Melissa is an experienced trial and appellate advocate practising in criminal and quasi-criminal matters (including OH&S prosecutions, regulatory and disciplinary matters) and common law. She has extensive experience both as defence counsel and prosecution counsel.
In the Supreme Court she has appeared as lead counsel in murder trials and other serious matters. She has appeared routinely in the Victorian Court of Appeal in conviction, sentence, and interlocutory appeals. Melissa was a Crown Prosecutor from 2018 to March 2024.
Melissa has appeared in trials and pleas covering areas as diverse as murder, culpable driving, drugs, sexual offences, violence, fraud and sporting prosecutions.
Melissa has a special interest in how mental health intersects with the criminal law. She has appeared mental impairment hearings and fitness to plead investigations and special hearings in both the Supreme and County Courts.
She has appeared across all Victorian jurisdictions and has also appeared in NSW, Tasmania, and Western Australia.
She completed articles at Galbally & O’Bryan in 1999 and signed the bar roll in 2000.
She is a sitting member of the Victorian Racing Tribunal.
