Amy C. Vitale, Esq, Beacon's General Counsel, is among the honorees recognized at the 2019 Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly Excellence In The Law event. The award luncheon took place on Tuesday, April 9th at the Providence Marriott Downtown.

Amy was recognized by Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly in the category of In House Counsel among Steven J. McDonald from Rhode Island School of Design and Robert F. Nostramo from MetLife Auto & Home.

A lifelong student and passionate learner, Amy C. Vitale appreciates that her role as vice president, general counsel and secretary of Beacon Mutual Insurance Co. allows her to constantly acquire knowledge and understanding of new legal and business issues. “I love the diversity and the changing nature of the work that I perform,” she says.

Vitale began her legal career in private practice at Partridge, Snow & Hahn, where she focused on representing financial institutions and insurance companies. Her training in such highly regulated industries made going in-house at Beacon in 2012 a natural fit. In 2017, Vitale was promoted to her current position, in which she is responsible for oversight of corporate governance and regulatory compliance.

“In my role, I am very fortunate to act as both legal advisor and a member of senior management team, which allows me to really delve into issues that are important for the company,” she says analogizing her role to that of a primary care physician.

“I have to be familiar with a wide variety of matters and be able to identify what the issues is so that I know  when it’s necessary to bring in a specialist,” she explains. “It is a challenge but also an opportunity to try to marry the obstacle Beacon faces with practical solutions to stay strong and competitive, while providing sound advice on how to do things in accordance with law and industry practice.”

Beacon is the largest writer by premium volume of workers' compensation insurance and related coverage in Rhode Island and the state’s insurer of last resort.

“I’m really proud that the work I do helps the company play an integral role in the state’s economy,” Vitale says.

A lifelong Rhode Islander, Vitale has been active in a variety of organizations over the years, including the Providence College Alumni Association, the East Bay Chamber of Commerce, and Rebuilding Together Providence. She also is a past president of the St. Luke’s School Parent Teacher Organization.

Vitale currently serves as a trustee and treasurer of the Ocean State Charities Trust, a nonprofit that assists state agencies providing support to Rhode Islanders in the areas of housing, health Education and welfare through grant-making and investment assistance.

A member of the American Association of State Compensation Funds’ National Issues Committee and the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training Misclassification Taskforce Workers’ Compensation Fraud Subcommittee, Vitale was tapped for the Leadership Rhode Island Nu II Class, a “great opportunity” that included a community service project involving substance abuse education and prevention in response to the opioid crisis.  (Excerpt from RILW)

Congratulations to all of this years Honorees in all of the nomination categories.

Lawyers of the Year

Patrick C. Barry, Decof, Barry, Mega & Quinn

Sonja L. Deyoe, Law Offices of Sonja Deyoe

Jennifer L. Wood, Rhode Island Center for Justice

Hall of Fame

William J. Conley Jr., Law Office of William J. Conley Jr.

Patrick T. Jones, Jones Kelleher

John J. Partridge, Partridge Snow & Hahn

John A. Tarantino, Adler, Pollock & Sheehan

Deborah M. Tate, McIntyre Tate

Up & Coming

Aimee E. Audette, Audette, Cordeiro & Violette

Christina Dzierzek, Law Office of Richard S. Humphrey

Joseph M. Flynn, Molina Flynn Law Offices

Timothy J. Grimes, Decof, Barry, Mega & Quinn

Jessica A. Shelton, U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit

Kristen M. Whittle, Barton Gilman

In-House

Steven J. McDonald, Rhode Island School of Design

Robert F. Nostramo, MetLife Auto & Home

Amy C. Vitale, Beacon Mutual Insurance Company

Unsung Hero

Gerald Miele, Higgins, Cavanagh & Cooney (administrator and financial officer)

Pro Bono

Andrew Horwitz, Roger Williams University School of Law

Judicial

Hon. Michael A. Silverstein, Superior Court (ret.)

With a subscription to Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly, more information about the 2019 Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly Excellence In The Law program can be found here.