Meleah Skillern is the Administrative Partner of the Akron office of Lewis Brisbois and a member of the firm’s Complex Business & Commercial Litigation Practice. 

Meleah represents clients to resolve a wide range of business disputes in state and federal courts nationwide, including claims involving fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, business interference, breach of contract, and shareholder/member disputes. Meleah also provides outside general counsel services for business owners and founders interested in taking their business to the next level. She takes a collaborative approach to legal representation, working closely with her clients to understand their business objectives and develop strategic, practical solutions. While she is an experienced litigator who enjoys advocating for her clients in court, she also recognizes the value of resolving disputes outside of the courtroom whenever possible.

Beyond her practice, Meleah is deeply engaged in the legal community. She frequently speaks to students and young professionals about the practice of law, business, and professionalism. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling with her husband and son.

Meleah’s experience:

• Successfully tried complex business matters to a jury involving allegations of breach of fiduciary duties, breaches of contract, and fraud.
• Successfully handled arbitration hearings in Ohio and other jurisdictions across the country, including the successful defense of an $11 million breach of contract claim before the American Arbitration Association in New York. 
• Successfully represented a prominent national law firm and its individually-named attorneys in defense of a legal malpractice action.
• Successfully argued appeals before the Eighth District Court of Appeals in Ohio. 
• Successfully argued appeals before the Ninth District Court of Appeals in Ohio, including a case of first impression involving the scope and application of Ohio’s probate claim procedure. 
• Obtained favorable settlements for her clients in numerous complex business and commercial disputes.
• Obtained summary judgment awards in complex breach of contract matters and shareholder/member disputes. 
• Successfully advised business founders from corporate formation through business operation in jurisdictions across the country in close collaboration with corporate transactional, employment, regulatory compliance, tax, and real estate colleagues in the firm.

Admissions

• State Bar Admissions
  • Ohio
• State Supreme Courts
  • Ohio Supreme Court
• United States District Courts
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
• United States Courts of Appeals
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

Admissions

Ohio

Ohio Supreme Court; United States District Court, Northern Distict of Ohio; all Ohio state courts.

Associations

• Ohio Women’s Bar Association, Ninth District Trustee
• Akron Bar Association, Commission on Judicial Candidates (2023)
• Stark County Bar Association
• Akron Bar Association
• Norman S. Minor Bar Association (Cleveland)
• Summit County Public Defender’s Commission — Active member, September 2020-present
• Honorable Judge Ira G. Turpin Scholarship Award Committee - Active Member, 2018-present
• Canton Museum of Art Board of Trustees - Active Member, 2017-present

Awards & Honors

• Listed in Best Lawyers in America® 2023 — Commercial Litigation
• "Ones to Watch," Commercial Litigation, Best Lawyers, 2022-2026
• Stark County Contemporary Trailblazer Award - 2019
• Greater Akron Chamber 30 for the Future Award Recipient - 2018
• Leadership Akron, Community Leadership Institute - Spring 2017 Graduate

Education

The University of Akron School of Law – Akron, OH

Juris Doctor, May 2016

• Black Law Students Association
• Akron Law Trial Team
• Certifications & Awards: General Mediation, Outstanding Oralist Award

Ohio University – Athens, OH

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, cum laude, May 2013

• Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity
• Ohio University Recruiting Society; Multi-Cultural Recruitment
• Campus-wide community service: Duel for the Schools Coordinator