Our Mission
Our mission at Neal & Solevilla is to seek justice for our clients who are experiencing their worst days. Providing them the security and professional representation in their case.
Our Vision
Our vision is to be the most trusted and compassionate advocates for those who have been wronged, tirelessly pursuing justice and fair compensation. We strive to empower our clients with the strength to overcome adversity, ensuring their voices are heard and their rights are protected. Through unwavering dedication, we aim to transform lives, one case at a time, setting a standard of excellence in personal injury law.
Katherine C. Neal
Firm Owner and Managing Partner
Katherine Neal was born in San Antonio, Texas and grew up throughout the United States and overseas as an “Army Brat”. She learned the value of hard work and commitment to excellence from her father, a Brigade Commander and Colonel in the United States Army.
Katherine is fiercely dedicated to providing personalized service to each client. She refuses to be the type of lawyer that most people expect. She prides herself on her accessibility to clients and her excellent communication skills.
Katherine has spent her entire legal career as a trial lawyer, concentrating only in the areas of personal injury, wrongful death and crematory / funeral home / cemetery malpractice. As such, she has spent 20 years perfecting her trial skills to maximize verdicts. Katherine has also spent her career honing her pre-trial settlement strategies and has achieved numerous multimillion-dollar settlements.
Katherine is fiercely dedicated to providing personalized service to each client. She refuses to be the type of lawyer that most people expect. She prides herself on her accessibility to clients and her excellent communication skills.
Katherine has spent her entire legal career as a trial lawyer, concentrating only in the areas of personal injury, wrongful death and crematory / funeral home / cemetery malpractice. As such, she has spent 20 years perfecting her trial skills to maximize verdicts. Katherine has also spent her career honing her pre-trial settlement strategies and has achieved numerous multimillion-dollar settlements.
Katherine Neal is a Florida Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer, which means The Florida Bar considers her an expert in her field. That certification is awarded only after at least five years in practice, substantial trial involvement, at least 15 contested civil cases, favorable peer review and a written examination. To our knowledge, she is the youngest lawyer to have achieved Board Certification in Civil Trial in the history of the State of Florida.
Katherine received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Broadcast Journalism from Penn State University in 2002, with minors is Political Science and Italian, and her Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, from Stetson University College of Law in 2004. While in law school, she served as a judicial intern for a County Court Judge and was certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a Judicial Intern for the Sixth Circuit State Attorney’s Office. She won the St. Petersburg Times Award for the Best Competition Paper and was a senior associate of The Stetson Law Review. Katherine also served as a Stetson Ambassador, wherein she assisted new law students as a mentor and advisor.
Katherine has won the “TOP 10” Client Satisfaction Award from the American Institute of Personal injury Lawyers multiple times. She is also a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multimillion Dollar Advocates Forum.
Areas of Practice
- Personal Injury
- Wrongful Death
- Crematory/Funeral Home Malpractice
- Cemetary Malpractice
Bar Admissions
- Florida - Since 2005
Education
-
Stetson University College of Law -
J.D. (Cum Laude) - 2004
Law Review: Stetson Law Review,
Senior Associate -
The Pennsylvania State University
B.A. - 2002
Honors & Awards
- Board Certified Specialist in Civil Trial Law - The Florida Bar
- 10 BEST - Client Satisfaction Award - American Institute of Personal Injury Lawyers
- Best Lawyers, Best Law Firm - US News & World Report
- Multimillion Dollar Advocates Forum
- Million Dollar Advocates Forum
- St. Petersburg Times Award for the Best Author of a Competition Paper
Professional Associations & Memberships
- The Florida Bar
- Trial Lawyers Section - Florida Bar
- Florida Justice Association
- Tampa Bay Trial Lawyers Association
Melissa D. Solevilla
Melissa Solevilla started her career in personal injury as a receptionist at a Personal Injury Law Firm in 1999. She realized at a young age that she was particularly passionate about helping the injured and disabled obtain justice and decided to go to law school. She began practicing law in 2012. After working together for 16 years, Katherine Neal and Melissa Solevilla opened their Neal & Solevilla Personal Injury Lawyers in December 2023. Neal & Solevilla focuses on fighting for the rights of those who have been injured in car accidents, slip and falls, trip and falls, and other negligence-based torts, as well as assisting those whose loved ones have been killed in such accidents. Melissa also has a niche for the field of crematory and cemetery malpractice, wherein she fights for the justice and respect of those who have been wronged by extreme negligence in these industries.
When Melissa was still a paralegal, and just twelve weeks pregnant with her first child, she was rear-ended on Interstate 275 by a teenager, who was driving 70 miles-per-hour while texting. Melissa had to fight to overcome serious spinal injuries and a difficult pregnancy due to the crash. This experience left Melissa with more resolve than ever, as she learned first-hand what it is like for those who have been permanently and seriously injured due to no fault of their own. As a consequence, Melissa is very passionate about providing personalized service to each and every one of her clients. She is never more than a phone call away, and works tirelessly to make each client feel like they are her only client.
Melissa’s favorite part of the job is meeting a new client for the first time. She considers it a true honor to be the first one to learn each client’s story, educate them about personal injury law and what to expect during the claims or trial process, and ease their anxiety.
Melissa attended Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida and Stetson Law School. She is licensed to practice law in the State of Florida and is a member of The Florida Bar Association and the Clearwater Bar Association.
Melissa is a wife and mother of four incredible children who enjoys volunteering in her community including with Countryside Little League and the Pinellas County Schools PTA. Melissa also enjoys spending time with her church community at Harborside Christian Church in Safety Harbor, Florida.
Melissa’s favorite part of the job is meeting a new client for the first time. She considers it a true honor to be the first one to learn each client’s story, educate them about personal injury law and what to expect during the claims or trial process, and ease their anxiety.
Melissa attended Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida and Stetson Law School. She is licensed to practice law in the State of Florida and is a member of The Florida Bar Association and the Clearwater Bar Association.
Melissa is a wife and mother of four incredible children who enjoys volunteering in her community including with Countryside Little League and the Pinellas County Schools PTA. Melissa also enjoys spending time with her church community at Harborside Christian Church in Safety Harbor, Florida.
Bar Admissions
- Florida - Since 2012
Education
-
Stetson University College of Law -
J.D. - 2012 -
Florida Southern College
B.A. - 2003
Professional Associations & Memberships
- The Florida Bar
- The Clearwater Bar
Verdicts & Settlements
See how much we were able to get our clients for their case. Just imagine what yours can settle for!
$
Neck and Back Surgeries w/o Injury
$
MVA, Low Back Pain with one Trigger Point Injection
$
MVA with One ER Visit & Chiropractic Care Only
$
Loss of Consortium
$
Traumatic Brain Injury
$
MVA, only $648 in Damage to the Party’s Car, Low Back Pain
