Melissa Tapanes Llahues, Esq. | Junior Directors

Melissa Tapanes Llahues, Esq.
Bercow Radell & Fernandez, PA

Melissa Tapanes Llahues is an attorney with Bercow Radell & Fernandez, P.A., a zoning, land use and environmental law boutique in downtown Miami.  She represents property owners, developers, and institutional clients in numerous federal, state, regional, county, and municipal quasi-judicial, legislative, and administrative forums on an array of zoning, growth management, land use, environmental, subdivision, permitting, code enforcement, historic preservation, archaeological, aviation, and ad valorem tax matters.  Melissa has been honored in numerous “Who’s Who” publications and was recently selected by her peers as Florida Trend magazine’s 2010 Legal Elite, a select group comprising the top two percent of lawyers practicing in Florida, as an “Up and Comer.”

Melissa graduated from the University of Miami School of Law (Juris Doctor, Cum laude) and the Florida International University Honors College (Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Geography, Magna cum laude).  During her studies, she clerked for the Honorable Scott J. Silverman in the 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida and the law firm of Black, Srebnick, Kornspan, & Stumpf, P.A.  Prior to her practice of law, Melissa was a grant writer for a variety of South Florida municipalities, non-profit organizations, and businesses for projects involving environmental restoration and preservation, parks and recreation, water and sewer, transportation, and community and economic development.  In addition, Melissa spearheaded the successful student initiative for the approval and funding of a public law school as a lobbyist for her alma mater, Florida International University.  In 1999, Melissa was appointed to the State of Florida Board of Education Postsecondary Education Planning Commission (PEPC) by Governor “Jeb” Bush, where she recommended legislation, funding, and policy initiatives to the Governor, Legislature, and Board of Education for both public and private higher education institutions.

Melissa is happily married to Manny Llahues, a Professional Engineer, and they are the proud parents of a sweet little girl named Laylah.  In addition to spending time with her family, Melissa enjoys politics, arts and crafts, culinary arts and CrossFit.  The Llahues family resides in Coconut Grove.