Melissa N. Engle

Melissa Engle is a Partner of White and Bright and rated AV® Preeminent™ through Martindale-Hubbell.

Ms. Engle’s legal practice focuses on both litigation and transactional work, primarily involving real estate, business disputes, and employment law. In particular, she assists numerous businesses and brokerages in various suits, ranging from non-disclosure actions, real estate transaction disputes, lease disputes, wrongful termination and discrimination claims, partnership and shareholder disputes, breaches of contract, indemnification issues, and other commercial and residential real estate matters.

Ms. Engle also represents various small businesses in transactional matters such as vendor disputes, commercial leases, independent contractor contracts, employment contracts, vendor and customer contracts, licenses, intellectual property protection and licensing, asset purchases, and general counsel representation as needed.

Ms. Engle advocates and urges each of her clients to undertake preventative legal services in order to avoid potential legal disputes before they happen. She is passionate about educating her clients on how to avoid lawsuits, attorneys’ fees, costs, stress, wasted time, and the uncertainty that comes with litigation. This includes assisting small businesses with their business formation, real estate acquisitions, vendor contracts, licenses, employment policies, handbooks, management training, and human resources development.

Prior to White and Bright, Ms. Engle was an associate at two boutique San Diego litigation firms where her practice focused on civil litigation with an emphasis on employment, intellectual property, and business matters. She started her legal career focused on personal injury lawsuits as well as both personal and business reorganizations through Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcies. She also litigated various adversary proceedings on behalf of creditors.

Aside from her legal practice, Ms. Engle has served as an adjunct professor at University of San Diego School of Law where she teaches Legal Research and Civil Litigation, among other courses.

Ms. Engle lives in San Diego with her husband, a fellow employment law attorney, and their dog, Ted.

Education

• J.D., California Western School of Law
  Co-founder, CWSL Intellectual Property, Technology & Telecommunications Clinic
  Andrea Johnson Telecommunications Award
• B.A., History, University of California, Los Angeles

Admitted to Practice

• California
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
• U.S. District Court, Central District of California
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of California

Professional Associations

• Fiorenzo V. Lopardo American Inn of Court, Barrister
• San Diego North County Bar Association, Board Member & Co-Chair of Civil Litigation Section
• State Bar of California

Recognition

• AV® Preeminent™ rated in Labor and Employment, Litigation, and Intellectual Property, Martindale-Hubbell
• Super Lawyers – Rising Star, 2015-2023
• San Diego Magazine – Top Attorneys, 2015-2023

Representative Cases

• Judgment for $13.8 million representing a small film production company in a lawsuit for fraud and breach of contract against its former investors.
• Judgment for $2.7 million against a former business partner in a cross-complaint alleging fraud, amongst other claims.
• Defense judgment for a Texas-based technology company in a lawsuit brought by a former vendor, alleging breach of contract, fraud, and failure to supervise employees.
• Defense judgment for employee by a previous customer alleging breach of contract, unfair competition and intentional interference with contract.

Publications & Speaking Engagements

• Top Three Issues That Get You Sued - February 2023 - Presentation for local real estate brokerage
• Red Flags and the Non-Disclosure of Material Facts - February 2023 - Presentation for local real estate brokerage
• Top Three Issues That Get You Sued - October 2022 - Presentation for local real estate brokerage
• Avoiding Practice Management Pitfalls for Solos and Small Firms – December 2015 - MCLE Presentation for Attorneys
• How to Protect Your Brand Using Trademarks – August 2015 - Bellatrix PC
• Corporate Transactional Ethical Responsibilities – June 2014 - California Alliance of Paralegal Associations

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