Melissa is a construction law partner at Ragsdale Liggett PLLC in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she practices in the litigation department. She concentrates her practice on representing engineers and architects in all of their legal needs, including contract drafting, contract negotiation, and contract disputes. When necessary, she represents design professionals in state courts, federal courts, and binding arbitration, handling construction administration and management claims, plan defects, testing failure claims, and delay claims.
Melissa maintains an award-winning blog on legal issues relating to construction at http://www.constructionlawNC.com.
n addition to construction cases, Melissa handles commercial litigation, business disputes, and director and officer liability. Melissa also heads the collections practice group at Ragsdale Liggett.
Practice areas
General civil litigation practice, including business disputes, construction claims, and complex commercial litigation Avvo rating 10.0
24 years
Construction litigation, primarily representing design professionals; contract review and negotiation; loss prevention Avvo rating 10.0
24 years
Drafting, revising, and negotiating contracts with favorable terms for clients Avvo rating 10.0
24 years
24 years
24 years
Debt collection and preservation of creditors' rights Avvo rating 10.0
24 years
Languages spoken
English
Ragsdale Liggett PLLC
2840 Plaza Place, Suite 400
Raleigh, NC, 27612
State | Status | Acquired | Updated |
---|---|---|---|
NC | Active | 1998 | 04/28/2022 |
Award name | Grantor | Date Granted |
---|---|---|
Superlawyer in Construction Law | Super Lawyers | 2017 |
NC Legal Elite (Construction Law) | Business North Carolina | 2017 |
Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers | Martindale-Hubbell | 2017 |
Superlawyer in Construction Law | SuperLawyers | 2016 |
NC Legal Elite (Construction Law) | Business North Carolina | 2016 |
Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers | Martindale-Hubbell | 2016 |
Superlawyer in Construction Law | SuperLawyers | 2015 |
Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers | Martindale-Hubbell | 2015 |
Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers | Martindale-Hubbell | 2014 |
NC Legal Elite (Construction Law) | Business North Carolina | 2013 |
Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers | Martindale-Hubbell | 2013 |
Rising Star-Construction Law | SuperLawyers | 2012 |
Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers | Martindale-Hubbell | 2012 |
Rising Star- Construction Law | SuperLawyers | 2011 |
Best Construction Blog | Design and Construction Report | 2011 |
Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers | Martindale-Hubbell | 2011 |
AV Preeminent Rating | Martindale Hubbell | 2010 |
BV Distinguished Rating | Martindale Hubbell | 2009 |
Triangle Impact Law Leader | Triangle Business Leader Magazine | 2008 |
Certified Toastmaster | Toastmasters | 2007 |
40 Under 40 | Triangle Business Journal | 2006 |
"All Star" Team Award | North Carolina Jaycees | 2004 |
North Central Region Membership Award | North Carolina Jaycees | 2003 |
Gressman-Pollitt Appellate Advocacy Award | UNC School of Law | 1998 |
Phi Beta Kappa | University of North Carolina | 1994 |
Golden Key National Honor Society | University of North Carolina | 1993 |
Title | Company name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Partner | Ragsdale Liggett PLLC | 2006 - Present |
General Counsel | North Carolina Jaycees | 2007 - 2008 |
Associate | Ragsdale Liggett, PLLC | 2001 - 2005 |
Associate Attorney | Stuart Law Firm PLLC | 1998 - 2001 |
Legal Intern | U.S. Attorneys Office, Civil Division | 1998 - 1998 |
Summer Associate | Wyrick Robbins Yates Ponton | 1997 - 1997 |
Legislative Associate | NC Justice and Community Development Center | 1996 - 1996 |
Association name | Position name | Duration |
---|---|---|
US Green Building Council (USGBC) | LEED- Green Associate | 2011 - Present |
10th Judicial District Bar Association | Chair; Vice-Chair; Member--Grievance Committee | 2009 - Present |
RL Mace Universal Design Institute | President; Vice-President; Board of Directors | 2008 - Present |
Defense Research Institute | Member | 2002 - Present |
North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys (NCADA) | Member | 2002 - Present |
North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys | Member; Wake County Chapter Member | 1998 - Present |
North Carolina Bar Association | Member; Litigation Section Member; Construction Section Member | 1998 - Present |
Wake County Bar Association | Member | 1998 - Present |
American Bar Association | Member; Litigation Section Member; Construction Section Member | 1998 - Present |
North Carolina Bar Association Young Lawyer's Division | Co-Editor, The Advocate newsletter | 2008 - 2010 |
ABA Young Lawyer's Division | Associate/ Assistant Editor, The YLD Affiliate | 2006 - 2008 |
Chapel Hill Jaycees | Founder, various Board of Directors positions, Member | 2002 - 2018 |
North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys (Wake County chapter) | Secretary | 2001 - 2002 |
North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys | Career Support Chairperson | 2000 - 2001 |
Publication name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
Construction Law Musings | Contract Necessities: Don't Leave Home Without 'Em | 2011 |
Construction Lien Blog | The ABCs of Lien Law in North Carolina | 2010 |
Construction Law Musings | Be Wary of "Gentlemen's Agreements" in Construction | 2010 |
Half Moon, LLC | Managing Changes and Resolving Disputes - CLE manuscript | 2010 |
Construction Law in North Carolina | Construction Law Issues in North Carolina-Blog | 2010 |
JD Supra | How to Avoid Project Delays during the Holidays | 2009 |
JD Supra | Key Practice Tips for Small Contractors | 2009 |
The Affiliate | Career Talk: Yes, You Can Enjoy Your Life as a Lawyer: An Interview with Tim Batdorf | 2008 |
The Affiliate | Finding Volunteers for Your Affiliate: Dallas’ Formula for Success | 2008 |
The Affiliate | Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Proposing an ABA/YLD CLE But Were Afraid to Ask | 2007 |
The Affiliate | The Five "Rs" of Fundraising | 2007 |
The Affiliate | Websites That Work: Making Effective Use of Your Affiliate Website | 2007 |
Resolving Problems and Disputes on Construction Projects | Understanding the Construction Contract Before You Sign It | 2006 |
Resolving Problems and Disputes on Construction Projects | Managing Contract Changes | 2006 |
Resolving Problems and Disputes on Construction Projects | Handling Threats of Contract Termination | 2006 |
The Affiliate | Judicial Division Chair Judge Leslie Miller Credits Leadership Skills to YLD Training | 2006 |
School name | Degree | Graduated |
---|---|---|
University of North Carolina School of Law | J.D. | 1998 |
University of Manchester, England | Visiting Scholar | 1997 |
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill | B.A., with Honors and Highest Distinction | 1994 |
Corning Community College | A.A., with Honors | 1992 |
Conference name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
NC Bar Association Construction Law Forum | Designing the Project: Insurance for the Design Team | 2017 |
NBI Seminar: Expert Witnesses: Using NC Court Rules to Your Advantage | Ethical Considerations for Working with Experts | 2016 |
American Society of Civil Engineers- Spring Technical Forum-NC | 7 Critical Mistakes Engineers Make that Sabotage Their Projects & Invite Litigation | 2016 |
Advise & Consult- 1st Annual Construction Defect & Dispute Conference | Third Party Liability of Design Professionals | 2015 |
NC Bar Association- Construction Law Forum Video Webinar | Digging Into the Dirt: A Look Inside a Construction Law Practice | 2015 |
NC Bar Association- Construction Law Annual Meeting | Joinder of Subcontractors and Design Professionals in Multi-Party Construction Arbitration | 2014 |
Lorman Education Services-- NC Construction Law | Fundamentals of Construction Contracts in North Carolina: Understanding the Issues | 2014 |
American Institute of Architects- Triangle Chapter-Keeping Your House in Order | Understanding liability/risk involved with BIM and LEED projects | 2013 |
Building And Protecting Your Business And Your Future: Contract, Collect, and Protect | Best Business Practices To Ensure You Get Paid | 2013 |
Construction Superconference | Re-Building America’s Infrastructure: An Inside Look at the New Contract Forms Released and Currently Being Developed by EJCDC from Traditional Design-Bid-Build to DBOM and P3 | 2012 |
Professional Engineers of NC Annual Conference | 7 Critical Mistakes Engineers Make that Sabotage Their Projects & Invite Litigation | 2012 |
American Council of Engineering Companies- Fall Conference | 7 Critical Mistakes Engineers Make that Sabotage Their Projects & Invite Litigation | 2012 |
Professional Engineers of North Carolina Brown Bag Seri | 7 Critical Mistakes Engineers Make that Sabotage Their Projects & Invite Litigation | 2012 |
Half Moon- NC Construction Law Conference | Making Changes to the Contract and Contracted Work | 2012 |
Professional Engineers of NC- Annual Conference | Best Business Practices for Engineers to Ensure You Get Paid | 2012 |
Strafford Publications-Construction Contract Drafting Strategies | Understanding & Modifying Key Construction Contract Terms (Scope of Services, Duties of the Parties, Changes to the Project, and Termination Issues) | 2011 |
Half Moon-- Law of Construction Defects & Failures | Strategies for Reducing Defects & Failures | 2011 |
NC Association of Defense Counsel- Annual Meeting | Best Practices for Minimizing Risk in Construction Contracts | 2011 |
Half Moon--North Carolina Construction Law | Making Changes and Resolving Disputes During the Construction Process | 2010 |
Managing the Construction Claim | Investigating and Handling Construction Defect Claims | 2007 |
NBI- NC Construction Law | Understanding Contracts, Managing Contract Changes During Construction, and Termination of Construction Contracts | 2006 |
Case name | Outcome |
---|---|
Michael Jonathan McCrann, Jr. et al. v. NC Dept. of Health and Human Serv. | Judgment for Client Upheld |
Zumkehr v. Hidden Lakes Property Owners Assoc. Inc. | Affirmation of Summary Judgment for Client |
Posted by Bill
February 2, 2010
Posted by Chris
January 26, 2010
Posted by James
December 29, 2009
Posted by Christina
December 17, 2009
Posted by Joe
December 16, 2009
Douglas McClanahan, Litigation Attorney on Oct 8, 2019
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
I've known Melissa for years and happily refer clients to her when I have a conflict or something is in her wheelhouse. She balances being tough and professional.
Curtis Sluder, Contracts and agreements Attorney on Jan 5, 2015
Relationship: Friend
I endorse this lawyer. Melissa is and always has been a very astute, conscientious, courteous, yet aggressive attorney when the situation calls for it. I highly recommend her.
Douglas McClanahan, Litigation Attorney on Oct 8, 2019
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
I've known Melissa for years and happily refer clients to her when I have a conflict or something is in her wheelhouse. She balances being tough and professional.
Curtis Sluder, Contracts and agreements Attorney on Jan 5, 2015
Relationship: Friend
I endorse this lawyer. Melissa is and always has been a very astute, conscientious, courteous, yet aggressive attorney when the situation calls for it. I highly recommend her.
Christopher Hill, Construction and development Attorney on Aug 28, 2012
Relationship: Friend
Melissa is a very knowledgeable attorney in the field of construction in North Carolina. She is good about sharing this knowledge with others and has helped me out in the past.
Scott Wolfe, Construction and development Attorney on Nov 13, 2010
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I've come to know Melissa as a reader of her blog, Construction Law in North Carolina (http://constructionlawnc.com/). It's an excellent resource for those in the construction industry who are interested in learning about construction law topics they confront each day. It's also a great resource for construction lawyers. Melissa is a thought leader on construction law in North Carolina, and I frequently turn to her publications to help me in my own practice. I highly recommend her as an attorney who has a great grasp of construction law concepts, and the practice area as a whole.
Harrison Lord, Construction and development Attorney on Dec 18, 2009
Relationship: Worked together on matter
Melissa and I serve together as co-chairs of the Newsletter Committee for the North Carolina Young Lawyers Division. Melissa is the rare lawyer who can always get the details just right without ever losing track of the bigger picture. Her organizational skills are phenomenal, and she brings genuine enthusiasm to every project. As an added bonus, she's also fun to work with.
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