Stephen Melendi

Stephen’s practice is concentrated on representing insurance carriers in insurance coverage analysis and disputes. He has represented primary and excess insurers in disputes involving interpretation of the coverage provided under a variety of coverage forms including general and professional liability, commercial property, commercial crime, errors and omissions, commercial auto, trucking, environmental coverages, as well as in disputes regarding an insurer’s duty of good faith and fair dealing and other duties at the trial court level and on appeal. In addition, Stephen regularly advises insurers on coverage issues outside of litigation, as well as providing insurers with assistance in promulgating forms.
 
Stephen is Board Certified in Insurance Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, is ranked in Chambers USA in Texas Insurance, and has been recognized in Best Lawyers in America for Insurance Law and Insurance Litigation. He has been named a “Texas Super Lawyer” annually since 2013.
 
Stephen is rated “AV Pre-eminent” by Martindale-Hubbell, and is a Fellow of the American College of Coverage Counsel. He is a Past Chair of the Insurance Law Section of the State Bar of Texas. 

            Stephen is admitted to practice law before all state courts in Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado and New Mexico, all United States District Courts in Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Colorado, as well as the United States Courts of Appeal for the Fifth, Seventh, Eighth and Eleventh Circuits. He has also appeared in other state and federal courts throughout the country pro hac vice. 
 
Memberships
 
State Bar of Texas
American Bar Association
Dallas Bar Association
American College of Coverage Counsel, Fellow (ACCC)
The Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (FDCC)
Claims & Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)
Defense Research Institute (DRI)
College of the State Bar of Texas
 
Activities
 
Insurance Law Section of the State Bar of Texas,
Chair 2022-2023
Council Member 2014- 2024