UKS 'Financial Institutions' Practice Group

Hartford, December 27, 2021:  Updike, Kelly & Spellacy, P.C. (UKS) is pleased to announce that, effective January 1, 2022, the attorneys and staff formerly practicing with Cranmore, FitzGerald & Meaney, LLC’s (“CFM”) Financial Institutions Practice Group will join the firm and expand the Financial Institutions Practice of UKS.

John J. Alissi, the President of UKS, stated, “We are pleased to welcome Jody Cranmore, Patricia D. Anderson and Jennifer L. DiBella and the staff of CFM. We look forward to the continuation of their Financial Institutions Practice with Updike, Kelly & Spellacy P.C. The addition of their practice will dramatically expand the range of services that the firm can offer its banking and financial institution clients.”

Throughout its 37-year existence, CFM’s Financial Institutions Practice has represented the legal needs of financial institutions throughout the Northeast. CFM has provided legal advice to banks and those organizing banks, established bank holding companies, and guided institutions in resolving supervisory issues and concerns. The financial practices group of CFM has advised the management and boards of financial institutions with respect to a broad section of corporate, banking, compliance, security, and regulatory matters, and represented issuers, underwriters and placement agents to address the capital needs of banks and bank holding companies. CFM has been a leader in advising clients in public and private offerings of debt and equity and is historically among the leading firms in the region in advising financial institutions with respect to mergers and acquisitions.  The clients of CFM include mutual institutions, closely held institutions and institutions that are publicly traded.  CFM has also advised clients with respect to IT, employment, vendor management and other activities, and FinTech relationships.

“By combining our practice with that of UKS, we will expand the scope of legal services available to existing and future clients,” said Patricia D. Anderson. Ms. DiBella echoed the sentiment expressed by Ms. Anderson and added, “In partnership with UKS, we found a law firm with a shared philosophy of client service and professionalism.”

Updike, Kelly & Spellacy, P.C. is a full-service law firm providing comprehensive legal, lobbying and public affairs representation on a local, regional, and national basis. The firm engages in the traditional areas of legal practice as well as a variety of specialized and emerging practice areas. The firm is a founding member of Meritas Law Firms Worldwide, an alliance of 189 law firms with offices in 247 markets located in 90 countries.