Melissa Brill represents insurers in commercial general liability, professional liability, excess/umbrella liability, and property insurance matters in complex litigation nationwide, including cases involving bad faith disputes. She provides counsel and representation for insurers across various industries regarding a wide range of coverage issues, such as construction defects, builder’s risk, product liability, additional insured status, and coverage priority. Additionally, Melissa engages in commercial litigation and appeals.
Recently, Melissa was elected as a member of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC), which includes U.S. and international leaders in civil defense, corporate legal, and insurance sectors. Membership is limited to individuals who have been nominated and require a rigorous peer review process for admission.
She has served on the Board of Directors for Homesite Insurance Company of New York and has been involved with several non-profit organizations, including Young Leadership Counsel, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Park Slope Afterschool Center Corps (PSACC). For the past 12 years, Melissa has been recognized on Cozen O’Connor’s Pro Bono Honor Roll for her dedication to pro bono clients. Her pro bono work includes advocating for women’s rights under the Violence Against Women Act, assisting unaccompanied minors in seeking asylum in the United States, and securing reparations for Holocaust survivors.
Melissa frequently presents on a variety of topics, including excess and umbrella insurance, negotiation strategies, the role of coverage counsel, challenges in handling multinational claims, and construction defect coverage.
She obtained her Bachelor of Arts in East Asian Studies and Japanese Language from Pennsylvania State University in 1991 and earned her law degree with honors from Temple University – Beasley School of Law in 1995. Following law school, she clerked for the Honorable Edward Biester of Pennsylvania.
