Melody Lynch, Lowndes Photo

Overview

Melody Lynch focuses her practice on probate, trust & fiduciary litigation, contested guardianships, healthcare and complex business disputes. Her MBA complements her law degree when she analyzes financial statements and handles other complicated issues involving assets. 

A significant portion of Melody’s practice is devoted to resolving conflicts among family members and other estate beneficiaries, fights over missing assets and property ownership, claims by or against fiduciaries, guardianship challenges, and other proceedings requiring the interpretation of wills and trusts. She frequently helps charitable organizations, foundations, trustees and other institutional beneficiaries of large estates navigate the probate process. Whether in or out of the courtroom, Melody handles these delicate – and often emotional – issues not just with legal proficiency but with compassion as well.  

Melody’s experience extends to other business disputes too, particularly in the employment law arena with matters involving restrictive covenants as well as non-compete and non-disclosure agreements. She has protected employers in a wide range of industries, including medical devices, pest control, physicians and physician practices. 

In addition, she is a Guardian ad Litem for the Legal Aid Society where she represents the interests of abused and neglected children. She also is a pro bono attorney for Seniors First where she represents the interests of indigent elderly wards. 

The court room isn’t the only stage on which Melody has appeared. Before pursuing her career in law, Melody attended college on a ballet scholarship and was an apprentice dancer with a professional ballet company. A native of Orlando, her passion for both the arts and the area informs her leadership roles in the Central Florida community. She serves as president of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, was named to the prestigious Orlando Business Journal’s "40 under 40" list, and was awarded the Presidential Leadership Award by the Orange County Bar Association. 

Experience

Employment

  • Represents large privately held, family-owned company with over 2,000 employees in labor and employment matters pertaining to non-competition agreements, non-solicitation agreements, and other contractual disputes.
  • Represented a medical device sales executive in a non-competition dispute with former employer, achieving a favorable resolution that permitted client to continue working for new employer in same territory during restrictive covenant period.

Guardianship

  • Represented out-of-state family member in contested guardianship dispute that resulted in client being appointed as plenary guardian for duration of ward’s life.
  • Established minor guardianship for child suddenly orphaned by tragic loss of parent and later assisted with relative adoption for the family.

Healthcare

  • Successfully defended major hospital system in $100-plus million litigation related to partnership dispute concerning ambulatory surgery center.
  • Negotiated amicable resolution of non-compete litigation involving specialist physician involving former hospital group employer.
  • Defended emergency room physician and hospital system in defamation lawsuit, leading to complete dismissal of all claims by plaintiff without recovery.

Probate & Trust

  • Represented a major hospital foundation and achieved a favorable resolution in a probate dispute concerning an end-of-life caregiver who made changes to the deceased’s accounts in an attempt to alter the disposition of his assets from the hospital foundation to the caregiver.
  • Successfully defended personal representative and co-trustees in one of the largest trust and estate litigation matters in Florida history involving hundreds of millions of dollars in assets owned by a well-renowned and highly accomplished entrepreneur, restaurateur, and developer.


News & Insights

News

Publications

Recognition

Recognition

  • Notable Women Leaders in Law, Florida Trend's Legal Elite, 2023
  • The Best Lawyers in America guide, Commercial Litigation, 2024; Litigation - Trusts and Estates, 2024
  • Women Who Mean Business, Orlando Business Journal, 2022
  • Awesome Attorneys, Orlando Family Magazine, Trust & Estate Law, 2019, 2022
  • Rising Star, Florida Super Lawyers, 2010-2021
  • Elizabeth Susan Khoury Guardian ad Litem Award of Excellence, Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, 2019
  • Presidential Leadership Award, Orange County Bar Association, 2018
  • Emerging Leader, AFP National Philanthropy Day, 2017
  • 40 Under 40, Orlando Business Journal, 2016
  • Florida Legal Elite Up & Comer, Florida Trend Magazine, 2011-2012, 2014, 2016
  • New Attorney Award of Excellence, Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, 2012
  • Young Lawyer Pro Bono Award of Excellence, Orange County Bar Association, 2011
  • National Order of Barristers
  • Federal Judicial Intern, Honorable Mark A. Pizzo, U.S., Magistrate Judge Middle District of Florida
  • Anthony Battaglia Excellence in Leadership Award, Stetson University College of Law
  • Moot Court Board, Stetson University College of Law
  • Trial Team, Stetson University College of Law
  • Ninth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Merit Award

Community & Civic

Community Activities

  • Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, President, Board of Directors, Executive Committee
  • Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, Former President, Board of Directors
  • Children’s Home Society (Central Florida Region), Former Vice-Chair, Board of Directors, Past Donor Relations Committee Chair
  • Lake Highland Preparatory School, Elevate Highlanders Campaign Cabinet, Alumni Board of Visitors, Co-Chair, Heart of a Highlander 
  • Frederick Leadership Initiative, Former Chair
  • Legal Aid Society, Guardian ad Litem
  • Seniors First, Pro bono guardianship attorney and guardianship of the property instructor
  • Leadership Orlando, Class 94
  • First Presbyterian Church of Orlando, Elder
  • College Park Methodist Church, Child Development Center, Board of Directors
  • Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Circle Member
  • Central Florida Partnership, Young Professionals Advisory Council, Inaugural Member
  • United Arts of Central Florida, SmARTboards Graduate

Professional Certifications & Memberships

  • ABA Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section's Ethics and Malpractice Committee, Vice Chair
  • Ninth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee, Chair
  • Federal Bar Association, Orlando Chapter, Board of Directors, Past Vice President of Programs
  • American Bar Association
  • The Florida Bar
  • Orange County Bar Association, Bench Bar Board of Directors
  • Stetson Lawyers Association Advisory Council

Admissions

  • Florida
  • District of Columbia
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida

Education

  • Stetson University College of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2007
  • Stetson University, M.B.A., 2007
  • Butler University, B.S., cum laude, 2002
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