Melissa's practice focuses on state and federal appellate work as well as commercial litigation. In her appellate practice, Melissa helps clients and litigators seeking to protect their appellate record and to properly prepare a case should the litigation result in an appeal. In the event of an appeal, Melissa partners with trial counsel to protect a favorable ruling, seek a reversal, or obtain other appellate relief.

​

In her litigation practice, Melissa assists individuals, small businesses and large corporations by prosecuting or defending lawsuits involving contracts, consumer litigation, real property and insurance coverage.  Melissa is admitted to practice in all Florida state courts, the United States District Courts and Bankruptcy Courts for the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. 

 

She began her career in 2006 following her graduation from Stetson where Melissa was a member of the second part-time law school class.  From 2012 until 2018, Melissa managed the appellate department at Kass Shuler, P.A.  In that capacity, she was lead counsel for over 150 appeals statewide, including appeals in each of the five district courts of appeal, the Florida Supreme Court and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.  Melissa has argued, collectively, over 20 different cases in front of the Second District Court of Appeal, the Third District Court of Appeal, and the Fifth District Court of Appeal.  Melissa also co-authored amicus briefs filed by the American Legal & Financial Network with the Third District Court of Appeal and the Florida Supreme Court in two landmark cases that resolved a dispute over the statute of limitations for a lender exercising its contractual rights in a residential mortgage.  Both courts adopted the interpretation advocated by the ALFN, resulting in a favorable ruling for mortgage servicers and institutional lenders. 

 

Melissa grew up in Tallahassee but has lived in Tampa since 2001.