Overview

As the former head of the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities and Chief Counsel, Victoria assists clients with bank and financial services regulation, compliance, and enforcement matters. Having overseen the supervision of Pennsylvania banks, credit unions, and trusts, the licensing of mortgage brokers, check cashers and money transmitters, and securities broker-dealers and advisors, she guides clients with bank charters, examination protocols, solvency, restructuring, corporate governance, CAMELS ratings and interaction with federal and state regulators.

Victoria also served as the Chief and Deputy Counsel for the Pennsylvania Insurance Department and as the General Counsel of a nationwide insurance firm. As a senior regulator and insurance executive, she has handled property and casualty, life, accident and health, liability and commercial insurance matters, market conduct exams, licensing, actuarial issues in insurance rate making, statutory accounting, the drafting of regulations and legislation, and has litigated complex administrative agency and appellate cases in the Pennsylvania courts.

She has served in the Governor’s Policy Office developing legislative and policy positions in the fields of banking, insurance, securities, and economic development, and as staff liaison to the Export-Import Bank of the United States on international trade matters for the Governor.

Representative Experience

  • Recent advice to clients on COVID-19 issues, PPP loan and forgiveness applications, governmental approvals, and waiver submissions.
  • Obtained favorable resolution of health insurance regulatory filing objections. 
  • Obtained successful settlement of unemployment compensation tax matters.
  • Provided advice and counsel with fintech entities oversight and licensing, cybersecurity, blockchain, and virtual currency.
  • Reviewed and approved major merger and acquisition transactions for PA state-chartered banks in conjunction with the FDIC and Federal Reserve.
  • Provided legal guidance on Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering issues.
  • Developed examination training with the Conference of State Bank Supervisors for bank examiners nationwide as Chairman of the CSBS Educational Foundation.
  • Defended agency decisions in the Commonwealth and PA Supreme Courts.
  • Provided counsel and oversight in rehabilitation and liquidation decisions.

Professional & Community Activities

  • Former Board of Directors of the Conference of State Bank Supervisors and CSBS Educational Foundation Chairman
  • Former Chairman of the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency
  • Former Pennsylvania Administrator for the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) of securities regulators In USA, territories, Canada, and Mexico
  • Board of Directors of the Cultural Enrichment Fund for the Harrisburg Symphony, Central PA Youth Ballet, Whitaker Center, and arts organizations in central Pennsylvania
  • Member Pennsylvania Society
  • Member Newport RI Preservation Society preserving historic mansions of the Gilded Age
  • Member PA Bar Association, Business Lawyers Committee, In-House Counsel Committee, Women in the Profession
  • Member Global Interdependence Center
  • Member Forum of Executive Women

Speeches & Presentations

  • Keynote speech for PA Housing Finance Agency.
  • PA Newsmakers with Dr. Terry Madonna Discussing Pennsylvania Mortgage Issues with the PA Credit Union Association.
  • Presentation on Commonwealth Financing with the Office of Budget.
  • Presentation on economic and financial issues with the Federal Reserve Bank.
  • Presentation to commonwealth accountants and budget analysts on banking and financial issues.

Professional Recognition

  • Received NASAA’s Meritorious Service Award for state securities regulation and investor protection.
  • Awarded YWCA’s Women of Excellence.
  • Chosen by Governor Edward Rendell as Acting Secretary of Banking 2006-2007 and served as Special Assistant to the Governor for Financial Services during tenure as Pennsylvania Banking’s Executive Deputy Secretary. 
  • Senior Financial Services Executive appointed in both Democratic and Republican Administrations.

Further information on methodologies is available via these links.

Representative Experience

  • Recent advice to clients on COVID-19 issues, PPP loan and forgiveness applications, governmental approvals, and waiver submissions.
  • Obtained favorable resolution of health insurance regulatory filing objections. 
  • Obtained successful settlement of unemployment compensation tax matters.
  • Provided advice and counsel with fintech entities oversight and licensing, cybersecurity, blockchain, and virtual currency.
  • Reviewed and approved major merger and acquisition transactions for PA state-chartered banks in conjunction with the FDIC and Federal Reserve.
  • Provided legal guidance on Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering issues.
  • Developed examination training with the Conference of State Bank Supervisors for bank examiners nationwide as Chairman of the CSBS Educational Foundation.
  • Defended agency decisions in the Commonwealth and PA Supreme Courts.
  • Provided counsel and oversight in rehabilitation and liquidation decisions.