Melanie V. Slaton

Melanie V. Slaton has practiced in litigation with an emphasis on labor and employment law since 1988. Melanie’s litigation experience includes complex class actions in both state and federal court. She has extensive experience defending employers in individual and class action wage and hour, discrimination and harassment claims, as well as in arbitrations and mediations. Melanie has argued in front of the California Court of Appeals and is a member of the bar of the United States Supreme Court. She has successfully tried over 40 cases.

Before moving to Georgia in 2005, Melanie was a senior attorney with the California Labor Department, Division of Labor Standards Enforcement for five years. She was also in private practice for 12 years.

Melanie has also represented clients before federal and state agencies, including the EEOC, U.S. and Georgia Department of Labor, U.S. Education Department's Office of Civil Rights and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance.

An important focus of Melanie's practice is identifying and avoiding problems before they arise, through counseling, compliance audits and training.

Melanie regularly consults with clients in training management regarding hiring practices, sexual harassment laws, and other employment laws and regulations. She has also assisted in conducting workplace internal investigations and reductions in force. She was recognized in 2008 by Georgia Trend Magazine as a Legal Elite in Labor and Employment law.

Education

B.A., California State University, Fresno, 1985
J.D., Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California, Berkeley, 1988

Admitted to Practice

California, 1988
United States Supreme Court, 2003
Georgia, 2007

Memberships, Affiliations and Activities

Professional Associations:

State Bar of California
California Labor and Employment Law Section
State Bar of Georgia
Georgia Association of Women Lawyers
Columbus Bar Association
American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section Member

Honors and Awards

Georgia Trend Magazine, Legal Elite in Labor and Employment Law, 2008
Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia's Woman of Distinction, 2009

Community Affiliations:

Historic Columbus Foundation (Board of Directors, 2006-2009)
Open Door Community Foundation (Board of Directors, 2006-2011)
Leadership Georgia Class of 2007 (Member, 2007)
Springer Opera House, State Theater of Georgia (Board of Directors, 2006-2009)
Junior Achievement (Board of Directors, 2006-2007)
Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church (Board of Trustees, 2009-2010)