Jairo “Jay” Mellado-Villarreal is the Managing Partner of Mellado & Mellado-Villarreal, LLC. With more than 30 years of experience, he has built a distinguished career as a litigator in federal and Commonwealth courts, representing corporations, financial institutions, government agencies, and private investors in complex, high-stakes disputes throughout Puerto Rico and beyond.
Attorney INFORMATION:
- Name: Jairo “Jay” Mellado-Villarreal, Esq.
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Profile
Federal and Commercial Litigator
Jairo “Jay” Mellado-Villarreal is the Managing Partner of Mellado & Mellado-Villarreal, LLC. With more than 30 years of experience, he has built a distinguished career as a litigator in federal and Commonwealth courts, representing corporations, financial institutions, government agencies, and private investors in complex, high-stakes disputes throughout Puerto Rico and beyond.
Mr. Mellado-Villarreal began his legal career as a notary public and transactional attorney representing banks and mortgage companies before transitioning into litigation. He has managed more than 100 cases in the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico and regularly appears before Puerto Rico’s courts and administrative agencies. His practice encompasses the full range of complex commercial and civil litigation, with particular depth in federal enforcement actions, Act 75 / distribution law, federal injunctions and Anti-Injunction Act litigation, employment defense, real estate, and appellate advocacy before the First Circuit.
Clerkship and Academic Background
He clerked for the Honorable Chief Judge Carmen C. Cerezo at the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico and was a member of the Law Review at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico School of Law.
Representative Matters
Mr. Mellado-Villarreal has represented U.S. federal financial agencies in loss-share arbitration, fidelity bond, and D&O recovery actions; private equity firms in commercial and real estate disputes; national employers in unjust dismissal and discrimination defense; and manufacturers and principals in Act 75 distribution disputes before Puerto Rico\’s federal and Commonwealth courts.
courts admissions
- Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
- U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida (pro hac vice)
Areas of Focus
- Complex federal and commercial litigation
- Act 75 / Dealer’s Contract Act — manufacturer and principal defense
- Federal injunctions, TROs, and Anti-Injunction Act litigation
- Enforcement of federal judgments and civil contempt proceedings
- Real estate transactions and development planning for high-profile clients
- Real estate disputes, agent and broker commission claims, and co-brokerage matters
- Real estate, mortgage, and foreclosure litigation
- Construction and surety bond disputes
- Employment and labor law defense
- Appellate advocacy — First Circuit Court of Appeals
- E-discovery strategy and ESI management
- Professional liability (directors & officers, fidelity bonds, insurance coverage)
EDUCATION
J.D. Interamerican University of Puerto Rico School of Law, 1992 | Law Review
B.A. Boston University, 1989
Clerkship: Hon. Chief Judge Carmen C. Cerezo, U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico