Melissa C. Pallett-Vasquez

Melissa Pallett-Vasquez is a Partner in Bilzin Sumberg's Trial & Litigation Group, where she handles complex business disputes in both federal and state courts, including class actions and arbitration. She focuses her practice on high stakes, bet-the-company cases, in which long-standing clients appreciate her ability to interpret the legal landscape and craft astute strategies that protect their business interests today, tomorrow, and in the future. She has extensive experience particularly in federal class action defense and multi-jurisdictional cases, and is additionally often called upon to handle complex, but sensitive, high profile local state court matters. She is also adept at handling the often challenging process surrounding injunctions, including emergency injunctions, on behalf of her clients. Melissa is consistently recognized by legal publications including Chambers USA, Benchmark Litigation, and The Best Lawyers in America. 

As Bilzin Sumberg’s Hiring Partner, Melissa also leads the firm’s recruitment efforts, ensuring that the firm continues to attract and retain top legal talent while also supporting Bilzin Sumberg’s diversity and inclusivity agenda through its hiring practices. 

Outside of her thriving practice and her role as Hiring Partner, Melissa is actively involved in the American Bar Association's International Law Section, where she is currently the Budget Officer, one of the few Executive Committee positions in the Section; having previously served as a Division Chair, Vice-Chair of the Food, Agriculture & Cannabis Committee, and Co-Chair of the Canada Committee. Melissa also serves on the Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls Club of Miami-Dade, an organization with which she has been actively involved for more than a decade. She earned her J.D. at the University of Florida Levin College of Law, cum laude, and her B.A. at McGill University. Melissa speaks French and Spanish.