Melina Trudeau, Krista Schmitz and Michael Forte, Jr, of The Law Firm of Olenn & Penza LLP, were recently named partners after each achieved outstanding results in pushing the firm forward and successes inside the courtroom.

Trudeau, an attorney licensed to practice in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, joined the firm in 2004. Her work focuses on aiding small business clients and individual business owners in making practical decisions regarding their legal needs. Her clients also include mental health providers, individuals affected by malpractice and attorneys. She litigated in both jury and non-jury trials in Rhode Island and represented her clients at countless mediations and arbitrations.

Additionally, Trudeau focuses on creating practices and procedures for her clients to implement to reduce legal costs, drafting and negotiating contracts, addressing collection issues, and resolving employment related disputes.

Prior to attending law school at Suffolk University Law School, Trudeau graduated from the University of Rhode Island. Trudeau worked as a substitute teacher in many Rhode Island public schools. Most notably, as a long-term substitute teaching Italian to grades 9 through 12 in the Warwick School Department. Outside of the legal field, Melina currently serves on the Board of Directors for Project Weber/RENEW in Providence. She lives in Narragansett with her husband, two young sons and a schnauzer.

Krista Schmitz began her career in insurance defense, where various insurance companies retain her services to represent their clients in lawsuits filed against them for car accidents, slip and falls, legal malpractice and other losses. She also uses this knowledge to represent individuals who suffer personal injuries in car accidents, slip and falls, and other types of accidents to recover against the responsible party.

Additionally, she represents people who feel wronged by employment discrimination – be it race, age, gender, disability or sexual harassment.

Schmitz represented various police officers and municipalities for lawsuits filed against them alleging civil rights violations and negligence. She currently serves as Board Counsel for the West Warwick Pension Board.

Since joining the firm in 2007, Schmitz received the honor of being named a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers from 2013-2017. She practices law in all state and federal courts in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Schmitz is a member of the Women’s Bar Association and serves on the Kent County Bar Association Executive Board. She is currently an assistant chair of the committee for the Rhode Island Bar Association Annual Meeting in June 2018, where she will be moderating a program on the topic of sexual harassment. Schmitz received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Northeastern University and her law degree from Suffolk University Law School in 2007.

Schmitz is a lifelong resident of Cranston. She and her husband have two kids enrolled in Cranston Public Schools and she serves as the current Parents and Teachers of Park View (PTPV) co-president at Park View Middle School and is the former PTO President of Dutemple Elementary.

Michael Forte, Jr., who has been with the firm for a decade, can litigate in all of the state and federal courts in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. He regularly works cases covered by the press including the Providence and Pawtucket pension cases, the Central Coventry Fire District Bankruptcy and the Rhode Island State Troopers Association lawsuit against the Attorney General. His clients range from attorneys, to municipal entities, to businesses and individuals in matters ranging from complex constitutional civil rights cases, to corporate receivership matters and shareholder disputes. Forte also serves as legal counsel to the Rhode Island Senate Committee on Rules, Government Ethics and Oversight.

Forte is a certified fraud examiner and his accounting and business knowledge has proven to be very resourceful for his clients. He is also a member of the superior court receivership panel. Michael teaches accounting and legal studies topics at the undergraduate level. He graduated from Providence College and received his law degree and master of business administration from Suffolk University Law School in 2008.

Forte lives in Cranston with his wife and their young son.

Established over 35 years ago, Olenn & Penza, LLP has grown into the largest litigation firm in Kent County and among the Top 20 largest in Rhode Island.