Melissa A. Dearing is a Partner in the firm’s Immigration Practice Group, where she assists employers in seeking non-immigrant and immigrant status.

Melissa has extensive experience with H-1Bs and the PERM-based green card process, particularly with respect to information technology professionals, engineers and pharmacists, among other professionals. She also represents foreign nationals regarding family immigration matters and assists employers with I-9 and other immigration compliance issues.

A member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, Melissa is a past member of the Chester Bedell American Inn of Court. She is also a member of the Federal Bar Association and the Florida Bar Association. In addition, Melissa is also Co-Chair of the Jacksonville Bar Association’s Labor & Employment Law Section.

Melissa was named to the Best Lawyers in America^® for Employment Law-Management and Litigation-Labor and Employment, Jacksonville (2020-2025) and Immigration Law, Jacksonville (2025). In 2022, Best Lawyers named her “Lawyer of the Year: for Employment Law-Management. She was selected for inclusion in Florida Super Lawyers Rising Stars (2009-2013).