Founder Melissa Yang is an experienced litigator who has counseled individuals, private businesses, and corporations over a variety of complex commercial disputes in state and federal court and arbitration. As a commercial litigator, she has prosecuted and defended claims for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and other business torts. Melissa has also handled matters involving corporate partnership disagreements and employment-related disputes, including wrongful termination, discrimination, retaliation, enforceability of restrictive covenants, and claims for executive compensation under the New York Labor Law and employee benefits under ERISA.
Drawing upon her experience, Melissa has published several articles about issues that frequently arise in executive compensation, including statutory indemnification and procedural prerequisites to state a claim under ERISA. Melissa is also a frequent speaker on litigation-related topics such as venue considerations, discovery, and effective advocacy in mediation.
Melissa has been recognized for her advocacy in the legal community. From 2014–2023, the “Super Lawyers” rating service recognized her on its “Rising Stars” list for the New York Metropolitan area for her work as a business litigator. In 2015, Melissa received an award as a “Rising Star” by ALM’s New York Law Journal, a recognition given to only 40 attorneys under the age of 40.
Melissa is also an active member of the legal community. She has taken up leadership positions and is currently serving as a trustee on the Board of the Federal Bar Council and the co-Membership Chair of the Federal Bar Council’s Inn of Court. She is also an active member of the Asian American Bar Association of New York and the Commercial and Federal Litigation Section of the New York State Bar Association. She previously served on the New York State Pattern Jury Instructions Subcommittee where she conducted research and drafted proposed jury instructions for inclusion in the Official New York Pattern Jury Instructions – Civil volumes.
Melissa received her J.D. from the George Washington University Law School. She started her legal career at an AmLaw 50 law firm in New York City before joining a commercial litigation boutique where she litigated for over a decade.
