Melisa Zwilling is a shareholder with Carr Allison and is a resident in its Birmingham, Alabama, office. Her practice focuses on Medicare Compliance and Labor and Employment.

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Melisa has published countless articles and spoken at numerous conferences and seminars across the United States. For her outstanding legal work, she earned an AV peer-review rating from the national lawyer ranking service Martindale Hubbell.  She has repeatedly been selected as one of The Best Lawyers in America, most recently for Labor and Employment Litigation, Insurance Litigation and Workers’ Compensation Employer Defense. In addition, she was named in the Top 50 Lawyers in America for Alabama. Previously, Melisa was selected as one of Fortune magazine’s Women Leaders in the Law and named a Top-Rated Lawyer in Insurance Law. She has also been recognized by Alabama Super Lawyers as one of Birmingham’s Top-Rated  Lawyers and ranked in the Top 100 Women Lawyers in Birmingham. In addition,  Melisa was invited to Time magazine’s list of the Most Influential Women in America and Fortune’s List of Premier Lawyers.

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Melisa defends employers against claims alleging discrimination, harassment and retaliation in addition to alleged violations of leave laws, civil rights laws, wage and hour laws, OSHA standards and guidelines, as well as other employment-related claims. She practices in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies.  In addition to litigating claims, she also assists clients by drafting employee handbooks and non-compete, employment, and severance agreements. Melisa provides daily guidance to employers on issues involving the hiring, discipline, and firing of employees, as well as assisting with workplace investigations. She spends a significant amount of time educating employers on the nuances of myriad employment laws to help them avoid lawsuits. 

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Having graduated from Athens State University, magna cum laude, Melisa earned bachelor’s degrees in both Business Administration and Management of Technology. She received her law degree, cum laude, from the University of Alabama School of Law where she served as Editor-in-Chief of the Law and Psychology Review and Senior Editor of The Journal of the Legal Profession.

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A PERSONAL NOTE

Raised in the country, Melisa continues to spend much of her free time outdoors with her daughter and son. She can be found building furniture, riding horses or fishing.

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After having a stroke at the age of 35, Melisa spent several years as a volunteer for the American Heart and Stroke Associations. She tries to live every day to the fullest and looks for opportunities to make a positive difference in the lives of others.

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RECENTLY PUBLISHED ARTICLES

Spring 2023

I never should have hired him, but . . ., USLAW Magazine

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Winter 2021

Vaccines, Variants and Violence in the Workplace, USLAW Magazine

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September 2021

Failing to Ensure Complete, Proper Resolution of Medicare Conditional Payment Claims is Very Risky Business, workerscompensation.com

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Summer 2021

Breaking Down OSHA’s New COVID-19 National Emphasis Program: Guidance for Employers to Avoid OSHA Citations, USLAW Magazine

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Spring 2021

How the New PAID Act will Dramatically Improve Medicare Secondary Payer Compliance, USLAW Magazine

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Fall 2021

Business Interruption Insurance Lawsuits Related to COVID-19 Shutdowns Explode, USLAW Magazine

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