MELISSA DEWEY BRUMBACK

Melissa Dewey Brumback, Partner, Litigation

Melissa Dewey Brumback is a partner at Ragsdale Liggett PLLC, where she practices in the litigation department, concentrating on complex commercial, business and construction litigation. The bulk of Melissa’s practice consists of representing architects and engineers in construction-related claims, including construction administration and management, plan defects, testing failure claims and delay claims. Melissa has represented design professionals in State and Federal courts as well as in binding arbitration, when the parties wish to avoid the formality, time, and expense of a trial. Her practice includes the defense of all sizes of claims, from residential homeowner cases to private commercial construction to multi-prime public construction projects.  Melissa is admitted to practice in all State and Federal Courts in North Carolina, as well as the 4th Circuit and the United States Supreme Court. 

In addition to construction cases, Melissa handles commercial litigation, business disputes, and director and officer liability. Melissa also heads the creditor’s rights/collections practice group at Ragsdale Liggett.

Melissa began her law career by practicing insurance defense, general corporate law, workers’ compensation defense and creditor’s rights at Stuart Law Firm, PLLC in Raleigh, North Carolina. She joined Ragsdale Liggett in March 2001 as an associate attorney and became a partner in January 2006.

Active in civic and charitable organizations, Melissa re-chartered the Chapel Hill chapter of the Jaycees in the fall of 2002, almost single-handedly resurrecting what had been a dormant organization. Since then she has served in several Jaycees leadership positions. Through her involvement in the organization, Melissa has raised funds for the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center at UNC, starting the first annual yard sale. In addition, Melissa has led and participated in fund-raising efforts for the Duke Cancer Center, Lake Waccamaw Boys’ and Girls’ Home, the victims of Hurricane Katrina and other worthy causes. For these outstanding efforts, the Jaycees awarded Melissa with their North Central Region Membership award in 2003 and their “All Star Team” award in 2004. She was appointed in 2007 as General Counsel for the North Carolina Jaycees, a position in which she advises the state umbrella organization on legal issues affecting the states’ Jaycees chapters.

Melissa founded a book club for women attorneys, which is currently in its seventh year. In 2007, Melissa obtained her Competent Communicator/Certified Toastmaster designation from the High Noon Toastmasters in Raleigh.

Melissa has served on several professional committees, including the Public Service committee and Lawyers in the Schools subcommittee of the Wake County Bar, as well as the North Carolina Bar Association’s Law Day Committee. She served on the committee that established Pro Bono 101, the first legal seminar of the Young Lawyer’s Division of the North Carolina Bar Association. Melissa’s committee spearheaded the first development of this seminar, which teaches attorneys how to get involved in pro bono work. She has also served for two years as an Assistant Editor of the Affiliate newsletter, an American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Publication for young attorney leaders across the nation.  She is the 2008-2009 Co-Chair of the North Carolina Bar Association Young Lawyer's Division Newsletter Committee and is serving a two year term on the Board of Directors of the Housing Works Universal Design Institute.  Melissa is a member of the American, North Carolina, and Wake County Bar Associations, as well as the 10th Judicial District.  She maintains memberships in Wake Women Attorneys, the North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys, the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys, and the Defense Research Institute.

Melissa was recognized as one of the Triangle Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” Award in 2006, an award which honors up-and-coming leaders under the age of 40 who are making a difference in their community.

Melissa grew up in the Corning/Elmira area of upstate New York. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with Phi Beta Kappa honors and highest distinction in 1994. Desiring a challenging, exciting career that would put her writing and speaking skills to good use, Melissa obtained her Juris Doctor in 1998 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she was awarded a Gressman-Pollitt Appellate Advocacy Award. She has also studied as a Visiting Scholar at the University of Manchester, England School of Law.

Melissa resides in Chapel Hill with her husband and daughter.

Melissa has written several short articles on contract issues as faced in the construction context.  The following articles are available for free download through Adobe™ Reader:

• Understanding the Construction Contract Before You Sign It

• Managing Contract Changes

• Handling  Threats of Contract Termination