Our Team

He began his Army career at Fort Bragg, NC helping Soldiers, Airmen, and Marines with family law issues, estate planning, and tax law. Matthew then deployed to Iraq where he advised the theater commander on investigations and served as an advisor to British forces on their stability operations in Basra, Iraq. He later deployed to Afghanistan with the 101st Airborne Division as the international and operational law division chief. 

After six years on active duty, Matthew returned home and entered private practice with a multinational law firm based out of New Orleans, Louisiana. He is a former trustee of VFW Post 8973, the only remaining active VFW post in New Orleans, where he assists veterans with a wide variety of legal issues. He also served on the Young Benefactors Committee of the National World War II Museum to raise funds to restore PT-305, a WWII PT Boat. Like you, Matthew has had his claim for benefits denied by the VA. He started the Valor Firm to help every Veteran navigate the way forward after receiving that denial letter.

During her time in the military, she completed a hardship tour of duty in Diego Garcia as well as a deployment on the aircraft carrier USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN 69) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. She also served “boots on the ground” in Baghdad, Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.  She is a lifetime member of the NOLA Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 8973 where she serves as the Female Veteran Liaison Officer.

Following her time in the Navy, Melissa worked for the Louisiana District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration in public information, economic development, and international trade. She later worked as a Business Banker with Capital One’s Greater New Orleans team where she led the company’s Salute Military Network for Louisiana. She is a member of the Kentucky Bar Association and was previously in private practice as a military defense attorney, and entertainment and immigration lawyer. Currently, Melissa is an Accredited Attorney representing Veterans against the VA in disability claims appeals. She is a member of the National Organization of Veterans’ Advocates (NOVA).

Melissa holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Sociology from Indiana University, a Juris Doctor (JD) from the University of Cincinnati College of Law, and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Military Law with a specialty in International and Operational Law from the U.S. Army’s Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School. Melissa’s Post 9/11 G.I. Bill benefits gave her the opportunity to earn a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Tulane University – A.B. Freeman School of Business in May 2016.

Kelsey earned a Juris Doctor (J.D.), cum laude, from the Florida State University College of Law in 2020. During law school, she served as President of the Moot Court Team and won best brief and second place overall at a national moot court competition. Kelsey holds a Bachelor of Science (B.S.), cum laude, in Political Science and International Affairs from Florida State University. She is a member of the Florida Bar.