Melissa has been a member of Colin Biggers & Paisley's insurance practice since 2004 and became a partner in 2013. Melissa has been a litigation lawyer for close to 30 years. She has extensive experience in multiparty litigation and dispute resolution across multiple jurisdictions, dealing with professional indemnity and general commercial insurance claims acting for insurers and professionals in a variety of different fields.

She has experience in defending both large-scale litigation through to small claim matters, acting for an array of professionals, including barristers and solicitors, financial advisers, auditors and accountants. Alongside her professional negligence practice, Melissa manages a large practice defending general liability claims against builders, contractors, retailers and occupiers of commercial premises. Melissa's general commercial insurance expertise extends to advising on personal injury matters including worker to worker/labour hire disputes, as well as property damage and subrogated recovery claims, strata and community title disputes and litigation.

Melissa advises insurers in respect of complex policy interpretation issues and has acted for major insurers in coverage disputes.

She regularly lectures and presents training seminars to clients (both insurers, brokers, TPAs and insureds) on risk management, as well as specific insurance-related issues, including policy interpretation, the Insurance Contracts Act 1984 and claims management generally.

Melissa has been recognised for her expertise in the following listings:

  • The Best Lawyers in Australia 2014 to 2024 - insurance law
  • The Best Lawyers in Australia 2020 to 2022  - leading personal injury litigation lawyer
  • Doyle's Guide 2019 to 2021 - leading Professional Indemnity Lawyer (Defendant Insurance) in New South Wales
In 2021, Melissa was a finalist in the Lawyers Weekly Partner of the Year Awards. In 2018, Melissa was a finalist in the Lawyers Weekly Women in Law Awards.

In 2017, Melissa won the Partner of the Year Award at the Lawyers Weekly Women in Law Awards.

Melissa was admitted to the Federal Court, the High Court of Australia and the ACT Supreme Court in 1997. In 2002, she was admitted to the NSW Supreme Court. Melissa holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.), Mathematics and Psychology from The Australian National University. Melissa is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Memberships
  • Law Society of New South Wales
  • Australian Insurance Law Association
  • Women Lawyers Association of New South Wales
  • Women in Insurance
  • Australian Institute of Company Directors
  • Women on Boards