Melissa McCullough Zierden grew up in Tallahassee, Florida. It was there, in 1988, that she began a distinguished first career in law enforcement. Appointed to three different state law enforcement agencies over several years, Melissa served as a Criminal Intelligence Analyst and received over 50 commendations from her commanders. With her last assignment being at the Florida Division of Insurance Fraud, Melissa became familiar with every line of insurance and assisted in the prosecution of both first and third-party insurance fraud perpetrated against insurance carriers and self-insureds.
In 1997, she left law enforcement to attend law school. While there, she was elected to serve the student body as President of the Student Bar Association. Under her leadership, the American Bar Association named it the best law school student government in the United States. Melissa began her legal career as an assistant state attorney for Florida’s Sixth (6th) Judicial Circuit and eventually left for private practice. She litigates large complex losses involving Premises and Products Liability. Melissa served as a risk management and litigation consultant to several Fortune 500 corporations on their major cases or bad faith insurer conduct. She is a skilled negotiator and has tried 20 cases to verdict.
PRACTICE AREAS
Premise Liability
Products Liability
Transportation Litigation
Commercial Litigation
Insurance Litigation
Personal Injury Defense
ADMITTED TO PRACTICE
Florida, 2000
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida – 2003
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida – 2001
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida – 2003
EDUCATION
Stetson University College of Law, Gulfport, Florida
- May 2000 – Juris Doctor
Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida
- December 1996 – Bachelor of Science in Criminology
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Rotary International – Lake County Golden Triangle Chapter
Lake County Bar Association
Florida Bar – Government Advocacy Committee
Claims and Litigation Management Alliance
International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts
- Founding board member for the Florida Chapter
National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators
- Past national president
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
Orlando’s Top Women in the Law – 2025
Leadership Recognition Award 2022
Executive Woman of the Year 2010
National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators President’s Award 2008
National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators President’s Award 2007
Florida Department of Law Enforcement Distinguished Member 1995
Skilled Interrogator Recognition 1994
Employee of the Quarter – 440 Strike Force 1996