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Melissa A. Dials

Partner


Cleveland

t:440.740.2108

f:440.838.8805

Email

Service Focus

  • Affirmative Action and Federal Contract Compliance
  • Corporate Compliance and Governance
  • Data Security and Workplace Privacy
  • Employee Benefits and Tax
  • Employee Leaves and Accommodations
  • Employment Discrimination and Harassment
  • Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Wage and Hour

Industry Focus

  • Automotive Dealership
  • Cannabis
  • Education
  • Healthcare
  • Hospitality
  • K-12 Institutions
  • Manufacturing

Trending

  • COVID-19/Vaccine Resource Center
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Overview
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Credentials
Affiliations

Overview

Melissa approaches each day by asking two simple questions: who have I helped and what have I learned? She strives to serve each client by first listening to their needs and learning their business and culture. This thoughtful approach enables Melissa to provide legal counsel that not only mitigates legal risk but also reflects her clients’ values. 

Melissa’s practice is multifaceted. She counsels employers on a wide variety of day-to-day employment and labor issues, including wage and hour law, employee leave issues, reasonable accommodations, workplace harassment, and reductions-in-force. She assists employers in developing proactive employee relations programs, including developing employee handbooks and conducting supervisory training. Melissa also defends employers responding to charges before administrative agencies like the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Ohio Civil Rights Commission.

In addition, Melissa regularly represents clients in connection with mergers and acquisitions, representing both buyers and sellers, and provides advice on the many employment concerns related to these transactions. She also assists employers with a broad variety of executive compensation matters, including the drafting and negotiation of employment agreements, separation agreements, non-competition and confidentiality agreements, and commission and incentive compensation plans.

Melissa’s passion for service is reflected in her non-profit practice. Melissa routinely advises health care organizations, educational institutions, museums, advocacy groups, and other nonprofit organizations with respect to the employment and board governance issues they navigate daily.

Prior to joining Fisher Phillips, Melissa was Corporate Counsel and Compliance & Ethics Officer for a global, publicly-traded company. In this role, Melissa developed significant experience advising management on complex international employment and compliance matters. Accordingly, Melissa’s unique perspective helps businesses “connect the dots” between their Human Resources and Compliance functions.  Whether it is helping corporations develop effective anti-bribery and anti-corruption policies and due diligence procedures that also comply with seemingly conflicting employment laws, or designing corporate codes of conduct, Melissa’s past experience provides first-hand understanding of the challenges facing today’s employer.

Passionate about helping children reach their full potential, Melissa volunteers in the Cleveland public schools and has served as a director for non-profits serving vulnerable children. 

Insights

  • Event

    10/04/23

    Cleveland Breakfast Briefing: WARNing…Avoiding Pitfalls and Compliance Tips for Workforce Reductions

    Richard A. Millisor, Jeffrey D. Smith, Amy L. Kullik, Melissa A. Dials

    Read more 

  • Event

    05/17/23

    WARNing…Avoiding Pitfalls and Compliance Tips for Workforce Reductions

    Richard A. Millisor, Melissa A. Dials, Amy L. Kullik, Jeffrey D. Smith, Nicholas G. Anhold, Gary D. Baker, Jr.

    Read more 

  • Insights

    11/28/22

    FP Weekly Checklist: Spotting Antitrust Risks in the Workplace

    Melissa A. Dials

    Read more 

  • Publication

    01/15/22

    Cleveland Partners Co-Publish Article on Employee Benefits Due Diligence in Crain’s Cleveland

    Jeffrey D. Smith, Melissa A. Dials

    Read more 

  • Insights

    05/03/21

    From Crisis Comes Opportunity: A Silver Linings Playbook For Businesses Emerging From the Pandemic

    Benjamin M. Ebbink, Steven M. Bernstein, Melissa A. Dials, Raymond W. Perez, James J. McDonald Jr., Brett P. Owens, Myra K. Creighton, Megan C. Winter, Andria Lure Ryan, Richard R. Meneghello, Courtney Leyes, Laurel K. Cornell, A. Kevin Troutman, Davis C. Bae, William D. Wright, Todd A. Lyon, Steven M. Nobil, Mason G. Alexander, Evan Shenkman, John M. Polson, Danielle Hultenius Moore, J. Hagood Tighe, Kathleen McLeod Caminiti, Patrick W. Dennison, Nicholas S. Hulse

    Read more 

  • Event

    03/11/21

    Sticking Points: Legal + Practical Implications of Mandating, Encouraging or Incentivizing COVID-19 Vaccinations in Your Workplace

    Richard A. Millisor, Melissa A. Dials

    Read more 

  • Insights

    07/24/20

    What Ohio Employers Need To Know About New Mask Mandate And Travel Advisory

    Melissa A. Dials

    Read more 

  • Insights

    04/30/20

    Ohio Changes Guidance On Face Coverings Again, Adding To Employer Confusion

    Melissa A. Dials, Jeffrey D. Smith

    Read more 

  • Insights

    04/28/20

    Ohio Businesses Begin Reopening May 1: What Does It Mean For Employers?

    Melissa A. Dials, Jeffrey D. Smith

    Read more 

  • Publication

    03/23/20

    Employers in Ohio Directed to Take Worker Temps During COVID-19 Pandemic

    Melissa A. Dials

    Read more 

View All 

Credentials

Education

  • J.D., 2007, cum laude, Cleveland State University, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law
  • B.A., 1999, Cumberland University
  • Certificate, Nonprofit Management, Duke University

Bar Admissions

  • Ohio

Affiliations

Professional Activities

  • Chair, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association's Employment and Labor Section
  • Cleveland Bar Association
  • Ohio State Bar Association
  • Greater Cleveland Network
  • Ohio Business Development Leadership Network
  • Society of Compliance and Ethics Professionals
  • International Association of Privacy Professionals

Community Activities

  • Volunteer, 3Rs, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
  • Former Board Member, Transracial Journeys, a non-profit supporting adoptive families and promoting cross-racial understanding and dialogue in the community.
  • Former Board Member, Jaguza Children’s Ministry, a non-profit providing care and education to orphaned and vulnerable children in Uganda.

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