|
|
|
|
KAREN A. PELCZARSKI
kap@blishcavlaw.com
Karen Pelczarski is a partner of the firm. She is an experienced trial and appellate attorney, with a varied practice which includes business, estate, employment, environmental, and personal injury litigation. Since joining the firm in 1987, she has successfully represented both plaintiffs and defendants in matters involving corporate, partnership and shareholder disputes, breaches of fiduciary duty, undue influence, contract disputes, medical malpractice, legal malpractice, non-compete agreements, employment discrimination and personal injury. Many of her cases have involved disputes relating to closely held businesses and accounting, legal and medical practices. Ms. Pelczarski also has an extensive appellate practice, in which she has presented briefs and argued numerous times before the Rhode Island Supreme Court and First Circuit Court of Appeals. She has also authored numerous briefs in zoning appeals.
Her clients have included individuals, partnerships, local companies, non-profits and large national corporations. She is admitted to practice in Rhode Island and Massachusetts state and federal courts, as well as in the First Circuit Court of Appeals. She has handled complex commercial cases in the federal and state courts of both Rhode Island and Massachusetts. She accepts referrals to write appellate briefs in all areas of civil practice, including business, commercial, tort, zoning, family law, and constitutional law issues.
Ms. Pelczarski has been active in the Rhode Island Bar Association, and for many years served on its Superior Court Bench/Bar Committee. Presently she serves as the Committee’s co-chairperson. She is a also a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association. She belongs to the Litigation Section of the American Bar Association.
Ms. Pelczarski has earned numerous distinctions for both her trial and appellate work. Since 2005, she has been listed as one of the best commercial litigators in the United States in the annual editions of The Best Lawyers in America, the oldest lawyer rating publication with inclusion based on peer reviews. Also in each year since 2005, the prestigious Chambers USA has recognized her in its directory of leading business lawyers in America. Chambers USA has identified her as as one of the premier business litigation attorneys in Rhode Island, and has also referenced her appellate work. Ms. Pelczarski has also been recognized as a Rhode Island and New England Super Lawyer in each year since the publications’ inception in 2007. In 1999, she received a Public Service Achievement Award from Common Cause of Rhode Island for her appellate work on constitutional issues. In 2000, she was selected for lifetime membership in Who’s Who of American Law. In November 2003, Providence Monthly recognized her as a lawyer and community activist “to watch”. She is also a lifetime member of the Rhode Island Bar Foundation, having first been appointed in 1997.
In 2010, Chief Justice Sandra Lynch of the First Circuit Court of Appeals appointed Ms. Pelczarski to serve a three year term on the First Circuit Rules Advisory Council. This prestigious appointment is afforded to one Rhode Island lawyer every three years, based upon distinction in appellate advocacy. Also in 2010, Chief Jusice Mary Lisi of the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island appointed Ms. Pelczarski to serve on the federal Board of Bar Admissions, where she will teach civil procedure to attorneys applying for admission to the Rhode Island federal bar. In 2007, she was appointed by Chief Judge Mary Lisi to chair the 2008 United States District Court Conference celebrating the centennial of the Rhode Island federal courthouse. In 2005, she was appointed by Chief Judge Ernest Torres to membership on the United States District Court conference Advisory Committee. In 2004, she was appointed by First Circuit Court of Appeals Justice Bruce Selya and Rhode Island District Court Judge Ernest Torres to membership on the First Circuit Judicial 2005 Conference Advisory Committee.
Ms. Pelczarski has assumed active leadership roles in many civic and cultural organizations. In 1986, she co-founded, and later served as president of, The Music School, Inc., a community music school in Rhode Island which provides a wide variety of music instruction and programs for children and adults of all levels, and also provides scholarships and programming for underprivileged and at-risk children. After The Music School merged with the Rhode Island Philharmonic in 2000, she began serving as a director of the organization’s board and joined its Executive Committee. Ms. Pelczarski currently serves as the President of the Board of Directors of the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra & Music School, Inc.
She also currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce and has been its Secretary since 2004. She is a member of the President’s Council at Providence College. She is the former President of the Providence Maritime Heritage Foundation, which oversaw the Sloop Providence, a replica of the first ship in the United States Navy on which John Paul Jones sailed. She served on the Advisory Committee of the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. She is a former board member of Providence CityArts for Youth, Inc. She has also served as a consultant to the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence. For several years, Ms. Pelczarski has taught a popular seminar for honor students at Roger Williams University Law School, entitled “Emotional Intelligence in the Courtroom”, and has served as a judge in many moot court events at the Law School.
Ms. Pelczarski received her Bachelor’s degree with honors (in music and economics) from Wellesley College. She is a member of the Rhode Island Wellesley College Club. She received her law degree from Boston College Law School, attending the University of Pennsylvania during her final year of law school.
|
|
