Melissa A. Hewey
Attorney
Melissa A. Hewey
Attorney
Phone: 207.772.1941 Fax: 207.772.3627 Email: mhewey@dwmlaw.com
84 Marginal Way, Suite 600 Portland, ME 04101-2480
Assistant: Tricia King Email: tking@dwmlaw.com
About
Melissa Hewey is an accomplished litigator with substantial experience across a broad range of practice areas, including insurance defense, school law, higher education law, employment matters, and complex commercial litigation. Melissa has represented a diverse set of clients, such as insurance companies, schools, colleges and universities, municipalities, law firms, hospitals, individuals, and businesses in a variety of industries.
Melissa has tried a wide range of cases and argued significant appeals in state and federal courts in Maine and New Hampshire. She regularly represents clients in complex litigation in federal court, including in class action and mass tort cases. In her higher education practice, Melissa works regularly with colleges and universities around the country on Title IX matters, serving in the roles of investigator, decision maker, and at the appellate level. In litigation, Melissa has the expertise, preparation, and commitment to her clients to take their cases from inception to verdict or judgment if trial is required.
From 2020 to 2024, Melissa was recognized as a Top Five Maine Lawyer by Super Lawyers. Benchmark Litigation lists her as one of the Top 250 Women in Litigation nationwide.
For almost 20 years, Melissa has been recognized in Best Lawyers in America for employment, education, municipal, and commercial law categories. She is the first woman in Maine to be inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers and was elected as a Fellow in the Litigation Counsel of America’s Trial Lawyer Honorary Society. Melissa also serves on the pro bono panel for the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Program in Portland, Maine.
Representative Complex Litigation Matters
- Represented competitive electricity provider and related entities in a class action relating to allegations of fraud in the competitive electricity market;
- Represented creditor’s committee in litigation involving fire and ultimate bankruptcy of paper company;
- Acted as coordinating counsel for a tanning company in a series of class action and individual lawsuits brought in Missouri relating to the spreading of hexavalent chromium sludge;
- Represented a blueberry grower in a class action antitrust case; and
- Represented furnace manufacturer in asbestos litigation cases.
Education
University of Maine School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 1987
Wesleyan University, B.A., 1980
Recognition
Super Lawyers, Top 5 Maine Lawyers 2020
Top 100 (Awarded by New England Super Lawyers)
Employment Law-Management Lawyer of the Year, Portland, ME (Awarded by Best Lawyers) 2012, 2016, 2018, 2024
Top 50 Women (Awarded by New England Super Lawyers) 2007-2018
Education Law Lawyer of the Year, Portland, ME (Awarded by Best Lawyers), 2021, 2024
New England Super Lawyers, Employment & Labor, General Litigation, Schools & Education 2007-2021
Best Lawyers, USA
Benchmark Litigation
Chambers & Partners, USA Guide, Maine, Labor & Employment – Band 3, Litigation: General Commercial – Band 1
Martindale Hubbell, AV Preeminent
Katahdin Counsel, Honoring Pro Bono Legal Services in Maine 2012-2015
American College of Trial Attorneys, Awarded Fellow
Litigation Counsel of America, Trial Lawyer Honorary Society, Awarded Fellow
Publications
Co-Author, Maine School Law (4th ed. 2012)
Memberships
Trial Law Institute
Member
College of School Attorneys
Litigation Counsel of America
American College of Trial Lawyers
Maine State Bar Association
Maine Bar Foundation
Fellow
New Hampshire Bar Association
Maine Trial Lawyers Association
Community/Public Service
ILAP, Pro Bono Panel
Member
Past Presentations
From June 26, 2024
2024 MSBA Summer Bar Conference
Presented on The Advantages of Using Focus Groups to Build a Persuasive Argument
From August 14, 2024 9:00 am
6th Annual New Hampshire Principals Academy
From June 17, 2022 12:00 pm
Student Rights: Zooming in on the Rights of Transgender and Gender Expansive Students
From August 26, 2020 9:00 am
The New Era of Title IX
From September 7, 2018 9:00 am
Guarding the Gates: Keeping Your Schools Safe from Violence and Harassment
From January 31, 2018 12:00 pm