Ms. Melia has focused her practice on a variety of complex commercial matters, with experience in areas such as breach of fiduciary duties, securities law violations, class actions and bankruptcy.

Prior to joining Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors, Ms. Melia practiced in Melbourne, Australia as a lawyer at a leading Australian firm where she defended directors in a highly-publicized securities enforcement action and class action, represented commercial real estate developers and management investment enterprises, and advised financial institutions.

Ms. Melia received her L.L.M. from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law in 2015, and her Master of Laws degree from Monash University in Melbourne in 2010. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of North Texas in 2003.

At SMU, she contributed to Professor Marc Steinberg’s treatise on the federalization of corporation law, in particular to a chapter on shareholder proposals.

In Australia, she also worked as an electoral officer (legislative aide) to Federal Senator Julian McGauran (Victoria, Australia).

Ms. Melia is a volunteer attorney for Human Rights Initiative of North Texas, a non-profit organization assisting survivors of violence from all over the world.

Ms. Melia’s article, “’Going through the paces’ in Australia, Canada and the U.S.: A comparative look at the treatment of outside directors in securities law,” is forthcoming in 2017.