Melissa C. McLaughlin
Counsel
Melissa has experience in all aspects of dispute resolution and litigation. She regularly appears in state and federal courts and has argued before the United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit and the California Courts of Appeal. Melissa works to achieve clients' objectives efficiently and effectively. Recognizing that the goals of each client and the circumstances of each matter are unique, she takes a practical approach to reach the best resolution for the client, whether in or out of court.
Experience
Experience
Representative Matters
- Won motions to dismiss in various false advertising and unfair competition consumer class actions
- In a trade secrets case, won a motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction involving several novel issues
- Won a series of discovery motions in a copyright, breach of contract, and right of publicity case, resulting in significant sanctions against the opposing party and attorney and putting our clients in a favorable settlement position
- Represented a digital media company in a copyright infringement and Digital Millennium Copyright Act matter involving the fair use doctrine
- Defended against individual and class actions involving allegations of violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act
- Obtained ex parte seizure orders to raid infringers' facilities, temporary restraining orders, and preliminary and permanent injunctions on behalf of a U.S. consumer products company in multiple Lanham Act anti-counterfeiting matters
- Defeated an ex parte application for a temporary restraining order and a motion for preliminary injunction, and obtained a demurrer with prejudice, on behalf of a national insurance brokerage group and its employee, facing claims for breach of a non-compete agreement and unfair competition
- Obtained summary judgment on behalf of two defendants in a case brought under California's Anti-Spam Act, which was affirmed on appeal
Insights
Insights
Credentials
Credentials
Education
- J.D. UCLA School of Law 2010
- Managing Editor, UCLA Law Review
- B.A. magna cum laude University of Pennsylvania 2004
- Honors in Hispanic Studies
- National Society of Collegiate Scholars
Bar Admissions
- California
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
Professional Memberships and Activities
- Member, Los Angeles County Bar Association
Community
Community
Pro Bono
- Member, pro bono committee, Venable Los Angeles office
- Obtained a Special Immigrant Visa involving a successful appeal of the withdrawal of Chief of Mission support, for an Afghan man whose life was threatened because of his work as an interpreter for the United States military in Afghanistan