<p style="text-align: justify">Melissa began her practice at Williams &amp; Williams where she defended workers&rsquo; compensation insurance carriers and self-insured employers throughout the process of adjudicating workers&rsquo; compensation claims: from administrative trials and hearings through the Appellate Division.&nbsp; She expanded her Appellate and workers&rsquo; compensation practice when she joined Special Funds Conservation Committee as Assistant Attorney to Steven M. Licht, Esq. She has briefed over 50 appeals and most recently prevailed at the Court of Appeals in <em>Burns v. Varialle</em>, 9 N.Y.3d 207, 879 N.E.2d 140, 849 N.Y.S.2d 1, (2007).&nbsp; In addition to amassing 10 years of general workers&rsquo; compensation defense experience, she became an expert in workers&rsquo; compensation subrogation issues; she has appeared in many courts across the state defending motions and orders to show cause in connection with third-party claims for judicial approval <em>nunc pro tunc </em>and for apportionment of attorneys&rsquo; fees.&nbsp; Melissa is a member of the insurance defense and trucking industry defense groups.</p><p style="text-align: justify">Melissa is a native Western New Yorker and thrilled to be back in her hometown after living in the eastern part of the state for several years.&nbsp; She and her husband live in Williamsville with their thirteen-year-old son.</p>