Melissa focuses her practice in the area of corporate and securities law, with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, venture capital & emerging growth, and corporate governance matters. Melissa assists clients in a wide range of industries, including healthcare, life sciences, food and beverage, technology, entertainment, and private equity. She has advised companies throughout the business life cycle, from structuring and entity formation to general corporate governance, equity and debt financings, and exits. Her experience includes domestic and cross-border transactions, including in Latin America.
Prior to joining DLA, Melissa worked with not-for-profits and public agencies, and was an associate at another leading law firm.
Melissa graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a triple major in Economics, Psychology, and Criminology, Law & Society. She received her Juris Doctor from the University of California, Davis. Melissa maintains an active pro bono practice assisting marginalized communities. She is also fluent in Spanish.
