Melissa L. Perry

Overview

Melissa Perry is an experienced litigator and strategic problem solver who represents corporate and institutional clients in all types of litigation, including employment and labor, educational issues, complex commercial, government investigations and appellate matters. Melissa specializes in employment and labor matters, representing clients in active litigation brought under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Equal Pay Act, and other federal and state employment and labor laws. She regularly advises local, regional, and national entities regarding hiring, compliance, internal investigations, harassment and discrimination prevention, employee departures, and theft of trade secrets and proprietary material.

While Melissa’s experience spans multiple practice areas, she strives to provide her clients with practical and cost-effective solutions and advocates for their interests at every step of her representation.

Prior to joining Stradley Ronon, Melissa practiced at a boutique California law firm where she represented corporate, educational, and governmental clients in litigated and non-litigated matters. Melissa’s California practice focused on employment and labor, housing discrimination, data privacy, and First Amendment litigation.

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Results

Representative Matters

  • obtained a complete victory in the Third Circuit after the plaintiff appealed a jury verdict in favor of Temple University; the Third Circuit found that the trial court had not erred by allowing the Stradley Ronon team to introduce at trial evidence discovered after the plaintiff’s termination, which was relevant to rebut the plaintiff’s trial testimony
  • secured a complete defense verdict in favor of Temple University after a five-day jury trial in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on the plaintiff’s claims for race discrimination and violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act
  • secured summary judgment for race, sex and age discrimination claims in a matter for SEPTA
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Credentials

Bar Admissions
  • California
  • Pennsylvania
Court Admissions
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Education
  • J.D., Georgetown University Law Center
  • B.A., cum laude, Northwestern University
Memberships

  • Peer Mentor, Society of Professional Women, Main Line Chamber of Commerce
  • Former Associate Board Member, Summer Search Philadelphia
  • Former Associate Board Member, 826 Valencia

Speaking Engagements

  • Presenter, “Internal Investigations: Avoiding Legal Pitfalls and Best Practices,” Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey CLE
  • Panelist, “How an Amicus Brief Can Bolster Your Animal Cruelty Case Appeal,” Animal Legal Defense Fund & Association of Prosecuting Attorneys
  • Panelist, "Employment Issues Amid COVID-19," Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey
  • Panelist, "COVID-19: The Evolving Employment Landscape," Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia
  • Panelist, "The COVID-19 Pandemic: Transforming the Employment Landscape," The Insurance Federal of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Association of Mutual Insurance Companies
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Recognitions

  • The Best Lawers in America, Ones to Watch
  • Daily Journal, California Lawyer of the Year
  • SuperLawyers, Rising Star
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