Overview

Melissa Stephenson concentrates her practice on insurance defense, coverage, bad faith and complex liability litigation, focusing on managing complex disputes in areas such as excess general liability, directors and officers, fiduciary, cyber and property lines.

In addition to her private practice, she has extensive experience overseeing insured defense counsel nationwide as well as managing and conducting risk assessments to ensure effective exposure mitigation strategies for insurance carriers. Melissa has over a decade of in-house claims experience for multiple carriers and over multiple lines of coverage, making her uniquely positioned to understand the needs of carrier clients and claims professionals.

Prior to joining Foran Glennon, Melissa served as a senior claims attorney at an excess liability insurance carrier in the energy sector where she managed litigated property, liability, directors and officers cases and coverage disputes; provided coverage analysis and policy reformation advice to underwriters and management; negotiated settlements and oversaw litigation management of panel counsel firms. In this role, she also assisted with the company’s strategic planning and business objectives including developing claims procedures and processes to streamline workflows, interdepartmental collaboration between claims, finance and underwriting as well as implementing the company’s DEI and member education initiatives.

Professional Leadership

Melissa is a member of the Defense Research Institute, Association of Corporate Counsel, Natural Gas Claims Litigation Association and Loss Executives Association.

Community Leadership

Melissa serves as a member of the Board of Stewards at Cypress Meadows Community Church in Clearwater, Florida. In this role, she provides strategic leadership in finance, operations and business development, overseeing budget analysis, succession planning, contract negotiation and litigation.

Education

Melissa earned her J.D. from Stetson University College of Law in 2009 after earning her B.S. in Psychology from the University of South Florida in 2001.

While in law school, Melissa worked full time as an individual disability income claims consultant with a national leading insurance carrier where she handled rescissions and fraud investigations while collaborating with physicians to determine medical eligibility. Additionally, during completion of her J.D., Melissa served as a law clerk at a Tampa firm representing another national carrier specializing in workers’ compensation defense and auto liability.

Admissions

Melissa is licensed to practice in Florida, as well as the United States District Courts for the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida.