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Melody L. Rayl

Partner


Kansas City

t:816.460.0201

f:816.842.8767

Email

Service Focus

  • Counseling and Advice
  • Employee Defection and Trade Secrets
  • Employment Discrimination and Harassment
  • Litigation and Trials

Industry Focus

  • Education
  • Energy
  • Higher Education
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Overview
Credentials
Recognitions
Affiliations
Insights

Overview

As a partner in the Kansas City office, Melody Rayl zealously advocates for private and public-sector employers in all aspects of employment related litigation. When litigation occurs, Melody works with employers to develop an appropriate litigation strategy to address the unique nuances of each situation. She has successfully defended clients in individual discrimination, harassment and retaliation litigation, as well as collective action wage and hour disputes, from inception through resolution before state and federal courts and administrative agencies. Melody also regularly advises and counsels her clients through difficult situations and provides training to supervisory and management level personnel on a variety of employment related topics.

Prior to engaging in the practice of law, Melody served 6 years on active duty in the U.S. Army and 20 years as a law enforcement officer in a variety of roles. She also spent one year as an international police advisor in post-war Bosnia, during which time she supervised the Internal Affairs Investigation Unit responsible for investigating allegations of police brutality. Melody’s background provides her with a unique ability to assist both private and public-sector clients in effectively investigating claims of discrimination and harassment.

Credentials

Education

  • J.D., 2007, summa cum laude, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law
  • Masters, 2003, Criminal Justice, Washburn University
  • B.A., 1998, Criminal Justice, Park College

Bar Admissions

  • Kansas
  • Missouri

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri

Recognitions

  • Chambers USA, Labor and Employment (2024)
  • Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America (2021-2025)
  • Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers Rising Star (2011-2016)

Affiliations

Professional Activities

  • Member, American Bar Association
  • Member, Missouri Bar Association
  • Member, Kansas Bar Association
  • Member, Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association

Community Activities

  • Board of Trustees, Johnson County Community College (2023 - Present)

Insights

  • Event

    10/11/24

    2024 Midwest Labor and Employment Seminar

    Laura Bailey Brown, James R. Holland II, Samantha J. Monsees, Melody L. Rayl, Lauren M. Sobaski

    Read more 

  • News

    06/10/24

    Fisher Phillips Earns Top Rankings Again as a Leading Firm in Labor and Employment Law by Chambers USA

    Edwin G. Foulke Jr., Andrew J. Sommer, Travis Vance, Kristin R.B. White, Danielle Hultenius Moore, Jocelyn Campanaro, Micah Dawson, Todd A. Fredrickson, Angelica M. Ochoa, Steven M. Bernstein, Suzanne K. Bogdan, Charles S. Caulkins, Christine E. Howard, Jeffrey E. Mandel, Cathy M. Stutin, Michael P. Elkon, Shanon R. Stevenson, Terri R. Stewart, Laurel K. Cornell, Raymond C. Haley III, Emily N. Litzinger, Todd B. Logsdon, Craig P. Siegenthaler, Megan Reese U'Sellis, Michelle I. Anderson, Edward F. Harold, Timothy H. Scott, David W. Erb, Daniel E. Farrington, Joseph W. Ambash, William E. Altman, Gregory V. Murray, Barbara Jean D’Aquila, Steven R. Cupp, Gregory D. Ballew, J. Randall Coffey, James R. Holland II, Brian J. Finucane, Melody L. Rayl, David B. Dornak, Scott M. Mahoney, Mark J. Ricciardi, Kathleen McLeod Caminiti, Rosemary S. Gousman, Michael R. Marra, David Klass, Richard A. Millisor, Clarence M. Belnavis, Todd A. Lyon, Michael P. Avila, Nan Sato, Christopher P. Stief, William D. Wright, Michael D. Carrouth, C. F. W. Manning II, Stephen C. Mitchell, J. Hagood Tighe, David S. Jones, Greg Grisham, Jeff Weintraub, Stephen J. Roppolo, Teresa Valderrama, Theresa M. Connolly, Davis C. Bae, Ralph Hua, Radhika Mehta, Suzanne Kelly Michael

    Read more 

  • Insights

    02/02/24

    Workplace Law Update: 10 Essential Items on Your February To-Do List

    Steven M. Bernstein, Amanda M. Blair, Risa B. Boerner, Kathleen McLeod Caminiti, Melissa Camire, Patrick J. Collopy, Tami Essis Culkar, J. Micah Dickie, Benjamin M. Ebbink, Anthony Isola, Sean Kingston, Casandra Ozcimder, Abby H. Putzulu, Melody L. Rayl, Julia A. Sherwood, Andrew J. Sommer, Sharon Suh, Henry Thomson-Smith, J. Hagood Tighe, David Witkin

