Leslie A. Melo

Partner Litigation

Chicago +1 312 862 0655

Leslie A. Melo

Overview

Leslie A. Melo is a litigation partner in the Chicago office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Leslie focuses her practice on eDiscovery, helping clients and co-counsel navigate the complex legal and technological challenges that arise in the identification, preservation, collection, review and production of data in litigation. She also regularly advises clients on best practices regarding data hygiene, information governance, defensible preservation, cost-efficient eDiscovery processes, data privacy and security, and many other issues at the intersection of law and technology.

Prior to joining Kirkland, Leslie was involved in the following matters:

  • Preventing sanctions in business dispute between medical device sales representatives. Successfully defeated a motion to compel forensic examination of client's company computers and cell phones and a motion for sanctions for spoliation in a multi-million dollar non-compete case.
  • Avoiding discovery landmines in decades long False Claims Act case. Assisted client over several years in defeating or preparing to defeat motions to compel, motions for sanctions and motions for contempt before reaching favorable settlement.
  • Trade secret trial preparation. Served critical role on the trial team for a 6-week federal jury trial in which the client was alleged of conspiring with Facebook to steal the plaintiffs' trade secrets for the construction of a data center in Sweden and where the jury verdict obtained was ten times lower than the amount sought by plaintiffs in closing argument.
  • Successful attempts at Restraining Orders. Drafted successful temporary restraining order memoranda in a state court action to prevent the occurrence of an athletic event that posed significant risk to clients' property and in an arbitration to prevent the termination of services that would render client's business insolvent.
  • First Amendment trial victory. Served as second chair in a federal jury trial on a First Amendment claim, obtaining a jury verdict in our client's favor.
  • Successful attempts at Restraining Orders. Drafted successful temporary restraining order memoranda in a state court action to prevent the occurrence of an athletic event that posed significant risk to clients' property and in an arbitration to prevent the termination of services that would render client's business insolvent.

Redgrave LLP, 2018–2023

Husch Blackwell LLP, 2015–2018

Clark Hill PLC, 2011–2015

Conducted federal evidentiary hearing in pro bono Section 1983 civil rights case and successfully drafted appellate brief and argued before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit regarding the same.

More

Thought Leadership

Publications

  • Author, “Nobody's Perfect, But QA Helps – Making eDiscovery Defensible," Westlaw Quarterly, September 2022
  • Author, “Returning to a New 'Business as Usual' After the COVID-19 Pandemic: What it Means for Your Information Governance and eDiscovery Obligations," LegalTech News, June 2020
  • Author, “Litigating the Internet of Things," Law360 Expert Analysis, February 2018
  • Author, “The Benefits and Risks of Autonomous Vehicles," Lexology, July 2017
  • Co-author, “Farewell John Hancock: The Emerging Use of Digital Signatures," Construction Executive, June 2017
  • Co-author, “Curb Discovery Costs with a Tailored Arbitration Clause," Construction Executive, January & February 2017
  • Author, “Kingdomware Decision Gives New Meaning to the Words 'Government Contract’," The Contractor's Perspective, September 2016
  • Author, “Relationships & the Law Today: Possible Supreme Court Marriage Outcomes," Windy City Times, June 2015

Speaking Engagements

  • Co-presenter, “To TAR or Not to TAR? Practical Considerations for Using Artificial Intelligence in Review," Redgrave LLP Webinar, January 2022
  • Co-presenter, “COVID-19 and What it Means for Your Company's Information Governance and eDiscovery Obligations," ACEDS Presentation, August 2020
  • Co-presenter, “Discovery Boot Camp (Discovery Plans, Written Discovery Strategies, and E-Discovery Process, Procedures and Strategy)," National Business Institute (NBI) Webinar, November 2018
  • Presenter, “Five Things Every GC Should Know About Third-Party Subpoenas," Husch Blackwell LLP Webinar, August 2018
  • Presenter, “E-Discovery & Municipal Litigation," Husch Blackwell LLP Presentation, Client Defense Counsel Forum, September 2017
  • Co-presenter, “The Direct and Indirect Impacts of the Trump Administration on the LGBT Community," Wisconsin State Bar, June 2017
  • Presenter, “Identifying and Resolving Ethical Issues in Construction," Half-Moon Construction Law Seminar, February 2017 & July 2016
  • Presenter, “Identifying and Resolving Ethical Issues in Construction," Half-Moon Construction Law Seminar, February 2017 & July 2016
  • Co-presenter, “Farewell John Hancock: The Emerging Use of Digital Signatures in Construction," Husch Blackwell Construction Academy, February 2017
  • Presenter, “E-Discovery Identification & Collection," Husch Blackwell Presentation at client headquarters for in-house counsel team, September 2016
  • Co-presenter, “Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)," Lifecare Planning Law Firms Association Annual Conference, September 2014
  • Co-presenter, “Retirement Post-DOMA: What You Need to Know," November 2013
  • Co-presenter, “What the Supreme Court Rulings on DOMA and Prop 8 Mean for You," August 2013

Recognition

State Farm Outside Counsel Rising Star honoree, January 2021

Earned the Certified E-Discovery Specialist credential, accredited through the Association of Certified E-Discovery Specialists (ACEDS), March 2017

Named as the Hispanic Professional of Month by Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee, July 2016

Named to the Super Lawyers' 2016, 2017 and 2018 Wisconsin Rising Stars List

Named to the Super Lawyers' 2014 and 2015 Illinois Rising Stars List

Named as one of 100 minority attorneys on the Midwest Region Hot List by Lawyers of Color, July 2014

Named to the Chicago Windy City Times' “30 Under 30 List,“ June 2013

Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

  • Illinois
  • Wisconsin

Languages

  • English
  • Spanish
  • Portuguese

Education

  • Loyola University Chicago School of LawJ.D.cum laude2011
  • University of MichiganB.A., Psychology & Sociology2003