William Delaney

William Delaney is a distinguished attorney with over 37 years of experience in commercial and bankruptcy law. Licensed in Rhode Island since 1987, he is Of Counsel at Lonardo Forte & Trudeau, LLP in Warwick, Rhode Island. His career has focused on assisting businesses and individuals in managing complex financial and legal issues, particularly in the areas of bankruptcy, banking, and business litigation.

Mr. Delaney graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a B.A. He pursued his J.D. at Albany Law School, where he was actively involved in the Albany Law Review and Moot Court Executive Committee. Additionally, he obtained an M.B.A. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he received the Collins Stipend for his academic excellence. He further advanced his education by earning an LL.M. in Banking Studies from Boston University, where he was awarded the prestigious Serino Award for outstanding performance.

Throughout his career, Mr. Delaney has played a key role in shaping Rhode Island’s legal and economic landscape. He has prepared complex loan documentation for businesses and real estate developments that have driven the state’s growth. He also managed high-profile insolvency and restructuring matters, including Rhode Island’s “Credit Union Crisis” of the 1990s. His commercial law experience includes closing Rhode Island’s first LIBOR-based loan transaction in the late 1980s.

Mr. Delaney has served as a Chapter 7 Panel Trustee for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court and as a Rhode Island Superior Court Receiver. He has worked on over 2,000 bankruptcy cases and acted as a Receiver for more than 100 entities, helping businesses and individuals navigate financial difficulties. He is also an educator, teaching commercial law for over 23 years as an Adjunct Professor at various New England law schools. Additionally, he frequently lectures on topics related to lending and insolvency, sharing his extensive expertise with the legal community.

Law Office Affiliations

• Of Counsel, Lonardo Forte & Trudeau, LLP
• Member, Rhode Island Bar Association

Licensed State

• Rhode Island

Education

• Boston University’s Morin School of Law
  Master of Laws (LL.M.)
• Albany Law School
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
  Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• University of Notre Dame
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges