Melanie V. Woodward

Clients appreciate Melanie’s creative approach to each case, considering the client’s goals and the unique facts of the case to develop a customized strategy. With significant courtroom experience, Melanie has successfully tried cases in Massachusetts state and federal courts. Clients value Melanie’s willingness to pursue a case to trial, while also giving candid advice along the way about risks and opportunities for settlement. Clients also engage Melanie to conduct internal investigations to uncover potential wrongdoing, make independent findings, and head off litigation or regulatory inquiries.

Representative Engagements Include:

Complex Commercial Litigation

• Defeated SEC intentional fraud charges for registered investment adviser after 7-day jury trial in Massachusetts federal court
• Key member of the Nutter trial team that won jury trial for Big Four accounting firm in accounting malpractice claim
• Successfully defended food and beverage client in arbitration of breach of contract claims brought by a distributor

Securities Enforcement and Litigation

• Key member of a team representing former auditors of a large accounting firm in PCAOB investigation
• Asserting constitutional challenge to PCAOB disciplinary hearings in ongoing D.C. federal court litigation
• Represented auditor from Big Four accounting firm in testimony before the SEC
• Represented co-founder of hedge fund in SEC and DOJ investigations and related investor arbitrations relating to fiduciary obligations and investor disclosures

Internal Investigations

• Conducted internal investigation for public company bank relating to whistleblower allegations by former CFO
• Conducted internal investigation for public biotechnology company relating to whistleblower allegations by former CMO
• Conducted internal investigation for public franchise company regarding allegations by high-level employee

Labor and Employment

• Successfully defended an employer in a week-long jury trial involving employment discrimination claims
• Representing large e-commerce company in ongoing class action in Massachusetts federal court
• Successfully argued motion for summary judgment on behalf of a credit union defending against claims under the Massachusetts Wage Act

Melanie is committed to the firm’s proud legacy of pro bono representation, and was recognized for her efforts in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly’s Pro Bono Spotlight. She successfully represented a former prisoner pursuing a civil rights action before the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. She has represented a special needs student since he was in the first grade, including securing the student a placement at a private school better suited to meet the student’s educational needs. He recently graduated from high school with honors. Melanie is also actively involved in immigration pro bono work, including applying for humanitarian parole on behalf a family fleeing Afghanistan and securing lawful permanent residency for minors who traveled to the United States without a parent. She has also been recognized internally with The Greta Coleman Award for Building a Diverse Nutter Team, recognizing  her active and meaningful engagement in recruiting, mentoring, and retaining a diverse workforce.

Melanie is also a member of the Women's Bar Association and the Litigation Section of the American Bar Association. She authored a chapter in MCLE's Massachusetts Superior Court Civil Practice Manual. Melanie serves on the Board of Dream Big!, a nonprofit organization that provides girls and young women from low-income situations with the resources and support needed to enable them to participate in sports and physical activities.

In addition to her summer associate work at Nutter, her professional experience includes serving as a legal extern for the Honorable LeRoy F. Millette of the Supreme Court of Virginia, a legal intern at the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Child Protection Unit in Boston, and an intern at the Office of Senator John Kerry in Boston and Washington, D.C.

During law school, Melanie served as senior articles editor for the William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal and as a member of the National Trial Team.