Melissa is an experienced litigation attorney in Traverse City, Michigan, who practices in the areas of personal injury, plaintiffs' contingency cases, and domestic relations. She has successfully represented clients and tried cases before courts across northern Michigan.

Melissa serves as a devoted advocate for her clients in matter involving work related accidents, injuries to the head and spine, transportation accidents, and product liability. She uses her previous experience as a commercial litigation attorney in Denver, Colorado to help plaintiffs on cases involving employment discrimination, unfair trade practice claims, securities violations, class actions, and contract disputes.

Melissa began her legal career as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for abused and neglected children. She continues to help families, children, and individuals through her domestic relations practice. For these clients, she provides services such as pre- and post-nuptial agreements, divorce, spousal and child support, child custody, grandparenting time, and enforcement. In her opinion, the best way to represent persons involved in these highly emotional matters is to listen carefully, to dedicate the time necessary to assure the best result, and to be readily accessible via telephone or e-mail.

For fun, Melissa enjoys skiing, sewing, and Bikram yoga.  

Education

• University of Pennsylvania (B.A., 1994) (Major in Communications at the Annenberg Center for Communications) 
• Washington and Lee School of Law (J.D., 1999); Managing Editor, Virginia Capital Case Clearinghouse

Admitted to Practice

• Colorado State Bar Association, 1999
• State Bar of Michigan, 2003

Previous Professional Experience

• Attorney – Blakeslee & Chambers, P.C, Traverse City, MI
• Attorney – Davis Graham & Stubbs, Denver, CO
• Paralegal – Thacher Profitt & Wood, New York, NY

External Publications

• “Communicating with Juries,” Capital Defense Journal

Smith Haughey Publications

News for Melissa E. Whitman

11/19/2011
Attorney Melissa Whitman Named Boss of the Year

1/14/2010
Smith Haughey Announces New CEO, Shareholders, and Board of Directors

5/10/2005
Family Law Group Grows

Professional Affiliations

• State Bar of Michigan
• Colorado State Bar Association
• Grand Traverse/Leelanau/Antrim Bar Association