Professionals
Francis J. Mellen, Jr.
Senior Counsel
P 502-562-7290 F 502-589-0309 C 502-693-5023
500 West Jefferson Street
Suite 2800
Louisville, KY 40202
Frank Mellen is a member of the Firm's Corporate & Securities Service Team. He concentrates his practice in the areas of general business, mergers and acquisitions, business litigation, education law, and dispute resolution. He also served on the Firm's Executive Committee and as the Firm's Partner in Charge of Ethics and Loss Prevention.
Location
500 West Jefferson Street
Suite 2800
Louisville, KY 40202
Representative Matters
- Meredith v. Jefferson County Board of Education, 127 S. Ct. 2738 (2007) (argued)
- McFarland v. Jefferson County Board of Education, 416 F. 3d 513 (6th Cir. 2005) (argued)
- Hampton v. Jefferson County Board of Education, 102 F. Supp. 2d 358 (W.D. Ky. 2000) (briefed)
- Barnes v. Cavazos, 966 F. 2d 1056 (6th Cir. 1992) (briefed)
- Tilton v. Jefferson County Board of Education, 705 F. 2d 800 (6th Cir. 1983) (argued)
- In Re Paducah Towing Company, Inc., 692 F. 2d 412 (6th Cir. 1982) (briefed)
- Texas American Bank v. Sayers, 674 S.W. 2d 36 (Ky. App. 1984) (argued)
- Citicorp Leasing, Inc. v. Whitaker, 605 S.W. 2d 24 (Ky. App. 1980) (argued)
- City of Covington v. Beck, 586 S.W. 2d 284 (Ky. App. 1979) (briefed)
- Gilliece v. City of Covington, 565 S.W. 2d 451 (Ky. 1978) (briefed)
- Miller v. Covington Development Authority, 539 S.W. 2d 1 (Ky. 1976) (briefed)
- Villano v. Conde Nast Publications, Inc., 361 N.Y.S. 2d 351 (N.Y. App. Div. 1974) (briefed)
Professional Experience
- Lieutenant (j.g.), U.S. Navy, 1967-1969
- Associate Attorney, Rogers & Wells (now Clifford Chance), New York, New York, 1973-1975
Honors
- Woodward/White’s The Best Lawyers in America® Corporate Law, 2005-2020
- Recognized by his peers in Kentucky Super Lawyers®
- Highest Professional Rating by Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory
- Recognized as one of the "Top Lawyers" in the area of Ethics & Professional Law and Individual Rights/Constitutional Law by Louisville Magazine, March 2014
Education
1973 - J.D., cum laude, Harvard University
1971 - M.A., University of Kentucky
1967 - B.A., University of Kentucky
Professional Activities and Memberships
- American Bar Association (member, Business Law and Dispute Resolution Sections; member, Committee on Counsel Responsibility of Business Law Section)
- Kentucky Bar Association (member, Business Law, Dispute Resolution, and Education Law Sections; member, Ethics Committee; member, Fee Dispute and Legal Negligence Arbitration Panels; past member, House of Delegates)
- Louisville Bar Association (member, Business Law and ADR/Mediation Sections; past chair, Committee on Professional Responsibility)
- Arbitrator, American Arbitration Association and National Arbitration Forum
- Member, Kentucky Legislative Research Commission Special Study Committee for the Uniform Commercial Code (1984-1991)
- Frequent speaker on corporate and legal ethics topics at seminars sponsored by the University of Kentucky, Kentucky Bar Association and Louisville Bar Association
Admissions
- United States Supreme Court
- United States Courts of Appeals, Second and Sixth Circuits
- United States District Courts, Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky; Eastern and Southern Districts of New York
- Kentucky and New York state courts
Civic Involvement
- Trustee, Cherokee Gardens
- Board of Directors and Counsel, Leadership Louisville Foundation, Inc.
- Board of Directors and President, Stage One: The Louisville Children's Theatre
- Member Waggener High School Management Committee
- Board of Directors, Louisville - Jefferson County AWARE Coalition
- Graduate, Leadership Louisville and Bingham Fellows programs
Representative Matters
- Meredith v. Jefferson County Board of Education, 127 S. Ct. 2738 (2007) (argued)
- McFarland v. Jefferson County Board of Education, 416 F. 3d 513 (6th Cir. 2005) (argued)
- Hampton v. Jefferson County Board of Education, 102 F. Supp. 2d 358 (W.D. Ky. 2000) (briefed)
- Barnes v. Cavazos, 966 F. 2d 1056 (6th Cir. 1992) (briefed)
- Tilton v. Jefferson County Board of Education, 705 F. 2d 800 (6th Cir. 1983) (argued)
- In Re Paducah Towing Company, Inc., 692 F. 2d 412 (6th Cir. 1982) (briefed)
- Texas American Bank v. Sayers, 674 S.W. 2d 36 (Ky. App. 1984) (argued)
- Citicorp Leasing, Inc. v. Whitaker, 605 S.W. 2d 24 (Ky. App. 1980) (argued)
- City of Covington v. Beck, 586 S.W. 2d 284 (Ky. App. 1979) (briefed)
- Gilliece v. City of Covington, 565 S.W. 2d 451 (Ky. 1978) (briefed)
- Miller v. Covington Development Authority, 539 S.W. 2d 1 (Ky. 1976) (briefed)
- Villano v. Conde Nast Publications, Inc., 361 N.Y.S. 2d 351 (N.Y. App. Div. 1974) (briefed)
Professional Experience
- Lieutenant (j.g.), U.S. Navy, 1967-1969
- Associate Attorney, Rogers & Wells (now Clifford Chance), New York, New York, 1973-1975
Honors
- Woodward/White’s The Best Lawyers in America® Corporate Law, 2005-2020
- Recognized by his peers in Kentucky Super Lawyers®
- Highest Professional Rating by Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory
- Recognized as one of the "Top Lawyers" in the area of Ethics & Professional Law and Individual Rights/Constitutional Law by Louisville Magazine, March 2014
Education
1973 - J.D., cum laude, Harvard University
1971 - M.A., University of Kentucky
1967 - B.A., University of Kentucky
Professional Activities and Memberships
- American Bar Association (member, Business Law and Dispute Resolution Sections; member, Committee on Counsel Responsibility of Business Law Section)
- Kentucky Bar Association (member, Business Law, Dispute Resolution, and Education Law Sections; member, Ethics Committee; member, Fee Dispute and Legal Negligence Arbitration Panels; past member, House of Delegates)
- Louisville Bar Association (member, Business Law and ADR/Mediation Sections; past chair, Committee on Professional Responsibility)
- Arbitrator, American Arbitration Association and National Arbitration Forum
- Member, Kentucky Legislative Research Commission Special Study Committee for the Uniform Commercial Code (1984-1991)
- Frequent speaker on corporate and legal ethics topics at seminars sponsored by the University of Kentucky, Kentucky Bar Association and Louisville Bar Association
Admissions
- United States Supreme Court
- United States Courts of Appeals, Second and Sixth Circuits
- United States District Courts, Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky; Eastern and Southern Districts of New York
- Kentucky and New York state courts
Civic Involvement
- Trustee, Cherokee Gardens
- Board of Directors and Counsel, Leadership Louisville Foundation, Inc.
- Board of Directors and President, Stage One: The Louisville Children's Theatre
- Member Waggener High School Management Committee
- Board of Directors, Louisville - Jefferson County AWARE Coalition
- Graduate, Leadership Louisville and Bingham Fellows programs
