Melissa C. Lesmes

Melissa C. Lesmes is a member of Pillsbury’s Board and leads the Construction Counseling & Dispute Resolution Practice Group. She focuses her practice on complex construction claims and insurance coverage disputes.

Melissa has substantial experience litigating construction-related disputes. Specifically, she has handled matters involving delay, design and construction defects, and environmental conditions. She also has handled significant complex construction insurance coverage litigation across all lines of coverage including claims involving builder’s risk, CGL, subcontractor default, professional, pollution, commercial property, business interruption, and other types of insurance policies.

She also has significant experience in negotiating construction contracts and insurance requirements and helping clients set up insurance programs (OCIPs, CCIPs, and stand-alone programs) for large scale construction projects, as well as providing general legal counsel before commencement, during, and after completion of a project.

She is widely recognized for her leadership in the construction and insurance fields, often working with owners, developers, and contractors to manage major projects and resolve disputes efficiently. Melissa’s practice includes advising on multiparty litigation and coordinating with insurers to maximize recovery for clients facing substantial losses. Her experience extends across both public and private projects, including large infrastructure developments.

In addition, Melissa is a Fellow of the American College of Construction Lawyers (ACCL) and has received numerous awards and honors, including recognition by Chambers USA in Construction Law from 2019–2025, The Legal 500 U.S. for Construction, Best Lawyers for Litigation-Construction and Construction Law, and Super Lawyers. She is also an active speaker and panelist at industry conferences.

Melissa holds a JD from The College of William & Mary and an AB in public policy studies from Duke University. She is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and Maryland, with eligibility in multiple United States District Courts and state and federal appellate courts across the country.