Melissa has litigated a variety of actions in state and federal courts and in mediation and arbitration, including FINRA arbitration. She has represented clients with respect to a wide array of state, federal, and common law claims, including UCC issues, tort claims, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, consumer protection issues, products liability, premises liability, sexual harassment, Title VII, RICO, ERISA, TILA, RESPA, and other lending-related issues. Melissa has represented clients in many jurisdictions, including California, Georgia, Tennessee, and South Carolina. Melissa’s clients come from a variety of industries, including healthcare, financial services, retail, real estate, labor, construction, food service, insurance, and design and manufacturing.

Melissa regularly represents financial institutions. She has defended dozens of lenders in consumer litigation relating to mortgage loans and has had numerous motions to dismiss and motions for summary judgment granted on those claims. Melissa also regularly represents financial institutions in connection with garnishment actions and litigation resulting from garnishments.

As part of her labor and employment law practice, Melissa has represented clients before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and in state and federal courts. Melissa has defended employers against claims for discrimination based on age, sex, and race. Melissa has also defended clients against claims of sexual harassment.

Prior to joining Thompson Burton PLLC, Melissa was an attorney at Parker Hudson Rainer & Dobbs LLP in Atlanta and at Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP in Nashville.

Melissa was selected as a Mid-South Rising Star by Super Lawyers Magazine for 2014 – 2019.

Melissa is a member of the Nashville Bar Association and a sustaining member of the Junior League of Nashville. Melissa is active in the community and serves on the Board of Directors for the Martha O’Bryan Center.