Melissa A. Meister is an experienced trial and appellate attorney who has tried multiple cases to verdict in both state and federal court, in addition to briefing and arguing dozens of appeals before the Second, Third, Fourth, Ninth, Tenth, and Eleventh Circuits, as well as the United States Supreme Court. Melissa has the unique experience of having practiced half of her career in civil litigation (as a Trial Attorney for the Department of Justice, at Jenner & Bock, and at Arent Fox) and half of her career in criminal litigation (as an Assistant United States Attorney and a white-collar criminal defense attorney at Larson O’Brien). Melissa has yet to lose a trial, either as a prosecutor or as a defense attorney.
In addition to litigation, Melissa is well-versed in internal investigations, having led multiple False Claims Act, Anti-Kickback Statute, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, SEC, corporate malfeasance, accounting fraud, misconduct, and employment discrimination investigations at global corporations, Fortune 500 companies, large pension funds, and public universities.
Melissa also has unique expertise in False Claims Act litigation and investigations, having served the first three years of her career as a Trial Attorney in the Department of Justice’s Civil Frauds section. Since then, Melissa has represented both Fortune 500 corporations accused of violating the False Claims Act and whistleblowers who have alleged violations of the False Claims Act. With such experience, Melissa has perspective from both sides of the equation and advises her clients accordingly.
Melissa also represents numerous cryptocurrency and blockchain companies who are dealing with SEC investigations into Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), as well as co-founder and other employment disputes, including cases regarding lost equity, intellectual property theft, and unfair competition.