Adler Pollock & Sheehan PC

30 Best Lawyers awards

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Awarded Practice Areas

Appellate Practice Bet-the-Company Litigation Commercial Litigation Criminal Defense: White-Collar Litigation - Banking and Finance Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Product Liability Litigation - Defendants

Biography

A noted and highly awarded litigator who has successfully argued high-stakes, precedent-setting cases across the country, John Tarantino represents international manufacturers, major chemical companies, railroads, e-commerce businesses, entrepreneurs, sports coaches and managers, and leading real estate developers in sophisticated litigation matters involving complex issues of constitutional law, antitrust, intellectual property, product liability, toxic tort, white-collar crime, and employment law. Passionate about his work and his profession, John lectures frequently on trial techniques and is a leading author of legal books and articles on product liability, discovery, evidence, procedure, medical-legal issues, legal ethics and trial strategy. He has won significant trial victories for Atlantic Richfield Company, the Governor of Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Senate, and other entities and individuals in cases ranging from toxic torts to constitutional law to bribery and wire fraud.
Adler Pollock & Sheehan PC

30 Best Lawyers awards

Adler Pollock & Sheehan PC logo

Overview

  • Boston College Law School, J.D., graduated 1981
  • Dartmouth College, graduated 1976

  • Massachusetts, Massachusetts Bar Association
  • Rhode Island, Rhode Island Bar Association

  • National Judicial College - Board of Visitors
  • Boston College Law School - Board of Overseers
  • Defense Counsel of Rhode Island - President (2003-2004)
  • New England Bar Association - President (2003)
  • Rhode Island Bar Association - President (1997-1998)
  • Rhode Island Bar Foundation - President (2005-present)
  • Litigation Counsel of America - Fellow
  • International Academy of Trial Lawyers - Fellow
  • International Society of Barristers - Fellow
  • American College of Trial Lawyers - Fellow
  • Massachusetts, Massachusetts Bar Association
  • Rhode Island, Rhode Island Bar Association
  • National Judicial College - Board of Visitors
  • Boston College Law School - Board of Overseers
  • Defense Counsel of Rhode Island - President (2003-2004)
  • New England Bar Association - President (2003)
  • Rhode Island Bar Association - President (1997-1998)
  • Rhode Island Bar Foundation - President (2005-present)
  • Litigation Counsel of America - Fellow
  • International Academy of Trial Lawyers - Fellow
  • International Society of Barristers - Fellow
  • American College of Trial Lawyers - Fellow
  • Boston College Law School, J.D., graduated 1981
  • Dartmouth College, graduated 1976

Client Testimonials

John Tarantino is one of the finest attorneys I have come across in my nearly 31 years of practice. I have worked with him on numerous cases over the past three and a half years. He is very responsive to clients' needs and extremely pragmatic. In addition, his written work product is excellent. I want John on my team.

Robert Litz (Textron Financial Corporation)

St. Louis, MO

John Tarantino is one of the smartest lawyers in America. He is thorough, responsive and accurate when providing legal services to our company. If you have a bet-the-company issue, you can feel confident with John representing you.

John Tarantino and his firm have always been quick and extremely efficient in handling our company and personal needs. He has represented us through the years in a most professional and thorough manner. He is very personable and there to answer questions at any time. When he promises to get something done, he gets it done. Many attorneys make promises, he keeps them. His staff in his firm has given the same level of professionalism and thoroughness that he has over the years. He is a tremendous attorney and surrounds himself with tremendous associates. I would say he is the best of the best and should be rated number one on any list.

David Hack (U.S. Wings, Inc.)

Hudson, OH

John is an exceptional trial attorney who can handle just about any type of complex litigation in state or federal court anywhere in the United States. He has a remarkably high level of expertise in a wide range of areas, including contract disputes, environmental defense and white collar criminal defense. John is a gentleman and a scholar who I would not hesitate to recommend to anyone seeking counsel for any litigation related matter.

