About Melissa
Melissa Jones is the Firm Managing Partner and serves on the firm’s Executive Committee. As the Firm Managing Partner, Melissa is responsible for the operational management of the firm, execution of the firm’s strategy and direction, and oversight of the delivery of legal services and business management of the firm.
Melissa is in the litigation practice group and has extensive experience litigating claims for breach of contract, fraud, negligent misrepresentation, and unfair competition. She has conducted internal investigations for publicly traded and private companies on complex compliance and accounting issues and has represented companies in government enforcement actions, including matters involving the California Attorney General’s office and the Air Resources Board.
Melissa also has extensive experience defending companies in California’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act (Proposition 65) actions and advises companies on Prop 65 compliance. Her Prop 65 experience includes representing vendors and manufacturers in industries including apparel, footwear, handbags, eyewear, fitness products, children’s products, furniture, electronics, hobby and crafts, automotive, personal care products and accessories, food and dietary supplements and natural foods. She also advises clients on other California regulations.
Melissa served in multiple leadership roles at the firm before starting her service as the Firm Managing Partner in 2020. She has been a member of the firm’s Executive Committee since 2019, the Compensation Committee since 2016 (serving as the Chair in 2018), and previously served on the firm’s Practice Management Committee and as the Managing Partner for the firm’s California offices.
Before joining Stoel Rives, Melissa was a litigation partner at Morrison & Foerster LLP, where she worked for 10 years. After law school, she clerked for the Honorable Harry Pregerson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Melissa has been an active member of the legal community, serving as President to the Sacramento Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, as a Lawyer Representative to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference, the Chair of the Eastern District Conference, a Board Member for Women Lawyers of Sacramento, a Board member for the Alumni Association for UC Davis School of Law, and as a member of the Eastern District’s Judicial Advisory Committee.
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