Melissa K. Griffeth is Senior Counsel with Alvarez, Thompson & Smoak, P.A. Her practice is focused on insurance defense litigation.
Ms. Griffeth received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville in 2000 and her Juris Doctor from Saint Louis University School of Law in 2003. While in law school, she served as President of the Entertainment Law Committee and was a member of the Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity.
Ms. Griffeth brings more than two decades of litigation experience to her practice. She began her legal career representing clients in criminal defense matters and subsequently expanded her practice to include family law, personal injury litigation, and insurance defense. After relocating to Florida, she obtained admission to The Florida Bar and continued to build her insurance defense practice. Prior to joining Alvarez, Thompson & Smoak, P.A., Ms. Griffeth represented clients in premises liability and motor vehicle accident cases, developing the practical insight and litigation experience she now utilizes to effectively advocate for her clients.
Licensed to practice in Missouri, Illinois, and Florida, Ms. Griffeth is also admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. In addition, she is an active member of the American Bar Association, where she serves in leadership roles within both the Litigation Section and the Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section.
Through her extensive litigation background and broad experience representing clients in personal injury, premises liability, and motor vehicle accident claims, Ms. Griffeth provides strategic counsel and practical solutions in complex insurance defense matters. Her diverse experience across multiple practice areas allows her to evaluate cases from a variety of perspectives and develop effective defense strategies tailored to each client's needs.
Ms. Griffeth is originally from Illinois and has resided in Florida since 2021. Outside of her legal practice, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, hiking, attending concerts, playing pickleball, running, practicing yoga, and reading.
Education
St. Louis University School of Law, J.D.
Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, B.A.
Admissions
The Florida Bar
The Illinois Bar
The Missouri Bar
United States District Court, Middle District of Florida
United States District Court, Eastern District of Missouri