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Melissa Lin

Melissa Lin

Location:
Phoenix, Arizona
Phone:
602-903-4547
505-908-3970
E-mail:

Arizona Trial Attorney
Ms. Lin has handled a wide variety of civil cases, including breach of contract, conversion, unjust enrichment, construction defect, corporate dissolution, copyright infringement, easement disputes, tax lien foreclosures, LLC incorporations, eminent domain, trespass, partition, interference with valid contractual relations or business expectancies, and unfair competition.  Ms. Lin attended and appeared at Lake Havasu City Council Meetings as City Attorney when necessary.  She also appeared and argued before the Mohave County Planning and Zoning Commission and a local school board.  She reviewed and modified fixed based operating leases for Lake Havasu City's airport.  During August 2004 through December 2004, she clerked for the Honorable Paul Tang in Pima County Superior Court, researching and writing decisions on Tucson City and Justice Court Appeals.  She is an honest, dedicated and energetic trial attorney and litigator. 

Ms. Lin's current practice includes the representation of individuals, contractors and businesses in tort and construction litigation, primarily in the areas of construction defects, complex litigation, general liability, personal injury, and product liability. 

Relevant Professional Activities, Background and Education
Ms. Lin was elected and serves as a 2008-2010 Young Lawyers Division (YLD) District 4 Representative for the State Bar of Arizona.  She was a member of the 2008 Maricopa County Holiday Party Committee for foster children and the 2009 Chair of the Maricopa County Holiday Party Committee.  She has been involved with the board of the Maricopa County Bar Association's (MCBA) Construction Law Section since 2008 and currently serves as the 2009-2010 vice-chair.  As a board member and vice-chair of the MCBA Construction Law Section she has assisted with, planned, and hosted several construction cle programs.  She also served on the board of the MCBA YLD in 2009 as part of the Domestic Violence Committee and as a liaison for the Arizona Asian American Bar Association (AAABA).  She has been involved with the Arizona Association of Defense Counsel (AADC), the Arizona affiliate of the Defense Research Institute, since 2007 and is the 2009-2010 vice president and board member of AADC YLD.  Her article, "A Recent Extrapolation Ruling in Arizona Construction Defect Cases and Its Implications for the Defense of Extrapolation in Construction Defect Cases" was published in the November 2007 AADC E-Common Defense newsletter.   She is a member of the Defense Research Institute (DRI) and a vice marketing west coast regional co-chair of the 2010 DRI Sharing Success Seminar for Women. She is a member of the Arizona Women's Law Association (AWLA) and AAABA. She is also a 2009-2010 member of the Thurgood Marshall Inn of Court

Prior to moving to Phoenix, Ms. Lin received the 2006 Pro Bono Service Award from Community Legal Services in Mohave County. Ms. Lin is the 2009-2010 vice president of membership, and the 2008-2009 secretary and board member of the Women's Metropolitan Arts Council (WoMAC) of the Phoenix Art Museum.  She is a volunteer for the Wills for Heroes program and the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education. 

Ms. Lin received her law degree from the University of Arizona College of Law in 2004.  She was a Managing Editor for the Arizona Journal of International & Comparative Law, executive board member for the Student Bar Association, and president of the Asian American Law Student Association. She graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biology with a minor in Spanish from the University of Arizona in 2001.  She has been a registered patent agent with the US Patent and Trademark Office since 2004.  She was admitted to the Arizona Bar in 2005. 

While in law school, Ms. Lin worked as a part time law clerk, writing and researching responses to the USPTO Actions for Inventors.  She also researched and helped prepare New York State trademark applications and performed USPTO, state patent searches and international patent searches.   Ms. Lin also externed with District Court Magistrate Charles Pyle in Pima County and the Los Angeles Public Defender's Office. After law school, she clerked for the Honorable Paul Tang in Pima County Superior Court.

Areas of Practice

  • Contractors and Businesses in Tort Litigation
  • Construction Defect
  • Complex Litigation
  • Personal Injury
  • Product Liability
  • Insurance Bad Faith

Bar Admissions

  • Arizona, 2005
  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Education

  • University of Arizona College of Law, Tucson, Arizona
    • J.D. - May, 2004
    • Honors: Student Bar Association
    • Honors: Asian American Law Student Association (President 2002-2003)
    • Honors: Bridge 2003 Summer Program Mentor
    • Honors: Arizona Trial Lawyer Association (2001-2002)
    • Honors: Rusing and Lopez Best Copyworker Award
    • Law Journal: Arizona Journal of International & Comparative Law, 2002 - 2004
    • Law Journal: Arizona Journal of International & Comparative Law, Managing Editor, 2003 - 2004
  • University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
    • B.S. (Cum Laude) - May, 2001
    • Honors: Phi Beta Kappa
    • Honors: Golden Key National Honor Society
    • Honors: Minority Student Achievement Scholarship Award
    • Honors: National Dean's List (1998, 1999)
    • Major: Molecular Cellular Biology
    • Minor: Spanish

Published Works

  • A Recent Extrapolation Ruling in Arizona Construction Defect Cases and its Implications for the Defense of Extrapolation in Construction Defects Cases, AADC, November, 2007

Honors and Awards

  • Community Legal Services Pro Bono Services Award, 2006

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • Arizona State Bar, Young Lawyers Division District 4 Representative, 2008 - 2010
  • Maricopa County Bar Association, Construction Law Section, Vice-Chair, 2009-2011, Member at Large-Board of Directors, 2007 2009
  • Arizona Association of Defense Counsel, 2007- present, YLD Vice-Chair, 2009
  • Defense Research Institute, Member, 2007 present, Vice Marketing West Coast Regional Co-Chair of, 2007 - Present
  • 2010 Sharing Success Seminar for Women Lawyers, Marketing Committee
  • Arizona Women's Law Association, Member, 2007 - 2009
  • Arizona Asian American Bar Association, Member, 2007 - Present
  • Women's Metropolitan Arts Council, 2007 present, Vice President of Membership, 2009-2010

Past Employment Positions

  • Turley Swan Childers Righi & Torrens, P.C., Associate Attorney, December 1, 2006 - September 30, 2009
  • The Law Offices of Lenkowsky Bidwell & Kelley, Associate Attorney, 2005 - 2006
  • The Law Offices of Keith S. Knochel, Law Clerk/Associate Attorney, 2005
  • Hon. Paul Tang, Pima County Superior Court, Judicial Law Clerk, 2004
  • Gary D. Yanker, J.D. and M.B.A., Part-time Law Clerk, 2003 - 2004
  • District Court Magistrate Charles Pyle, Judicial Extern, 2003
  • Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office, Law Clerk, 2002

Pro Bono Activities

  • Wills for Heroes, Volunteer
  • Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education, Volunteer for Lawyers Helping Homeowners Website
  • Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education, Volunteer Judge for 2008 Law Day Contest

Languages

  • Spanish
  • Taiwanese

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