Melissa C. Pallett-Vasquez
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 Revenue 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.
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University of Florida, J.D., Levin College of Law, cum laude, 2003McGill University, B.A., 2000
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American Bar Association
International Law Section, Budget Officer, 2023 - 2024
Section Officers Conference, Finance Officer Class Representative, 2022 – 2024
International Law Section, Revenue Officer, 2021 - 2023
International Law Section, Liaison Officer, 2020 - 2021
International Law Section, Food, Agriculture & Cannabis Committee, Vice-Chair, 2020 - 2021
International Law Section, Annual Conference Co-Chair, 2018
International Law Section, Division Chair, 2018 - 2020
International Law Section, Canada Committee, Committee Co-Chair, 2016 - 2018; Senior Advisor 2019 - present
International Law Section, Food and Agricultural Task Force, Vice-Chair, 2019 - 2020University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)School of Law, Guest Lecturer, Class Action Litigation, 2022 - 2023Florida Association for Women LawyersMemberBoys and Girls Clubs of Miami-DadeBoard of Directors, 2017 - present
Gala Committee, 2014 - 2022Cuban American Bar AssociationPro Bono Legal Services Board of Directors, 2024
MemberThe Florida BarJudicial Nominating Procedures Committee, 2013 - 2015Greater Miami Chamber of CommerceLeadership Miami, Class of 2010Lawyers for Children AmericaBoard of Directors, 2018 - 2023
Volunteer Attorney Ad Litem, 2005 - presentMcGill Alumni AssociationPresident of the South Florida Chapter, 2007 - presentNational Association of Women JudgesFriends Committee, 2011 - 2012 -
Florida
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U.S. Supreme CourtU.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh CircuitU.S. District Court, District of MinnesotaU.S. District Court, Eastern District of LouisianaU.S. District Court, Middle District of FloridaU.S. District Court, Southern District of IndianaU.S. District Court, Southern District of FloridaU.S. District Court, District of Colorado
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Band 2, Chambers USA, Litigation: General Commercial, 2017- present
Florida Trend’s Notable Women Leaders in Law, 2024
Daily Business Review, Innovators Honoree, 2021
National Law Journal, Crisis Leadership Trailblazer, 2020
Daily Business Review, Florida Trailblazers, 2019
The Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation, 2019 - presentBenchmark Litigation, 40 & Under Hot List, 2016 -2019; Future Star, 2016 - present
Florida Trend's Legal Elite, 2007 - 2008, 2012 - present
Super Lawyers, Florida Rising Stars, 2010 -2019; Florida Super Lawyers, 2020 - present
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FrenchSpanish
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