Melissa S. Geller
Associate
Duane Morris LLP
One Riverfront Plaza
1037 Raymond Boulevard, Suite 1800
Newark, NJ 07102-5429
USA
Phone: +1 973 424 2016
Fax: +1 973 556 1562
Email:
MSGeller@duanemorris.com
Melissa S. Geller practices in Duane Morris' Trial Practice Group, where she focuses on criminal and civil trial work and internal investigations, both domestic and international. Her practice experience includes representation of high profile clients before international and domestic regulators, complex commercial litigation, criminal trial work, class-action defense and criminal appeals before both state and federal courts. Ms. Geller has particular experience in criminal antitrust, antitrust class-action defense, actions arising under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, white collar crime and other criminal defense
Ms. Geller graduated cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School in December 2007 and is a cum laude graduate of Syracuse University.
Areas of Practice
- White-Collar and Criminal Defense
- Criminal Antitrust
- FCPA
- Internal Investigations
- Complex Commercial Litigation
Representative Matters
- Defended major multi-national corporations in DOJ investigations into price fixing and bid rigging in various markets.
- Defended a major multi-national corporation against direct and indirect purchasers in treble damages antitrust class action.
- Defended major multi-national corporations in international investigations for violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the U.K. Bribery Act.
- Represented a major multi-national company in internal investigation into potential securities fraud following massive, unexpected losses.
- Obtained an acquittal on seventeen counts of robbery, burglary and sexual assault for a foreign national in the New York Supreme Court.
- Prosecuted a complex habeas action involving interlocking issues arising from state convictions for sexual assault and imprisonment, terrorism investigations and immigration matters.
- Obtained a divorce for a client in a contested international divorce case in the New York Supreme Court, involving complex issues of service of process abroad, domestic violence and matters of international community.
- Obtained a judgment in the EDNY for four individuals against their employer for failure to pay wages for over one year.
- Obtained a settlement of one case and a dismissal in another for elderly, infirm clients in the New York City Civil Court in a suit brought by nursing homes and home health care agencies for monies allegedly owed.
- Represented client in ongoing appeal and investigation into new facts following a manslaughter conviction before the First Department of New York.
- Negotiated a settlement the client found favorable with the Small Business Administration which reinstated the client following an unlawful termination from the Small Business Administration Women’s Business Center program.
Professional Activities
- American Bar Association
- Antitrust Section
- Criminal Justice Section
Admissions
- New Jersey
- New York
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
Education
- University of Michigan Law School, J.D., cum laude, 2007
- Syracuse University, B.A., cum laude, 2003
Experience
- Duane Morris LLP
- Associate, 2012-present - Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP
- Associate, 2008-2012
Selected Publications
- Co-author, "Use It or Lose It: U.S. Supreme Court Holds the SEC Must Bring Civil Enforcement Actions Within Five Years of Wrongful Conduct," Duane Morris Alert, February 28, 2013
