GIOVANNI CICIONE

Principal

Experience negotiating complex business transactions and navigating challenging public policy and regulatory matters make Giovanni a sought-after and trusted advisor to business owners, corporations, and economic development officials. He has experience negotiating real estate and merger and acquisitions transactions, assisting new ventures, managing all aspects of deals including finance, due diligence, strategic planning, tax analysis, and government relations. He has worked on negotiations and transactions with companies ranging from small venture backed “start-ups” to members of the Fortune 100.

Giovanni is a 1996 graduate of the Boston University School of Law, where he edited the journal Commentaries and was treasurer of the school’s chapter of the Federalist Society. He received his undergraduate degree in Philosophy from George Mason University in Fairfax , Virginia. While an undergraduate he was a public policy research assistant at the Cato Institute in Washington , DC and president of the George Mason University Philosophy Club.

Giovanni has overseen State business development incentive negotiations, coordinated taxable and tax-exempt bond transactions, and led successful lobbying efforts to modernize the State’s tax structures and create a regulatory environment for alternative insurance markets. Additionally, Mr. Cicione led the early state efforts on brownfields redevelopment and historic revitalization.

Giovanni practiced as a corporate attorney with a large Rhode Island firm from 2001 to 2006 and served as legal counsel to the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation (RIEDC) from 1998 to 2001, handling general corporate matters for that agency.

Giovanni is a trustee of the Rhode Island chapter of the Nature Conservancy, a past member of the University of Rhode Island College of Continuing Education Advisory Board, and the City of Cranston Community Development Block Grant Commission. He served as the Chair of the Republican Party of Rhode Island and as a member of the Republican National committee from 2007 to 2011. He speaks frequently on public policy and economic development issues, including tax and regulatory policy, and environmental aspects of redevelopment and real estate transactions.