Atty. Benjamin L. Rackliffe
Benjamin L. Rackliffe is a Partner with Pannone Lopes Devereaux & O’Gara LLC and a member of the firm’s Corporate & Business, Cannabis Law and Nonprofit Organizations Teams.
Profile Summary
About Benjamin L. Rackliffe at a glance
Benjamin L. Rackliffe is a business and cannabis attorney based in Johnston, Rhode Island, practicing at Pannone Lopes Devereaux & O'Gara LLC. Admitted to practice in Rhode Island, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Connecticut, and New York, New York. Educated at Roger Williams University (J.D., 2007) and Providence College (B.S.). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Cannabis Law (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Corporate Law (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice: (2026). Serands clients in Johnston, RI and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- Benjamin L. Rackliffe is a Partner with Pannone Lopes Devereaux & O’Gara LLC and a member of the firm’s Corporate & Business, Cannabis Law and Nonprofit Organizations Teams
- He is considered a leading authority in the areas of corporate and regulatory compliance, providing counsel in a wide range of areas to closely held business and tax-exempt organizations
- Building upon years of traditional corporate transactional experience, Attorney Rackliffe is at the forefront of advising businesses on the ever-evolving state and federal cannabis law and policy landscape in both medical and recreational markets throughout New England and elsewhere
- Within the State of Rhode Island alone, Attorney Rackliffe has advised approximately two dozen licensed cultivation companies through real estate, licensing, regulatory compliance and investment related matters
- Outside of Rhode Island, he routinely advises dispensary and cultivation operators, both publicly traded and private, including the owner of the largest outdoor cannabis cultivation on the east coast
- In addition, he advises investors on risk mitigation measures within the cannabis space
- His experience also includes representing clients in the nation’s burgeoning hemp industry
- As a result of his achievements and skills in the area of cannabis law, Attorney Rackliffe has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® for the Providence/Metro Region since 2023
- Attorney Rackliffe has also been named a Rhode Island Super Lawyers Rising Star by Thomson Reuters, a distinction that recognizes the top 2.5 percent of Rhode Island lawyers under the age of 40 or those in practice for 10 years or less
- In addition, Attorney Rackliffe has experience in the construction and engineering industries and in commercial real estate development, having previously served as assistant general counsel to a hospitality and real estate development corporation and as an attorney for a Rhode Island-based construction and engineering litigation firm representing multinational and U.S. contractor corporations
- Attorney Rackliffe now uses this experience in advising developers, financing parties and institutional clients alike participating in renewable energy projects
- He earned his J.D. from Roger Williams University School of Law and his undergraduate degree from Providence College, where he has served as a Special Lecturer in the field of corporate law for the College’s School of Business
- He is admitted to practice law in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York, and is a member of the Rhode Island Bar Association, the Massachusetts Bar Association, the Connecticut Bar Association, the New York Bar Association and the American Bar Association
Practice Areas Explained
Benjamin L. Rackliffe's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Benjamin L. Rackliffe handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.
Benjamin L. Rackliffe is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in Rhode Island →
Cannabis attorneys for business licensing, regulatory compliance, and marijuana-related legal matters.
Benjamin L. Rackliffe is one of 3,138 cannabis attorneys indexed nationally. Browse cannabis attorneys in Rhode Island →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in Rhode Island
Practicing law in Rhode Island. Legal matters in Rhode Island are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Johnston are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Rhode Island state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Rhode Island brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Rhode Island courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional Rhode Island attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Johnston or all attorneys in Rhode Island.
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