Melissa M. D’Alelio

Melissa D’Alelio is member of Robins Kaplan LLP. Tenacious and diligent, Melissa D’Alelio provides insight, analysis, and advocacy during complex commercial disputes.  Melissa divides her sophisticated insurance practice between liability and property claims, representing clients in the investigation, litigation and trial of a broad spectrum of first and third party coverage, subrogation, reinsurance, and bad faith matters.

She also counsels non-insurer clients in general business litigation and contract disputes, labor and employment matters, personal injury, and products liability.

These disputes, which arise in a broad array of industries and professions, regularly involve analyzing ordinance and law, and business interruption claims.  Melissa also handles computer fraud, hacking, and other cyber-crime property insurance claims, as well as policyholder misrepresentation and fraud claims.

Melissa’s practice includes representing insurers in the resolution and litigation of a broad range of liability coverage and claims handling disputes under primary and excess commercial, and other specialty line policies, evaluating their duty to defend and indemnify their insureds. Melissa is well versed in resolving claims involving personal and advertising injury, defective construction, additional and other insureds, priority of coverage, and allocation disputes.

Melissa’s extensive experience in resolving policy interpretation disputes in both the property and liability arenas enables her to assist insurers in drafting customized policy forms and endorsements.

A former teacher, Melissa enjoys advising and training a wide variety of clients regarding compliance with insurance regulations, state and federal statues, and common law, recommending, as necessary, changes in policy provisions and business protocols and procedures.

Since 2011, Melissa has been Vice Chair of the American Bar Association’s Property Insurance Law Committee (PILC). In this leadership role, Melissa has spearheaded major advances in PILC membership and diversity, and has been instrumental in the planning and management of the PILC annual meeting. She is a frequent speaker on various property and liability insurance matters, both at PILC events and on behalf of the Property and Liability Resource Bureau (PLRB).

Education:

• Northeastern University School of Law, J.D. (2005)
• Mount Holyoke College, B.A. (2001)

Bar Admissions:

• Massachusetts
• U.S. District Court, Massachusetts

Professional Associations:

• Vice Chair, Property Insurance Law General Committee, American Bar Association, Tort, Trial and Insurance Practice (“TIPS”)
• Massachusetts Bar Association
• Chair of Law Student Committee, Massachusetts Women’s Bar Association
• Defense Research Institute
• Mount Holyoke College Alumnae Association
• Women’s Bar Foundation, Gala Committee and Public Relations Committee
• Massachusetts Resinsurance Bar Association
• Professional Loss Research Bureau
• Loss Executives Association