Our Team
Richard A Smith, Attorney
In addition to practicing law for over 40 years, Attorney Smith has been actively involved with the legal community, having served as the Danbury Bar Association’s Secretary, Vice President, President and past chair of the Real Estate Section, while organizing Law Day Probate Seminars for the community. Attorney Smith is also a member of the Connecticut, Federal and United States Supreme Court Bars, as well as a previous member of the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association. In addition, Attorney Smith taught paralegal real estate and adult education courses, conducted real estate seminars, authored numerous articles on a myriad of legal issues and has assisted students at Trinity Pawling School in their Street Law course.
Richard served as The State Representative for the 108th General Assembly District from 2010 through 2020, sitting on the powerful Judiciary Committee each year. To help improve his speaking skills, Richard joined and became President of the Bethel Toastmasters Club.
When not practicing law, Richard could be found serving in many volunteer and civic posts such as the New Fairfield Lions Club, where he received the Melvin Jones award, its highest honor, for his service to the community. Richard also enjoyed helping our youth as a member of the New Fairfield Board of Education, New Fairfield Community Coalition for the Prevention of Youth Violence and the School Family Community Partnership Committees, while sitting over ten years on the Cal-Ripken New Fairfield Baseball Board of Directors, as well as being a coach.
Richard currently sits as a member on the University of New Haven College of Arts & Sciences Advisory Board and as the Second Vice President of the Quaker Hill Country Club in Pawling, New York.
Born and raised in Danbury, Connecticut to working class parents, Richard learned the benefits of hard work and helping those in need while assisting his father in his plumbing business on weekends and summers. Although Richard worked throughout college and law school to help defray the costs, he was most impressed by his father and mother taking on two jobs, working day and night, to pay tuition. That work ethic has been instilled in Richard as an attorney as he tirelessly advocates for those in need and continually donates his time and talents back to the community in the many avenues in which he is involved. Richard settled in New Fairfield with his wife Elizabeth where they raised their two children Chase and Courtney. In Richard's free time he is an avid golfer and enjoys making a mean cocktail.
Shannon Simonsen Paralegal
Born and raised in The Bronx, Shannon came to New Fairfield in 1999 and attended New Fairfield High School. Shannon graduated college with Honors and is hoping to to continue her goals of attending Law School. She is a mother of two school-aged children and a sweet baby and coaches cheerleading for the New Fairfield Falcons. Shannon has years of experience helping others and ensuring that clients are always happy with the services she helps to provide. Shannon has been with the firm since July 2017 and enjoys learning and gaining experience at Smith & DeFeo LLP. When not at work, Shannon enjoys family-friendly activities with her children.
Christina V DeFeo Attorney
Although the written word is not Christina’s only passion, it is the one passion that drove her to pursue a career in law. Christina graduated from Colgate University in 2002 with an A.B. in English and Spanish.
She was a goaltender for the Colgate Women’s Ice Hockey team and held various executive positions with the Delta Tau Chapter of Gamma Phi Beta. After teaching Spanish for two years at Cushing Academy, Christina attended and graduated from Syracuse University College of Law in 2007. As a law student, she volunteered as Chapter Advisor for the Alpha Chapter of Gamma Phi Beta, as a Student Legal Advisor for Vera House, and gave birth to two beautiful children who, presently, have no plans to attend law school. She was a founding member of the Syracuse University Women’s Ice Hockey team as well.
Christina is admitted to practice in New York and Connecticut. Prior to her partnership with Attorney Smith, Christina was an associate attorney at a boutique estate planning firm in Darien, Connecticut.
Christina also served as general counsel for one of the largest insurance brokerage agencies in Fairfield County and ran a private practice focused on estate planning and immigration law. While raising her children, she was actively involved with a variety of local charities, service organizations, and youth sports. Christina graduated from New Fairfield High School and is looking forward to serving the legal needs of the community in which she was raised. Her youngest child is a student at New Fairfield Middle School.
Christina is an avid New York Rangers fan and a proud Colgate University alumna. In her spare time, Christina as you may have guessed enjoys playing ice hockey, doing New York Times Sunday crossword puzzles, and traveling anywhere that is warm and sunny.
Julie Deluca Real Estate Legal Assistant
Conscientious, friendly, and always willing to assist clients all hours of the day, Julie is a great asset to our team. Born and raised in Connecticut, Julie started working with Attorney Smith in 1998 and now works remotely closing residential and commercial transactions. When not working Julie loves to spend time with her family. Julie is always up for a good political debate and enjoys reading, crossword puzzles and spin classes.