Boston-based Trust Litigation Group in representing fiduciaries in matters involving estates and trusts in New England.

Mr. Sanford has successfully served as lead trial counsel in numerous cases brought to jury verdict in federal courts in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Additionally, several of his clients' cases have resulted in published decisions in such areas as closely-held corporation shareholder disputes, fraud, spoliation of evidence, real estate valuations, attorneys' fee awards, coverage disputes, bad faith claims, Chapter 93A, contract disputes, municipal agency powers and fiduciary duties.

Clients, particularly fiduciaries, frequently seek Mr. Sanford's advice from behind the scenes as important events are unfolding in order to avoid future litigation. Recognizing the importance to clients of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) as a potential means to resolve disputes quickly and cost effectively, he has been trained and appointed as a Superior Court arbitrator and has served as a member of the ADR panel for the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island.

Mr. Sanford was named a Rhode Island "Lawyer of the Year" for Litigation- Trusts & Estates in 2018. He has also been listed in The Best Lawyers in America in the area of Litigation- Trusts & Estates since 2011.