I grew up in London, England, and have been a trial lawyer in New England since 1990.  I practice in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.  I am a general practitioner, and have worked on a wide variety of legal matters: civil, criminal, commercial, non-commercial, in litigation, not in litigation, complex, and simple.  

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      During my time as a trial lawyer I have scored over 90% "not guilty" verdicts in jury trials, counting by counts that reached a verdict.  But every case is unique, so one cannot reasonably infer an over 90% probability that I will win any given case.  

 

    I also draft contracts, help to negotiate contracts, and, review contracts, such as: commercial leases, employment agreements, insurance policies, construction contracts, and other kinds of business contracts.  Trying logically to predict risks is fascinating, and is a crucial part of making good contracts. 

 

      For a fuller description of my practice areas please click here.

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     Marcus Cicero (106-43 B.C.), was a  statesman, lawyer, scholar, writer, the greatest Roman orator, and described a very high standard for oratory. “[I]n an orator we must demand the subtlety of the logician, the thoughts of the philosopher, a diction almost poetic, a lawyer's memory, a tragedian's voice, and the bearing almost of the consummate actor."  Cicero, De Oratore, Book I, XXVIII, 128.  I pursue this high standard as a trial lawyer.    

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     Logic is vital for a trial lawyer, and for drafting contracts.  Logic is a topic within philosophy.  Aristotle (384-322 B.C.) was the world's first great logician.  In my philosophy B.A. I scored First Class Honours (full marks) on the exam on predicate logic (called the predicate calculus), which is "the heart of modern logic", Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy.  I wrote a book about some aspects of logic and trial law, The Solution to an Injustice in Trials.  For a fuller description of the book click here.  In my Blog I also discuss some aspects of logic.  To read the Blog click here. 

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      In the U.S. there are over 1,300,000 lawyers, and over 93,000 rated chess players.  But only a handful of trial lawyers are also U.S. chess masters, i.e. in the top 1% of rated players in the U.S..  I am one of them. Master-level chess requires hard work, looking ahead, strategy, and tactics, and this mind-set is also vital for a trial lawyer, and for drafting contracts.  Chess, like other rigorous analytical exercises, helps to sharpen the mind.

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      Proficiency in writing, and sophistication in interpreting meaning in the English language, are also vital for a trial lawyer, and for drafting contracts.  England's greatest modern judge wrote about drafting contracts:  "On the words you use, your client's future may depend."   Lord Denning (1899-1999), The Discipline of Law, at page 5, Butterworths (1979). 

 

      From the age of twelve I was required to: read the plays of William Shakespeare (1564-1616), memorize some of his great speeches and sonnets, and memorize other poetry.  Later at school I was also required to read a wide range of English literature and poetry.  One third of my B.A. was in English, and the rest in philosophy, including the philosophy of language.  I still memorize poetry from time to time.  All of this education, in English and philosophy, and more than thirty years in law practice, has made me a proficient writer, and, sophisticated in interpreting meaning in the English language, including in contracts, statutes, and case law.  

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     To discuss your legal matter please call 508 965 6666.  I do not charge for any discussion before forming a written contract with a client.  If you prefer, send an e-mail to sinclair.banks@verizon.net and use "client" as the subject line, but e-mail no confidential data, to avoid any hacking risk. 

 

      If I can handle your legal matter I will say so.  And, if I cannot handle your legal matter, I can probably refer you to another lawyer, at no charge to you.  For information about referral please click here.

  

     Stay safe.

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     Sincerely,

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     Sinclair T. Banks

     Attorney-at-law

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Legal disclosure, pursuant to Rule 7.2(d) of the Rhode Island Rules of Professional Conduct.  Sinclair Thomas Banks, Attorney-at-law, is responsible for the content of this web site, and his office address is 208 Rock Street Fall River, MA 02720, U.S.A..  The above video was made in 2020, and, as a result, the video now understates the number of years I have been a trial lawyer.  I have been a trial lawyer since 1990.

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