On the employment law side of my practice, I make prevention a priority and do all I can to ensure that clients have everything in place to avoid the pitfalls that can occur in the work setting. When a crisis does arise, I listen closely to them and empathize with them so they can have confidence in whatever decision we ultimately make about how best to proceed. When a matter does turn into litigation, I advocate vigorously on their behalf. In addition to excellent legal strategies and strong, assertive advocacy, they also receive the peace of mind that they’re making the best decision possible, even in very trying circumstances.
Litigator Melissa Erwin focuses her practice on management-side employment representation, serving a variety of organizations that run the gamut from large public companies to small not-for-profits. She also handles matters involving white-collar criminal defense, internal corporate investigations, and commercial litigation.
With a practice centering on New York City and the greater metropolitan region, Melissa advocates for clients in both federal and state courts and before various government agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and the New York State Attorney General’s Office.
A member of the firm’s cybersecurity practice, Melissa works with a cross-functional group of attorneys to provide clients with advice on developing, strengthening, testing, and enforcing their information protection policies and procedures. This aspect of Melissa’s practice dovetails with her employment work, as she primarily advises corporate clients about staying in compliance with all relevant regulations and making sure that these businesses’ internal systems are as up-to-date and protective as possible. Melissa also advises companies on preparing response plans in the event of a cyber attack, walking them through procedures for handling that scenario internally in terms of their own workers and externally in terms of dealing with their own customers and publicity stemming from an attack.
Always placing an emphasis on strong personal relationships, Melissa enjoys getting to know her clients, their businesses, and their employee relations concerns. This familiarity makes her more effective when looking down the road to identify issues that could be potentially problematic for their specific organizations.
Prior to joining the firm, Melissa served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Kings County (Brooklyn) District Attorney’s Office. Her experience on both sides of the aisle informs her current practice, providing her with a broad perspective and helping her to predict how opposing counsel is likely to proceed.