Melissa A. Meister

Partner

Melissa is a skilled and experienced litigator and appellate attorney who has tried civil and criminal cases in both California state court and federal courts across the United States. She has also briefed and argued dozens of appeals before the California Court of Appeals, numerous federal circuit courts, and the Supreme Court of the United States.

In addition to her trial and appellate experience, Melissa has extensive experience with internal investigations (employment, fraud, and corporate malfeasance), government investigations (DOJ, SEC, and CFTC), and regulatory matters in a variety of industries, including blockchain and cryptocurrency, health care and pharmaceutical, finance, government contracts, import/export, and education. Melissa has experience representing both individuals and Fortune 500 companies.

Melissa began her career at the Department of Justice, where she worked in both the Antitrust Division and Civil Frauds Section. She also served for approximately five years as an Assistant United States Attorney in both the District of Arizona and the Southern District of California. Additionally, Melissa has more than a decade of experience as a complex commercial and white-collar litigator at law firms such as Jenner & Block and Arent Fox Schiff. Melissa has been recognized as one of the Best Lawyers in Los Angeles for White Collar Criminal Defense since 2021.

Melissa is a former Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals clerk, a former legal writing professor, and her law review note was cited by the United States Supreme Court in Kennedy v. Louisiana in 2008. Melissa attended The University of Arizona for both college and law school. During law school, Melissa won the moot court competition and was an editor for the University of Arizona Law Review. Melissa graduated law school summa cum laude and Order of the Coif. She is currently admitted to practice in California and Arizona.

Outside the office, Melissa is a soccer player, mom, coach, and fan. Melissa is a member of the Women's White Collar Defense Association and a board member on the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association.

Contact me: [email protected]