Founder: 2007, currently retired

Legal Experience

Spellman, Kelly & Fanous LLC March 2007-Present

Victoria Spellman has been practicing law since 1978, and is licensed in Connecticut and Massachusetts. In Connecticut, her practice includes real estate, probate, wills, trusts, estate planning, estate and trust taxation, contracts, business and finance. In Massachusetts, her practice includes real estate. She has received a Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating of "Distinguished Attorney", which means that she was deemed by her peers to have very high professional ethics and very high legal ability. She conducts seminars and lectures on estate planning, probate and trusts.

Victoria Spellman & Associates, LLC March 2001-March 2007

Law practice in the areas of probate, wills, trusts, estate and trust taxation, real estate, contracts, business and finance.

Hartford County Title Services, LLC March 2001- December 2004

Real Estate practice dedicated to the State of Connecticut, Department of Transportation.

General Practice: September 1991-March 2001

Law practice in the areas of probate, wills, trusts, estate and trust taxation, real estate, contracts, business and finance.

d/b/a Hartford County Title Services-September 1991-March 2001

Commercial and residential title searches, closings and recordings.

Town Attorney for the Town of Suffield: September 1996-October 1997

Aetna Life & Casualty: June 1980-September 1986

Counsel with the rank of assistant vice president, July 1986-September 1986

Counsel, October 1981-September 1986

Attorney, June 1980-September 1981

Negotiated and structured large financial transactions. Negotiated and reviewed hundreds of leveraged lease transactions, municipal bonds, industrial development revenue bonds, bonds, mortgages, leases, letters of credit, partnerships and other investment agreements and trusts. Negotiated bankruptcy workouts. Drafted and set up compliance procedures, manuals and an audit system for a new broker-dealer. Managed large projects (such as setting up TEFRA compliance company-wide). Managed litigation. Drafted legislation, drafted and obtained favorable insurance department and I.R.S. rulings. Drafted numerous documents, including new insurance products. Researched numerous issues, including major legal issues involving multi-billion dollar accounts, and provided legal advice to the following client areas: Bond Investment, Real Estate Investment, Group Pension and Alternative Health Care (PPOs).

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company: July 1977-June 1980

Assistant Counsel, June 1979-May 1980

As Assistant Counsel in the Securities Section, provided legal advice on private placement investments, sales of restricted securities, equity products, separate investment accounts, and the company's roles as investment adviser and broker-dealer. Rendered legal advice and provided corporate secretarial services to a mutual fund.

Attorney, July 1977-May 1979

As Attorney, trained in Securities, Real Estate, Insurance, Litigation, Corporate and Tax Sections of the Law Department.

 

Areas of Practice

Wills and Trusts

Probate

Real Estate Law

Business Organizations

 

Recent Publications

"LexisNexis Practice Guide: Connecticut Estate Planning" 2016 Edition

Bar Admissions

Massachusetts, 1978

Connecticut, 1981

 

Education

University of Connecticut School of Law, Hartford, ConnecticutJ.D. - 1977

Honors: Awarded Hartford County Bar Association Scholarship

Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Massachusetts B.A. cum laude - 1973

Classes/Seminars

Lecturer, Estate Planning, Probate and Trusts

 

Honors and Awards

Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating of "Distinguished Attorney"

 

Professional Associations and Memberships

Founding Member, Suffield Chamber of Commerce

Town of Suffield, Former Selectman

 

Past Employment Positions

Victoria Spellman & Associates, LLC, 2001 - 2007

Hartford County Title Services, LLC, 2001 - 2004

General Practice, 1991 - 2001

Hartford County Title Services, 1991 - 2001

Town of Suffield, Town Attorney, 1996 - 1997

Aetna Life & Casualty, Counsel with the rank of Assistant Vice President, 1986

Aetna Life & Casualty, Counsel, 1981 - 1986

Aetna Life & Casualty, Attorney, 1980 - 1981

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, Assistant Counsel, 1979 - 1980

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, Attorney, 1977 - 1979

 

Pro Bono Activities

Former Trustee & Moderator, First Church of Christ Congregational Suffield