Joshua L. Celeste

Josh has a broad-based corporate law practice and is known for successfully navigating multifaceted business transactions that fortify his clients’ businesses and position them to prosper. He works with corporate clients on domestic and international acquisitions, dispositions and mergers; complex restructurings and recapitalizations; and diverse governance issues. He has handled significant real estate development matters in conjunction with his corporate practice including property acquisitions; project development and construction; and leasing and financing.

Josh has counseled a variety of forward-thinking companies ranging from local, start-up private entities to national, publicly traded companies. He has handled offerings and placements of debt and equity securities, equity investments and acquisitions ranging in value from $10 to $100 million, venture capital financings ranging in value from $500,000 to $10 million and revolving credit and term loan facilities ranging in size from $1 to $50 million.

Representative Experience

Josh has effectively represented clients in the following transactions:

• The members of a leading energy conservation and infrastructure company (NASDAQ) in the sale of its membership interest in a multi-million transaction
• A hotel owner in a multi-million portfolio transaction that involved both debt and equity financing. The transactions included the acquisition of five hotel properties in New England and disposition of three hotel properties that significantly advanced and upgraded its property holdings in Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire
• The merger and consolidation of two significant Southeastern New England waste transportation and recycling businesses that doubled in size, revenue and market share
• The sale of a leading spring and metal stamping business together with a 120,000-square-foot manufacturing facility
• The successful capitalization of a Rhode Island start-up company in the bio-technology sector through both angel and venture capital financing that allowed the company to successfully commercialize its technology on a national scale
• The refinancing of a hotel portfolio comprised of 12 hotels by a real estate private equity fund
• The multi-million dollar private, equity-backed sale of an over-the-counter pharmaceutical maker where the seller stayed active and maintained an ownership stake. The deal involved issues of licensing and real estate at the state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Rhode Island
• Three major transactions in New England that expanded the holdings of a hotel ownership and management properties client including the acquisition of: vacant property plus the development and permitting of a 100-room Hilton in Maine; an existing Days Inn facility in New Hampshire; and a 130-room Best Western Plus in Massachusetts
• An eight-figure stock deal for the sale of a software company with proprietary software for the waste industry — transfer stations, recycle facilities or collection companies – to an Ireland-based company looking to expand its US operations
• A seven-figure offering of common stock to facilitate research and development and, ultimately, the growth and commercialization of new intellectual property in the field of label media, creating new jobs in the engineering and chemistry space and an expanded facility
• The acquisition of medical device manufacturing business located in the Netherlands from an international conglomerate

Affiliations

• Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank, Board of Directors
• March of Dimes, Rhode Island Chapter, Former Member, Board of Directors
• Button Hole, The Golf Foundation of Rhode Island, Former Member, Board of Directors

Recognition

• Ranked in Chambers USA, Litigation: General Commercial, Rhode Island
• Recognized by Best Lawyers in America, Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Corporate Law, Rhode Island, 2020-Present
• Named by Best Lawyers in America as a “Lawyer of the Year,” Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Providence, 2025
• Recognized in Super Lawyers, Mergers & Acquisitions, Real Estate, Business & Corporate, Providence, 2024-Present; named a “Rising Star,” Mergers & Acquisitions, Real Estate, Business & Corporate, Providence, 2009-2015
• Garnered “Professional Excellence in Law” distinction several times by Rhode Island Monthly in the area of Business Law
• Named a “Forty Under 40” by Providence Business News

Education

• Roger Williams University School of Law, J.D.
• University of Rhode Island, B.S., with distinction

Bar Admissions

• Rhode Island

Court Admissions

• U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island