Melissa Nott Davis is a partner in the law firm of McDermott Will & Emery LLP and is based in the Firm’s Boston office.
Melissa has experience in a wide range of general commercial and intellectual property litigation. She has appeared in and represented clients in both federal and state courts in a variety of matters, including defense of a semi-conductor manufacturer accused of patent infringement related to its wireless and DSL technology; defense of an agribusiness company in connection with a multi-million dollar misappropriation of trade secrets case; defense of an international petroleum company in a mass tort, product liability multidistrict litigation; defense of a major university in connection with a purported class action lawsuit against its medical school; and prosecution of a multi-million dollar claim by a healthcare provider under Medicare/Medicaid law. Melissa has also assisted clients with internal investigations related to securities and regulatory matters. She has been recognized as one of Massachusetts’ “Rising Star” Super Lawyers for 2007, 2008 and 2009. She was also named to Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly’s 2010 list of “Up and Coming” attorneys.
Melissa co-chairs the Boston Pro Bono & Community Service Committee. In 2009 the Massachusetts Bar Association honored the Boston office with its Access to Justice Award in recognition of its exemplary efforts in the Boston community. Melissa spearheaded McDermott’s collaboration with the Children’s Law Center of Massachusetts on a two year project to review life without parole sentences for juveniles in Massachusetts and serves as counsel for the Executive Committee leading this work. Citizens for Juvenile Justice awarded the Children’s Law Center and McDermott its 2008 Leadership Award for this work. Melissa also leads McDermott’s collaboration with the Medical Legal Partnership | Boston and the National Center for Medical Legal Partnership, representing individual clients, organizing volunteer opportunities for other McDermott attorneys and expanding the collaboration to a national partnership. Melissa serves on the Advisory Committee for the American Bar Association’s Center for Pro Bono’s Medical-Legal Partnership Pro Bono Support Project. She was one of four recipients of the 2006 McDermott Will & Emery Associate Award for Outstanding Commitment and Service to the Community.
Melissa is a member of McDermott’s Gender Diversity Committee.
Melissa authored “Comcast Ruling Expands Third-Party Privileges in Massachusetts” BNA Daily Tax Reporter, June 12, 2009. She was also a co-author of “Career-Focused Experiential Education for Students with Disabilities: An Outline of the Legal Terrain,” Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, Summer 2006. Melissa has served as a presenter on privilege issues, disability law topics and pro bono collaborations.
Melissa is active in her community. She is vice president of the Board of Directors for Hostelling International’s Eastern New England Council. Melissa also serves on the Human Rights Committee for three non-profit organizations providing supported employment opportunities for disabled individuals. Melissa is a member of Northwestern University’s Leadership Circle Regional Council and active on the Northwestern University Alumni Admission Council. She is also a past member of The Baylor School’s Alumni Board, the Junior League of Boston and Massachusetts Department of Children and Family Services’ Foster Care Review Panel.
Melissa is a member of the American Bar Association and the Boston Bar Association. She is licensed to practice in the state of Massachusetts and admitted to practice in the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
Education
- Boston University School of Law, J.D. (cum laude)
- Northwestern University, B.A.
