Melanie’s practice focuses primarily on commercial liability defense, including premises liability, products liability, automobile liability, negligence, catastrophic injury, and liquor liability (dram shop) claims.
Prior to joining Smith Freed Eberhard, Melanie worked at a defense firm in Portland where her practice focused on insurance coverage and bad faith litigation. Prior to that, she worked at insurance defense firms in both Portland and Seattle where her practice included defense of third-party claims.
During law school, Melanie worked as a law clerk for the Oregon Department of Justice, Civil Litigation Section and externed for the Honorable Ronald B. Leighton at the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. She was also an Associate Editor-In-Chief on the Washington Journal of Environmental Law & Policy.
University of Washington School of Law, J.D., 2015
University of Washington, B.A., 2011
Member, Oregon State Bar Association
Member, Washington State Bar Association
Black Belt Trial Advocacy Training Program
Admitted, U.S. District Court of the District of Oregon
Admitted, U.S. District Court of the Western District of Washington
Admitted, U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Washington
Super Lawyers, Rising Star 2024
Best Lawyers in America: Ones To Watch, 2024