She represents clients at all levels of administrative controversy with the IRS, including audits and cases before the IRS Office of Appeals, and has significant experience handling penalty and international information reporting matters.

Her experience includes litigation in the U.S. Tax Court, Court of Federal Claims, and various federal district courts, representing clients facing government and third-party subpoenas and investigations. She also counsels on voluntary disclosures of prior tax noncompliance.

An actuary by training, Melissa has practiced at a Big Four accounting firm, first as an Assistant General Counsel and later as a Senior Manager in the firm’s National Tax department; as well as in the Tax practice of an AmLaw 20 global law firm.

A respected authority on tax controversy topics, Melissa frequently presents on IRS filing requirements, penalties, and enforcement, as well as on ethics and the Corporate Transparency Act. She is active in numerous professional organizations such as the AICPA and the ABA Tax Section, where she previously served as Vice Chair for Committee Operations and is currently a member of the Nominating and Appointments to the Tax Court Committees. She is also the chair of the DC Bar Tax Audits & Litigation Committee and the Regent for the Federal Circuit for the American College of Tax Counsel.

Melissa’s pro bono work includes assisting local children and caretakers through the Children’s Law Center, where she served on the board for a decade and has provided pro bono services in custody and abuse/neglect matters for more than 15 years.