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Providence RI 02903-1345
TEL: 401.274.7200
FAX: 401.751.0604
Practice Areas
- Administrative Law
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Criminal Law/White Collar Defense
- Divorce, Family Law and Juvenile Justice
- Governmental & Legislative
- Health Care
- Higher Education
- Labor & Employment
- Litigation
- Products Liability Law/Toxic Tort Law
- Sports Law
Clerkships
- Law clerk to the late R.I. Supreme Court Justice Thomas J. Paolino
Education
- Suffolk University (J.D., 1976)
- Salve Regina University (B.A., 1973)
Bar & Court Admissions
- Rhode Island
- Commonwealth of Massachusetts
- United States Supreme Court
- U.S. District Court, District of Rhode Island
- U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts
- U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit
- Victoria M. Almeida
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vCard - Full Bio
A seasoned, distinguished and highly awarded attorney with noted successes in high-stakes, precedent-setting cases, Victoria gives her litigation, healthcare, governmental and white-collar criminal-defense clients responsive, civil and innovative counsel. Always remaining accessible, providing prompt attention to pressing problems and avoiding cookie-cutter solutions, she works to minimize her clients’ worry while advancing their business objectives.
Notably, she successfully challenged a Rhode Island law that had required employers to provide health insurance to employees receiving workers' compensation benefits. The precedent-setting decision—affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court—struck down a law that had been considered one of the most controversial and costly for Rhode Island businesses.
Additionally, Victoria’s exemplary professional and civic service includes important posts: President of the Rhode Island Bar Association; the first woman in Rhode Island history appointed Executive Counsel to a governor; and Vice Chairperson for the Rhode Island Parole Board for 20 years, a position to which she has recently been reappointed by the governor and is Vice Chairperson of the R.I. Health Services Council, the advisory board to the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health which decides those matters involving new health care equipment, new institutional health services, and the licensing of health care facilities
Significant Matters
- In a case of first impression, Victoria successfully defended the former Rhode Island Senate President on ethics charges. The Rhode Island Supreme Court ruled that the Rhode Island Constitution's speech in debate clause barred the Ethics Commission from charging a legislator for how he or she participated in the legislative process and voted on legislation.
- She recently represented a business person in a highly sensitive criminal matter, where a conviction would have destroyed his reputation and business. Within 72 hours she had the case resolved – without a hearing or criminal record for her client.
- Victoria successfully defended the Rhode Island Senate in both state and federal court in a voting rights case due to her strategy in successfully identifying and retaining the necessary trial experts needed to establish the constitutionality of the Rhode Island Senate Redistricting Plan.
- She served as the trial attorney for an insurance company in the Rhode Island Supreme Court case Corrente v Fitchburg Mutual Fire Insurance Company, 557 A.2d 859, wherein the court held, in a case of first impression, that in a first party claim against an insurer, the bad-faith claim must be bifurcated from the breach-of-contract claim at trial.
- She successfully challenged a Rhode Island law—resulting in a precedent-setting decision—that had required employers to provide health insurance to employees receiving workers' compensation benefits. The law had been considered one of the most controversial and costly for Rhode Island businesses. Upheld by U.S. Supreme Court.
Honors & Distinctions
- In 2010 the R.I. Bar Association established the Victoria M. Almeida Servant Leader Award – the first time in the Bar’s 113 year history that it has named an award in honor of a living member. Victoria will receive the award on June 10, 2010 at the Bar’s Annual Dinner.
- Honored by her inclusion in Who’s Who in American Law and Who’s Who in the East.
- Listed in A.M. Best’s Recommended Insurance Attorneys.
- AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell, highest rating given to attorneys.
- Recipient, Rhode Island Bar Dorothy Lohmann Community Service Award.
- Recipient, YWCA of Greater Rhode Island Outstanding Woman Award.
- Recipient, Alumni Achievement Award: 2003 – Salve Regina University.
- Recipient, St. Mary Academy, Bay View – Distinguished Alumni Award.
Professional Affiliations
- President, R.I. Bar Association, 2009-2010.
- Member, House of Delegates, R.I. Bar Association.
- Chairperson, R.I. Bar Strategic Planning Committee.
- Member, Executive Committee, R.I. Bar Association.
- Member, National Conference of Bar Presidents.
- Member, The American Law Institute, Washington, D.C.
- Member, Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, Felix Franfurter Chapter.
- Lifetime Fellow, R.I. Bar Foundation and Member of its Board of Directors.
- Member, American Bar Association.
- Member, Defense Research Institute.
- Member, Rhode Island Defense Counsel.
- Member, National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys.
- Member, Panel of Arbitrators for the American Arbitration Association and the American Arbitration Forum.
Community & Civic Activity
- Vice Chairperson, Rhode Island Health Services Council.
- Vice Chairperson, Rhode Island Parole Board.
- Vice Chairperson, Diocese of Providence School Board.
- Dame, Order of Malta, Hospitaller, Rhode Island Chapter.
- Board of Directors, St. Antoine Residence.
- Board of Trustees, Mount St. Rita Health Center.
- Board of Directors, Poverello Wellness & Food Center, sponsored by the Franciscans of Providence.
- Board of Directors, St. Thomas More Society.
- Co-Chair, Anchor of Hope Corporate Committee, Diocese of Providence.
- Member, Salve Regina University Campus Heritage Preservation and Restoration Planning Campaign.
- Member, Salve Regina University Chapel Campaign Committee.
News
- AP&S Attorneys Play Key Role at R.I. Bar Association Annual Meeting
- Victoria Almeida Assumes Duties of President of R.I. Bar Association
- Victoria Almeida Is President-Elect of RI Bar
- Victoria Almeida Elected Vice President of R.I. Bar Association
- Victoria Almeida Elected Secretary of R.I. Bar Association
- Victoria Almeida Re-elected Vice Chair of Health Services Council
- Victoria Almeida Re-Appointed to R.I. State Parole Board
Publications & Seminars
- Frequent lecturer and author, in various publications, on trial techniques, legal ethics and insurance law.
