Since 1990, Diana M. Ducharme has worked as a full-time attorney and legal advisor, focusing her career on representing clients through a number of issues related to commercial real estate finance, real estate and land use law, among other complex legal matters. Having practiced law for more than 25 years as both a real estate and commercial finance transactional attorney, Ducharme works primarily in and around Providence, Rhode Island.
In 2017, Ducharme acted as one of several founding members of Cervenka Green & Ducharme LLC, Rhode Island's first women-owned, small boutique business firm. Ducharme has served as a commissioner to the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation since 2019, a public agency dedicated to providing environmentally safe, clean and cost-effective waste and recycling management methods to all Rhode Island communities. Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® since 2017, Ducharme is currently honored as “Lawyer of the Year” for Commercial Finance Law in Providence for 2023, marking her second “Lawyer of the Year” honor in this specialty and metro since 2019.
Of her legal career and recent recognition, Ducharme stated: “The Providence metro area is comparatively a ‘small town,’ in which, there are other very talented and well-recognized attorneys in my practice area. One characteristic that seems widely prevalent for attorneys achieving this type of recognition is that such attorneys are known to be not only competent in their practice areas but also respectful in their professional interactions and dealings with other local attorneys and clients. I hope that is one of the reasons why my peers may have thought of me. In any event, I am truly honored and humbled to be receiving this recognition.”
As an accomplished commercial finance and real estate lawyer, Ducharme has represented national, regional and local owners, borrowers and developers in such legal disputes as the acquisition and leasing of a variety of private and public properties. After nearly 30 years working in the field, Ducharme still believes every successful deal is a reward in and of itself.
“The closing is the culmination of an entire legal team's hard work that often involves, among other things, drafting, negotiating and finalizing a set of contract documents that both the lender and borrower can mutually agree on. Aside from the immediate satisfaction of closing, the most rewarding aspect for me is being able to build professional relationships in the process. Working with many experienced lenders, borrowers and other legal counsel has been an immense privilege. The best professional relationships are built on a foundation of mutual respect and cooperation, even when negotiating critical issues in the deal at hand. I always approach each transaction with this attitude; not only does this approach contribute to the success of the closing, but it builds goodwill on all sides, leading to possible referrals and professional relationships with opposing counsel.”
