Kelly Ruane Melchiondo

Partner

305-350-7342

kmelchiondo@bilzin.com

Hablo Español

Area of Focus: Construction, Trial & Litigation

GET TO KNOW KELLY

Kelly Ruane Melchiondo is a Partner in Bilzin Sumberg's Construction Law and Litigation Group. Kelly’s practice focuses on complex litigation, in both jury and non-jury trials, of claims involving construction and design defects, construction contract claims, and products liability at the trial and appellate levels in federal and state courts.

Kelly is also a member of the firm's Data Security & Privacy Team. Her cybersecurity practice focuses on counseling clients on safeguarding their data and private information by drafting and implementing policies for data security and strengthening internal controls, and on assisting clients with data breach prevention and response. In 2018 and 2021, Kelly served on The Sedona Conference Working Team 11, Brainstorming Committee, which aims to help organizations prepare for and respond to data breaches and to assist attorneys in resolving issues of legal liability and damages. The Sedona Conference is a non-profit organization dedicated to the advanced study of law and policy in the areas of complex litigation, intellectual property rights, and data privacy.

Q & A

What do you enjoy most about practicing construction law?

I have a background in journalism, and what I loved about that is also what I love about my practice. In order to be able to meet my clients’ needs effectively, I have to learn all I can about the client’s business or the client’s projects and then explain it in layman's terms to either a judge or a jury that does not have a construction background. I am constantly intellectually stimulated by it because no project is ever the same. I take that same level of curiosity for each project, and I want to know everything that I can about the project and come up with practical solutions for the client.

How does your construction practice intersect with your data privacy practice?

Data security is an emerging topic for every industry, but in the last few years, the construction industry has turned its attention more to software and Cloud-based platforms, rather than keeping project files onsite in trailers. It's crucial for all of the internal documents to be protected. There's a need for owners and developers who are engaging contractors and other professionals on these complex construction projects to ensure that all parties have a data security protocol to prevent data breaches and theft. Threats like ransomware are a big problem, posing risks to payment applications, stealing bank account information, even tying up confidential plans for particular projects and communications with the design team. It behooves everyone in the industry, including the lawyers representing all of the parties, to be up-to-date with data protection and all the requirements to safeguard such confidential and sensitive information.

EXPERIENCE

INSIGHTS

CREDENTIALS

Education

Boston University, J.D., 2002

University of Miami, B.S., 1998
Involvement

Dade County Bar Association
Law & Technology Committee, Co-Chair, 2020

City Theatre
Chair of the Board of Directors, 2015-Present
Secretary and Member of the Board of Directors, 2009-2015

The Florida Bar
Standard Jury Instructions in Civil Cases-Subcommittee for Construction

Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce
Sports Council Committee

Miami Children's Museum
Secretary of the Executive Committee, 2018-Present
Member of the Board of Directors, 2014-Present

Sedona Conference Working Team 11
Drafting Team for the Second Edition of Working Group 11’s Commentary on the Application of the Attorney-Client Privilege and Work-Product Protection to Documents and Communications Generated in the Cybersecurity Context, 2021
Brainstorming Team on the Advisability of Adopting a Strict Liability Regime for Data Breaches Involving Personal Information, 2021
Brainstorming Committee for the Enforcement and Jurisdictional application of the GDPR to United States-based companies, 2018
Legal Issues in Cloud Computing, 2017
Bar Admissions

Florida

Court Admissions

U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida

U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida

U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
Awards/Honors

The Best Lawyers in America, Construction Law, Litigation - Construction, 2022 - present

South Florida Legal Guide, Top Lawyers in South Florida - Litigation, 2017 - 2020
Languages

Spanish

PRACTICES