Melissa Macken

Melissa Macken is a seasoned solicitor with over two decades of experience, focusing primarily on employment law. She provides expert guidance to senior executives on the terms of employment contracts, both at the commencement of new roles and upon termination. Melissa is adept at assisting clients in their negotiations with employers, whether by providing strategic advice or engaging directly with employers or their legal representatives to resolve disputes. When negotiations don't reach a satisfactory outcome, she is skilled in conducting litigation, frequently appearing in the Supreme Court of Victoria, the County Court of Victoria, the Federal Court of Australia, and various appellate jurisdictions. Her clientele spans across diverse sectors, including banking, finance, media, the arts, and health. Melissa also extends her expertise to advising employers on contract terms and issues pertaining to the lawful termination of employees. An alumna of the University of Melbourne with degrees in Arts and Law, Melissa holds a commendable record of service to the legal community. She has been an elected Council Member of the Law Institute of Victoria and served as a Director of Victorian Lawyers RPA Limited. Her leadership as Chair of the Ethics Committee of the Law Institute of Victoria/Victorian Lawyers Pty Ltd from 1997 to 2002, followed by her continued involvement, earned her a Certificate of Service from the Law Institute of Victoria. Melissa's contribution to the legal field includes being the Rapporteur and Chair of an Ethics Session at the 13th Commonwealth Law Conference in 2003. She has shared her knowledge as a guest lecturer at Monash University and Deakin University Law Schools, authored numerous articles on employment law, and featured in the educational DVD, LIV_ing Ethics, in 2016.