Melissa Lehane Rawlinson
About Melissa
Melissa Rawlinson represents public and private employers in all areas of employment litigation. She defends clients in disputes involving wage and hour claims, disability discrimination and accommodation issues, wrongful discharge, employment discrimination, and retaliation.
Melissa also serves the firm’s education clients, including public school districts, private schools, and higher education institutions, on employment- and education-related matters. Melissa represents clients in state and federal court in a variety of matters, including civil rights claims made by both students and employees.
Melissa began at Miller Nash as a litigation associate where she participated in trials, arbitrations, and mediations related to complex business and employment litigation. She took an extended leave of absence from the firm to focus on raising her three daughters and returned in 2021 as special counsel.
Activities
- Multnomah Bar Association, member
- Oregon State Bar, member
- American Bar Association
- Litigation Section, member
- Cathedral School Advisory Council, 2014-2017
- Catholic Youth Organization, St. Mary’s Cathedral Club, Board of Directors, 2010-2012, 2018-2020
- National Charity League, Portland Chapter, Board of Directors, 2016-2019, 2020-2021
- Youngset Cooperative Preschool, Board of Directors, 2007-2010, 2013-2014
Insights from Melissa
- “Off Campus, but Still Within Reach: Ninth Circuit Affirms a Public High School’s Right to Discipline Students for Online Off-Campus Speech,” Miller Nash (Jan. 2023)
- “Off the Clock in Oregon but Maybe on the Hook,” Miller Nash, Employment Law in Motion (July 2022)
- “Criticism is a Two-Way Street: a Road Well Travelled in Today’s Political World: Supreme Court Decision about Community College Raises Issues for Public Body Boards,” Miller Nash (Apr. 2022)
- “Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Frustrated Cheerleader; But Schools Can, If They Proceed with Caution, Discipline Students for Some Off-Campus Speech,” Miller Nash, News You Can Use (June 2021)
- “Supreme Court Oral Argument: Will a New Updated Test Supplant Tinker?,” Miller Nash Graham & Dunn, News You Can Use (Apr. 2021)
- “Off-Campus Speech: Will the New Normal Bring New Rules?” Miller Nash Graham & Dunn, News You Can Use (Apr. 2021)
- “Strategic Risk Management: Keeping the Trains Running on Time,” Miller Nash, Employment Law Seminar (Oct. 2022)
Outside the Office
Outside of the office, Melissa is occupied with the joys and challenges of family life with her husband Mark and their three daughters. Together they enjoy travelling the world, chatting over long family meals, dipping their toes in pools and beaches, and competing with one other on the tennis court.