Theresa Melia

Partner

theresa.melia@championllp.com  |  office: 214.225.8880
  • Commercial & Civil Litigation
  • White Collar Crime
  • Investigations, Compliance, and Defense
  • ESG: Environmental, Social, and Governance
  • International Law

Theresa maintains a generalist practice, representing defendants and plaintiffs in complex commercial litigation and business disputes as well as white collar defense and investigations. Her clients range from individuals and small businesses to large Fortune 50 companies. An experienced advisor to the C-suite, she helps clients resolve complex commercial matters including trade secrets, contractual obligations, regulatory obligations, and strategic partnerships.

She digs deep into each matter, learning the nuts and bolts of the client’s business, scrutinizing the facts and the law, and asking the hard questions until the right approach is found. She helps her clients spot and analyze legal issues and implement practical, business-focused solutions that will resolve today’s issue and reduce the probability of the problem occurring again tomorrow. Theresa frequently resolves matters that require discretion and sensitivity, as well as situations that make headlines.

Theresa supports her community through her work with International Dyslexia Association – Dallas. Through this association, Theresa donates a portion of her time to raise awareness and funds for dyslexia education. She also donates her time to the Dallas County Expunction Exposition to provide residents of Dallas County with legal representation to expunge their records to allow them better opportunities.

Practice Details

Complex Civil & Commercial Litigation

Theresa has more than a decade of experience representing clients in state and federal courts in high-stakes litigation, including securities fraud, breach of fiduciary duties, misappropriation of trade secrets, complex contractual disputes, construction disputes, and health care litigation.

White Collar Criminal Defense

Theresa assists clients with civil matters prosecuted by state and federal agencies or that could attract the attention of enforcement agencies. Early in her career, Theresa worked with a team defending directors against allegations levied by securities enforcement agency. She then spent years as a member of the leadership team for the largest corporate export control monitorship in U.S. history.

Investigations, Compliance, and Defense

Theresa has substantial experience in managing and participating in multinational internal investigations into alleged wrongdoing and successfully navigate and resolve government inquiries. She quickly learns the underlying facts and terminology in high-pressure, high-stakes and fast-paced investigations. She investigates relevant conduct, evaluates the evidence, proposes practical and actionable remediation measures, and strategizes with clients to suggest reasonable steps to prevent similar issues in the future. She has conducted hundreds of witness interviews in connection with internal investigations involving a wide array of legal issues, including fraud allegations, false statements, corporate ethics issues, environmental issues, and data privacy and security concerns. Theresa tailors her approach to the client’s specific needs and risk profile.