Our Team
Christopher P. Vitale, Partner
Professional Overview
Christopher P. Vitale is a Partner who focuses his practice on advising both public and private entities in public finance and general business matters. With extensive experience in the field, Chris has built a reputation for providing strategic counsel and guidance on complex financial and organizational issues.
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For over twenty-five years, Chris has served as general counsel to the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank. In this capacity, he acts as issuer’s counsel in connection with the issuance of the Bank’s bonds across four distinct programs. His responsibilities also include providing legal advice on program development and administration, as well as navigating state and federal legislative and regulatory matters affecting a wide range of the Bank’s grant and loan programs.
In addition to his work with the Infrastructure Bank, Chris serves as general counsel to the Rhode Island Student Loan Authority. Here, he advises the Authority as issuer’s counsel in matters related to the issuance of bonds and provides guidance on the administration of the Authority’s programs and operations.
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Chris’s expertise extends to serving as underwriter’s counsel in numerous transactions involving bond issuances for a variety of organizations. These include the State of Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Health & Educational Building Corporation, the Rhode Island Airport Corporation, the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority, the Business Finance Authority of the State of New Hampshire, the City of Providence, and many other municipalities across Rhode Island.
He works in close collaboration with leaders in the Rhode Island General Assembly, the Governor’s Office, various state agencies, municipal officials across Rhode Island, and the U.S. Congress. His advocacy ensures effective representation for clients in matters of public policy and finance.
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Chris is a graduate of Providence College and The Columbus School of Law at Catholic University. He is admitted to practice in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts and is a member of the Rhode Island and Massachusetts Bar Associations, as well as the National Association of Bond Lawyers.
Eugene G. Bernardo, Partner
Professional Overview
Eugene G. Bernardo is a Partner who focuses his practice in the sophisticated area of tax-exempt finance. He also counsels religious, corporate and governmental entities on a variety of complex matters having legal, ethical and community relations dimensions.
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During his more than twenty-five years practicing in public finance, Gene has worked on bond issuances for nearly every constituency and community in the State of Rhode Island, and brings extensive experience having served in a multitude of transactional roles (as bond counsel, underwriter's counsel, borrower's counsel and bank's counsel), including on some of the most innovative and complex public finance transactions.
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In addition to his public finance practice, Gene has counseled governmental leaders on critical issues of the day. He has advised the Speaker of the House in connection with legislative reapportionment, was part of the Governor’s legal team regarding the jurisdictional scope on lands in Charlestown pursuant to the Rhode Island Indian Claims Settlement Act, and he routinely advises the General Treasurer’s office on matters relating to public finance. Gene also serves as the general counsel to the charitable, educational and religious corporations organized and existing to conduct the temporal affairs of the Roman Catholic Church within the Diocese of Providence.
Gene has provided pro bono services in his representation of the National Crime Victim Law Institute, Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, National Alliance of Sexual Assault Coalition and Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape as amici curiae in a successful appeal to the Rhode Island Supreme Court.
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Gene graduated from Rollins College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics, has a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of Rhode Island magna cum laude, and received his Juris Doctor cum laude from Roger Williams University School of Law. Prior to beginning his practice, Gene served as a law clerk to The Honorable Ernest C. Torres, United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island.
Gene is admitted to practice in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts, as well as the federal courts in those jurisdictions and the United State Supreme Court. He is a member of the National Association of Bond Lawyers, the National Diocesan Attorneys Association and serves as a Director to the Rhode Island Public Expenditures Council.
Gene is a three-time selection by The Best Lawyers in America as Rhode Island Public Finance Lawyer of the Year. He has also been recognized by Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly for its Leaders in the Law award, and received the Moses Brown School's 25th Reunion Alumni Achievement Award for his outstanding contributions to his field and the community.
Gerald T. Harrington, Partner
Professional Overview
Gerald T. Harrington is a Partner who focuses his practice on public finance and strategic counsel to the Firm’s clients. Gerry is a seasoned government relations strategist with more than twenty-five years of experience shaping public policy and legislation at the state and federal levels.
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Beginning his career in public finance, Gerry was an associate at the Wall Street law firm of Hawkins Delafield & Wood specializing in public finance and government contracts. Returning to Rhode Island, he was a partner at the Providence law firm of McGovern Noel & Benik. Gerry has served as issuer’s and underwriters counsel to a broad group of Rhode Island state and local governmental entities.
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Gerry advises companies, trade associations, and governmental entities, and non-profits organizations on navigating complex state and federal legislative and regulatory landscapes. Gerry works closely with many state and federal officials on major initiatives including the development of infrastructure financing programs.
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Gerry is graduate of Yale University and the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He is a member of the Rhode Island Bar Association.
David M. DiSegna, Counsel
Professional Overview
David M. DiSegna concentrates his practice in the area of tax-exempt public finance and advises clients in governmental, public infrastructure, commercial finance, non-profit and corporate governance, and intellectual property matters.
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For over a decade, David has been involved in numerous bond financings, serving in all major roles, including bond counsel, underwriter’s counsel, purchaser’s counsel, issuer’s counsel, and borrower’s counsel. This experience spans various types of transactions, such as public offerings, direct bank purchases, and conduit issuances for both new money and refunding issuances, as well as tax-exempt lease financings. David is routinely engaged in sophisticated and novel transactions. He also provides specialized tax advice to governmental and non-profit clients in connection with new bond issuances and outstanding debt.
David advises governmental and quasi-public entities as general counsel on a variety of matters, including financings, contracts, legislative and regulatory compliance and drafting, Open Meetings Act and Access to Public Records Act compliance, among many others.
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David’s practice also includes representing businesses, non-profits and individuals in intellectual property matters, including copyright registration and the selection, registration, protection, and enforcement of trademarks and service marks in the United States and throughout the world.
He represents both lenders and borrowers in a variety of commercial finance transactions, including asset based, commercial and industrial, and real estate financings. He has also provided legal advice to public entities with respect to the financing, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of various types of public projects, including municipal buildings and water, sewer, and solid waste facilities.
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David graduated from Boston University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree, magna cum laude, and received his Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from Roger Williams University School of Law. Prior to beginning his practice, David served as a law clerk to The Honorable Francis X. Flaherty of the Rhode Island Supreme Court.
In 2024, he was recognized by “Superlawyers” as a Rising Star in the Government Finance/State & Municipal Bonds practice area. He has been selected by his peers to be named in Rhode Island Monthly’s Professional Excellence in Law Top Lawyers in the Government Law category for five consecutive years.
He is a member of the National Association of Bond Lawyers, the Rhode Island Bar Association, and the Justinian Law Society. David is licensed to practice in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New York.