Overview

Melissa is a partner in the firm's Litigation Department. She assists clients in complex business and commercial litigation, professional liability and contract disputes. She has experience litigating breach of fiduciary duty claims, and employment and breach of contract claims including enforcement of non-compete, non-solicitation and non-disclosure provisions.

Melissa also practices in the area of real property litigation, contracts and indebtedness, and enforcement of restrictive covenants. She has extensive experience working with financial institutions and as appellate counsel. In addition, she brings broad experience working with in-house counsel and executives to manage litigation.

Education

  • Florida State University College of Law  (J.D., magna cum laude, 2009)
  • Florida State University  (B.A., summa cum laude, 2006)

Bar Admissions

  • Florida
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

Professional Associations

  • Hillsborough County Association for Women Lawyers, Board Member, 2019-2021
  • Federal Bar Association, Tampa Bay Chapter, Staying in the Game Committee Member, 2019-Present
  • Volusia County Bar Association
  • Volusia Young Professionals Group, President-2015
  • Volusia Flagler Association for Women Lawyers, President, 2011-2012

Honors & Awards

  • The Best Lawyers in America®
  • Florida Super Lawyers, Rising Stars Edition
  • Martindale-Hubbell®, AV Preeminent
  • Stewart-Marchman-Act Foundation Leadership Award, 2017
  • Community Foundation of Volusia & Flagler, Division of United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties, Young Leaders Award, 2016
  • Volusia Flagler Association for Women Lawyers, Distinguished Service Award, 2016
  • Volusia Young Professionals Group Leadership Award, 2015
  • Volusia Flagler Business Report, "40 under 40" Business Professionals, 2013-2015
  • Leadership Daytona Class XXXIII, Graduate, 2013
  • Order of the Coif

Community

  • Stewart-Marchman-Act Behavioral Healthcare, Board of Directors/Executive Committee; Community Council: Project W.A.R.M., Chair
  • Stewart-Marchman-Act Foundation, Chairman of the Board, 2015-2017
  • Florida Supreme Court Internship Program
  • Checkered Flag Committee