Mr. Melchionne is a graduate of The University of Connecticut (B.A. 1977) and Drake University School of Law (J.D. 1980) where he received the American Jurisprudence Award for academic excellence.Since 1980, Mr. Melchionne has focused his practice in the areas of consumer bankruptcy, workouts and foreclosure defense in distressed real estate markets.
Prior to opening his office in 1990, Mr. Melchionne was associated with Grady & Riley in Waterbury, Connecticut and DiPietro, Kantrovitz & Brownstein, P.C. in New Haven, Connecticut. From 1990-1998, Mr. Melchionne was of counsel to Bender & Anderson handling that firm's complex litigation and trials. In addition to his practice, Mr. Melchionne was an adjunct professor at the American Institute of Banking and Teikyo Post University teaching bankruptcy, real estate, commercial and consumer law. Mr. Melchionne also advised the Corporation Counsel's office for the City of Waterbury on bankruptcy and foreclosure matters and mentored junior attorneys in that office.
In 2005, Mr. Melchionne was appointed State Chair for the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys (NACBA). He acted as a liaison between the national organization and Connecticut attorneys who are members of the Association. He has fostered education of attorneys in the bankruptcy field and increased access of the public to bankruptcy relief in light of the law passed in 2005. He held that position until 2014.
in 2007, Gene joined with 25 attorneys from around the country in forming the Bankruptcy Law Network, a web site devoted to disseminating clear, concise, and accurate information about consumer credit issues including bankruptcy, foreclosure, credit reporting debts payment of debts. From 2009 to 2011, he served as President of that organization assuring that consumers continued to get the true information about their personal finances.
Gene regularly speaks at seminars and workshops around the country, teaching other bankruptcy attorneys about bankruptcy law, foreclosures and technology in the law office. He also meets with members of Congress on issues of real estate law, student loan problems and bankruptcy and has appeared on numerous television programs and in print in publications like the New York Times, the Hartford Courant and the Waterbury Republican-American among others.
Most recently, Gene was unanimously re-elected to a position on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, the only national organization dedicated to serving the needs of consumer bankruptcy attorneys and protecting the rights of consumer debtors in bankruptcy. Formed in 1992, NACBA now has more than 3,000 members located in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.