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External General Counsel
As Managing Partner of The Francis Firm PLLC, Melissa handles a wide array of legal, regulatory, and compliance matters for her clients, many of whom operate in highly regulated industries. She serves as a trusted advisor and business partner to senior leadership and boards of directors, guiding them through periods of uncertainty and growth, and executes strategic initiatives to mitigate risk and enable businesses to achieve their objectives. Melissa is routinely retained as an external General Counsel to advise clients on commercial contracts, legal and regulatory developments, labor and employment issues, internal policies and procedures, data security and privacy matters, risk and litigation management, and internal investigations.
Litigation & Investigations
Melissa is also a seasoned complex commercial litigator, and her practice has involved all aspects of high-stakes civil litigation—including trials and appeals—in state and federal courts throughout the United States and internationally. She has significant experience handling government and regulatory investigations and enforcement actions and running internal investigations, including large-scale cross-border investigations.
Education & Clerkship
J.D., The George Washington University Law School
B.A., The University of Pennsylvania
U.S. Tax Court
Bar & Court Admissions
New York
New Jersey
Washington, D.C.
U.S. Tax Court
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court
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