GIAN-FRANCO MELENDEZ (Of Counsel)
“Every client who walks through my door carries a story—a dream, a family, a future worth fighting for. My job is to make sure the law works for them, not against them.”
Rooted in Tampa Bay
Setting up his law practice in Tampa Bay was a simple choice for Gian-Franco Melendez—it is where he belongs. He was raised in the area, graduated from Tampa Jesuit High School, and earned a psychology degree before heading to Gulfport to pursue his law degree at Stetson University College of Law. Staying in the region was entirely on purpose. This community made him who he is, and he wanted to use his education to protect his neighbors.
Learning the Law from Every Angle
While he was at Stetson, Gian-Franco didn’t just sit in lecture halls. He put himself where the actual action was. He stepped up to serve as Vice President of the Hispanic Bar Association and spent hours addressing real-world issues on the ground. He helped families at Gulfcoast Legal Services, worked through complex corporate files at a bankruptcy and foreclosure firm, and stood up for local veterans seeking disability benefits. He even worked directly inside the chambers of a U.S. Federal Judge, the Honorable Virginia Hernandez Covington. None of those career moves were accidental. He wanted to see how the system works from the inside out, from every angle possible, so he could be a much more effective advocate for the people he represents.
Why Immigration Law Is Personal to Him
Immigration isn’t a legal field Gian-Franco just stumbled into. It’s where his background, his skills, and his personal drive completely align. From those early days helping families at Gulfcoast Legal Services to years spent guiding people through the absolute maze of the U.S. immigration system, he has built real, hard-won expertise.
He knows what is actually on the line. A denied visa or a deportation notice isn’t just a legal setback—it upends a family’s entire life. Speaking fluent Spanish as a Hispanic American attorney allows Gian-Franco to actually connect with his clients as people. He has all the legal experience and technical skills to manage messy, complicated cases, but his main focus is always on the actual individuals who need him to deliver results. For the families he represents, that combination means everything.
Showing Up for the Legal Community
Outside of the courtroom, Gian-Franco puts a lot of work into making the local legal system more inclusive. He holds leadership roles as the Co-Chair for the Hillsborough County Bar’s Solo Practitioner & Small Firm Section and as the Treasurer for the Pinellas Latin Bar Association. Between his involvement with the Tampa Hispanic Bar and the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and his work there, his main goal is simple: ensuring the law works for everyone, no matter their background.
Moving Your Story Forward
At the Coleman Law Group, we ensure every individual receives powerful, compassionate representation, no matter their country of origin or the language they speak at home. Gian-Franco lives that belief every day.
Your story matters. Your family's future matters.
From your very first conversation to the final resolution of your case, he has your back.
Location
Tampa Bay
Law School
Stetson University College of Law
Admitted
Florida Bar
Languages
English & Spanish
Practice Area
Immigration
Associations
AILA, THBA, HCBA, Pinellas Latin Bar