Hinna focuses on complex commercial and class action litigation. She represents companies in a wide range of matters involving complex business litigation and has worked extensively on matters in federal and state court, both at the trial and appellate level.
She also represents insurers and plaintiffs in life, health, and disability matters and defends benefits cases in both ERISA and non-ERISA contexts, including in particular, complex benefits cases. As an associate in the energy practice group, she also has experience in research and analysis for matters before state and federal regulators and for energy-related transactions.
Prior to joining Pierce Atwood, Hinna served as a law clerk for the Honorable William E. Smith of the U.S. District Court in the District of Rhode Island and the Honorable Francis X. Flaherty of the Rhode Island Supreme Court.
Recent Experience
- Defense of a private equity firm in class action matter relating to putative WARN Act violations by its investment, a now defunct toy retailer
- Assist retail electricity supplier with New York Energy Services Company (ESCO) application, including compliance requirements for registration and disclosure activities
- Performed research and analysis for major energy company seeking to purchase natural gas utility assets in Massachusetts
- Advised client on NYISO OATT process for negotiating Interconnection Agreement and FERC requirements for grandfathered agreements
Honors & Distinctions
Hinna recently achieved a pro bono asylum victory in a defensive immigration matter for a Rwandan client. She was the recipient of a National Association of Women Judges scholarship (2007) and the recipient of Thurgood Marshall Award (2007).
Professional Activities
Board of Directors, Membership Chair, South Asian Bar Association Greater Boston, 2012-present
Cultural Diversity Commitee Chair, Rhode Island Women's Bar Association, 2011-present
Member, Defense Research Institute, 2010-present
Member, Women's Bar Association of Massachusetts, 2008-present
Member, Thurgood Marshall Law Society, 2007-present
Publications
Contributing author, ERISA Survey for Federal Circuits, 2nd ed., 4U Bar Assoc. (2007)
Survey of Rhode Island Law, In re Tavares, 11 ROGER WILLIAMS U. L. Rev. 843 (2006).
A Celebration of Mothering in the Qur'an, in 7.1 JOURNAL FOR THE ASS'N FOR RESEARCH ON MOTHERING 86-97 (York University 2005).
Civic Activities
Board of Directors, Families First Rhode Island, 2011-present
Instructor, Roger Williams University School of Law, Federal Practice and Procedure, 2010-present
Board of Directors, Roger Williams University School of Law Alumni Association, 2010-present