    Read more 

  • Insights

    02/01/24

    FP Super Bowl Predictions! (And Some Workplace Advice for Employers While We’re At It)

    Melody L. Rayl, Julia A. Sherwood, David Witkin

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  • Insights

    12/13/23

    The Unseen Roadblock to Academic Achievement: 5 Ways to Mitigate the Impact of Anxiety Disorders on Student Success

    Melody L. Rayl

    Read more 

  • News

    12/08/23

    Kansas City Partner Discusses How an Employee Can Sue Public-Sector Union Over Dues Requirement

    Melody L. Rayl

    Read more 

  • Event

    10/20/23

    2023 Midwest Labor and Employment Seminar

    James R. Holland II, Melody L. Rayl, Samantha J. Monsees, Lauren M. Sobaski, Laura Bailey Brown

    Read more 

  • Event

    10/28/22

    2022 Midwest Labor & Employment Seminar

    James R. Holland II, Melody L. Rayl, Laura Bailey Brown, Samantha J. Monsees, Lauren M. Sobaski

    Read more 

  • Event

    11/12/21

    2021 Midwest Labor & Employment Law Seminar

    Lauren M. Sobaski, Melody L. Rayl, Laura Bailey Brown, Samantha J. Monsees

    Read more 

  • News

    08/20/20

    Fisher Phillips Attorneys Receive Top Honors in Best Lawyers in America©

    Michael V. Abcarian, Stephanie R. Alexander, William E. Altman, Christopher Alvarez, Joseph W. Ambash, Craig R. Annunziata, Davis C. Bae, Gregory D. Ballew, Kelsey E. Schiappacasse, Cheryl L. Behymer, Clarence M. Belnavis, Steven M. Bernstein, Suzanne K. Bogdan, D. Albert Brannen, Kathleen McLeod Caminiti, Jocelyn Campanaro, Christopher J. Capone, Michael D. Carrouth, Charles S. Caulkins, Lyle M. Chan, J. Randall Coffey, Theresa M. Connolly, Laurel K. Cornell, Steven R. Cupp, Kevin J. Dalton, J. Micah Dickie, Burton F. Dodd, David B. Dornak, Benjamin Dudek, Todd Alan Ewan, Daniel E. Farrington, Brian J. Finucane, Todd A. Fredrickson, Andrew Froman, Joseph W. Gagnon, Brian J. Gershengorn, Lauren G. Goetzl, Rosemary S. Gousman, Michael R. Greco, Paul Greco, Rick Grimaldi, Greg Grisham, Lori A. Guner, Raymond C. Haley III, Edward F. Harold, JonVieve D. Hill, Christopher C. Hoffman, James R. Holland II, Christine E. Howard, Clyde H. Jacob III, David S. Jones, Matthew R. Korn, Danielle Krauthamer Zobel, Edwina C. Kye, Arthur V. Lambert, Terry E. Lardakis, Aymara Ledezma, Courtney Leyes, Karl R. Lindegren, Steven M. Loewengart, Reyburn W. Lominack III, Nathan K. Low, Darin L. Mackender, Scott M. Mahoney, Jeffrey E. Mandel, C. F. W. Manning II, Howard A. Mavity, James J. McDonald Jr., Phillips L. McWilliams, Richard A. Millisor, Stephen C. Mitchell, Danielle Hultenius Moore, R. Henry Moore, Timothy J. Murphy, Gregory V. Murray, Warren L. Nelson, Steven M. Nobil, Daniel P. O'Brien, James Patrick, Jonathan P. Pearson, Regina A. Petty, Ann Margaret Pointer, James C. Polkinghorn, John M. Polson, Keith M. Pyburn Jr., Roger K. Quillen, Melody L. Rayl, Thomas Paul Rebel, Mark J. Ricciardi, Ashton M. Riley, Stephen J. Roppolo, Jeffrey A. Savarise, Susan M. Schaecher, Cheryl L. Schreck, David E. Schreiner, Stephen Scott, Timothy H. Scott, Joseph P. Shelton, Craig P. Siegenthaler, Jeffrey D. Smith, John W. Stapleton, Shanon R. Stevenson, Terri R. Stewart, Christopher P. Stief, Cathy M. Stutin, Douglas R. Sullenberger, James Sullivan, Martin F. Thompson, Megan Reese U'Sellis, Pavneet Singh Uppal, Teresa Valderrama, Joshua H. Viau, Timothy J. Weatherholt, Jeff Weintraub, Alexander A. Wheatley, Benton N. Wood, Robert Yonowitz, George D. Adams, Richard R. Meneghello, Hannah Sweiss, Robert M. Robenalt, Todd A. Lyon, Todd B. Logsdon, J. Hagood Tighe, Danielle S. Urban, Sheila M. Abron, Kristin R.B. White, Michelle I. Anderson

    Read more 

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