Paul Green (Green Land Company, LLC )

Providence, RI

John Tarantino is one of the finest litigation attorneys with whom I have ever worked. John has an uncanny ability to organize complex matters in a coherent way and develop a strategy for advancing the ultimate goals of the litigation. I consider it a privilege whenever I have the opportunity to be involved with John in a case because of his integrity and passion for his work.

William Conley, Jr. (City of East Providence)

East Providence, RI

John Tarantino is our lead trial counsel for complex commercial and government-related litigation in the New England area. He is an extremely talented and bright trial and appellate lawyer who has consistently provided Textron with excellent legal advice and litigation results. John also has excellent client-relations skills. He works and communicates extremely well with all levels of our company, promptly returns calls, and consistently beats deadlines. Above all, he astutely listens to his client. He certainly is not shy about telling us when we are going in the wrong direction, but he always accomplishes this in a professional manner, which is absolutely critical for outside counsel but all too rare. One final aspect of John's performance is worth comment. He has the uncanny ability to breakdown complex matters quickly into simple propositions, and turn them into winning positions. Only the best trial lawyers can do this. In sum, John Tarantino is a terrific lawyer who ranks with the very best lawyers I have worked with during my thirty year legal career.

I have worked with John Tarantino intermittently for over 15 years, and his combination of smarts and discipline have made him a valued partner. Though he is a busy attorney, he is always responsive to clients. In the conference room and the courtroom, John is an outstanding advocate.

Mary Terzino (The Dow Chemical Company)

John Tarantino is a superb litigator and counselor. He has handled a variety of matters for Textron, covering many different substantive areas. His advice is thoughtful, practical, and timely, and always delivered with good humor and with the client's ultimate goal firmly in mind. He quickly grasps even the most complicated factual situation and is able to distill it to its most significant points and to communicate it clearly. His eye for the telling detail is unerring, and his legal arguments are clear and persuasive. He is always a pleasure to work with, and we are proud to have him represent us.

Marianne Corr (Textron Financial Corporation)

Providence, RI

Awards & Focus

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2025 - Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2024 - Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2024 - Product Liability Litigation - Defendants Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2021 - Litigation - Banking and Finance Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2020 - Bet-the-Company Litigation Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2020 - Product Liability Litigation - Defendants Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2018 - Appellate Practice Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2018 - Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2017 - Bet-the-Company Litigation Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2016 - Criminal Defense: White-Collar Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2014 - Criminal Defense: White-Collar Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2013 - Bet-the-Company Litigation Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2012 - Appellate Practice
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, Providence (2025)
  • Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants, Providence (2024)
  • Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, Providence (2024)
  • Litigation - Banking and Finance, Providence (2021)
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation, Providence (2020)
  • Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, Providence (2020)
  • Appellate Practice, Providence (2018)
  • Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants, Providence (2018)
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation, Providence (2017)
  • Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Providence (2016)
  • Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Providence (2014)
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation, Providence (2013)
  • Appellate Practice, Providence (2012)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Appellate Practice
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Criminal Defense: White-Collar
  • Litigation - Banking and Finance
  • Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
  • Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
  • Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Mass Tort Litigation
  • Personal Injury Litigation
  • Product Liability Litigation
Special Focus:
  • Appellate
  • Civil and Criminal
  • Civil Litigation
  • Class Actions
  • Complex Litigation
  • Corporate Compliance
  • Corporate Governance
  • COVID-19
  • Defendants
  • Environmental
  • Environmental Crimes
  • Federal
  • Government Investigations
  • Litigation
  • Mass Tort
  • Personal Injury
  • Pharmaceutical
  • Product Liability
  • Professional Malpractice
  • State
  • Toxic Tort
  • White-Collar Criminal Defense
Awards:
  • Rhode Island Legal Services Equal Access t Justice Award
  • Rhode Island Bar Association Award of Merit
  • Ralph P. Semenoff Award for Professionalism
  • Lawyer of the Year Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly
  • Lawyer of the Year Lawyers Weekly USA
  • Defense Counsel of Rhode Island Exceptional Performance Citation
  • Boston College Law School 75th Anniversary Alumni of the Year Award

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