Melissa Pallett-Vasquez Selected as 2026 Partnership for Miami Fellow
Miami, FL – Bilzin Sumberg is pleased to announce that Melissa C. Pallett-Vasquez, Head of the firm’s Commercial Trial Practice, has been selected to the 2026 Partnership for Miami Fellows Class, a highly selective civic leadership program committed to advancing the future of Miami.
The Partnership for Miami Fellows Program is designed to cultivate the next generation of civic leaders by deepening participants' understanding of the region's most pressing challenges and opportunities. Through a nine-month curriculum, Fellows develop the relationships, insights, and leadership skills necessary to drive meaningful impact across Miami's business and civic landscape. Fellows will address areas as diverse as education, housing affordability, infrastructure planning, the cultivation of Miami’s robust arts and culture offerings, and environmental issues critical to South Florida’s growth.
A seasoned litigator, Melissa focuses her practice on high-stakes, bet-the-company cases, representing clients in complex business disputes in federal and state courts, including class actions and multi-jurisdictional litigation. In addition to her practice, she serves as the firm's Hiring Partner, playing a key role in talent development and diversity initiatives. Her fellowship with the Partnership for Miami builds on a long record of industry and civic leadership, including her current tenure as Programs Officer of the American Bar Association's International Law Section and her role as Secretary of the Cuban American Bar Association's Pro Bono Legal Services Board of Directors. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade, an organization with which she has been actively involved for more than a decade.
As part of her participation, Melissa joins Albert E. Dotson, Jr., Bilzin Sumberg’s CEO and Managing Partner, who serves on the Partnership for Miami's Board of Directors, and Javier F. Aviñó, the firm’s Head of Land Use & Zoning, who was selected to the 2025 Fellows Class.
"Melissa's selection reflects her expanding leadership both within our firm and across the broader Miami community," said Al. "Her professional achievements and commitment to civic engagement position her to contribute meaningfully to initiatives that will shape Miami's continued growth and success."
About Partnership of Miami
The Partnership for Miami is a nonprofit organization comprising business leaders acting in the civic interest to build a world-class Miami that works for all. The organization facilitates thoughtful collaborations among partners from the private, public, and civic sectors, bridging gaps to advance progress for the community. The Partnership works with a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including grassroots organizations, researchers, policymakers, and philanthropists, to develop and implement solutions to ensure Miami is a place of economic opportunity, global innovation, and world-class arts and culture.
About Bilzin Sumberg
At Bilzin Sumberg, we empower our clients to achieve extraordinary results through our expertise and creative solutions. Our dedication to providing practical and personalized attention spans a broad spectrum of practices, focusing on complex matters that require a high level of expertise and sophistication.
Guided by our guiding principles of integrity, trust and empathy, we build strong, enduring relationships with our clients and partners. By leveraging relationships, we deliver tailored solutions that make a lasting impact. Our competencies include antitrust, trial and litigation, construction law, corporate and securities, environmental law, CMBS, restructuring and finance, government relations, joint ventures, private wealth planning, public-private partnerships, and real estate. For more information, please visit bilzin.com.