Melissa is counsel in the firm’s corporate practice. She represents secured lenders, corporate borrowers and equity sponsors, among other parties, in a wide range of financing transactions. She advises on private equity-sponsored leveraged buyouts and recapitalizations, syndicated, secured and investment grade strategic acquisition financings, first and second lien financings, mezzanine financings, bridge loans and working capital facilities.

Prior to joining Akin, Melissa was an attorney at another multinational law firm based in New York. Her experience includes advising banks and alternative lenders in a range of workout scenarios, including out-of-court debt restructurings. She also counsels distressed and special situation lenders, as well as sellers of and investors in distressed financial assets.

Melissa has broad experience managing all aspects of large, syndicated, multi-tranche financings across various industries and with facility sizes ranging from a few million to over $1 billion.

Melissa structures legally complex transactions, tailoring her advice to meet the specific needs of her clients and the industry relevant to the transaction.