María D. Meléndez

María has over 25 years of experience in the litigation and arbitration of a broad range of high-stakes commercial disputes representing U.S. and non-U.S. clients throughout the U.S. and before arbitral tribunals involving allegations of fraud, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and other business torts.  She also represents clients in investigations conducted by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

In 2017 and 2018, Benchmark Litigation recognized Maria as one of the “Top 250 Women in Litigation”. 

Maria maintains an active pro bono practice. She was lead counsel in post-conviction proceedings challenging a capital murder conviction in Macon County, Alabama and is currently representing a U-Visa applicant.

Maria was recently elected to serve on the Association of the Bar of the City of New York’s Nominating Committee for 2019–2020.  She is a member and Chair of the Board of Directors of LatinoJustice PRLDEF, and serves on the Board’s Executive Committee. LatinoJustice PRLDEF, established in 1972, has won landmark civil rights cases in education, housing, voting, migrant, immigrant, employment and other civil rights.

From 2015-2016, María served as Acting Chair of Panel III of the Departmental Disciplinary Committee, New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division First Judicial Department (now known as the First Judicial Department Attorney Grievance Committee), a committee she served on from 2011-2016.