Biography
Melissa D. Francis joined the Firm in 2013 as an associate attorney. She is a graduate of Plymouth-Canton High School and earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Relations from Michigan State University’s James Madison College in 1998. She earned her Juris Doctorate from Wayne State University Law School in 2001. Ms. Francis is admitted to practice law in the State of Michigan, Federal District and Bankruptcy Courts for the Eastern and Western District of Michigan, and the United States Supreme Court. Ms. Francis has extensive experience representing both Creditors and Debtors in Chapter 7, 11, and 13 Bankruptcy proceedings. Since association collections matters routinely involve bankruptcy issues, her vast experience in that field provides the Firm with a unique resource that provides tremendous value to the Firm’s Clients. Ms. Francis is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute. She was a speaker at the 2019 Community Association Institute Law Conference in New Orleans discussing Consumer Bankruptcy and its impact on Community Associations. She is also a speaker at the 2019 American Bankruptcy Institute Detroit Conference on Veteran’s Day.
Ms. Francis is a Past Dean of the Metro Detroit Alumni Senate of Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity International. She is active in the Plymouth-Canton Community as a member of the St. Thomas A’Becket Church choir, BeckRidge Productions, Spotlight Players Theater Company, and the Plymouth-Canton Marching Band Alumni Community.
With over 15 years of experience in Debtor and Creditor side Bankruptcy practice, Ms. Francis is able to assist Creditor clients exercise their rights in Chapter 7, 11, 12, and 13 Bankruptcy cases. Ms. Francis is also able to help small business clients learn more about their Bankruptcy options under the Bankruptcy Code's new Subchapter V of Chapter 11.
Bar Admissions
- Michigan, 2002
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan, 2002
- U.S. District Court Western District of Michigan, 2006
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court Western District of Michigan
- U.S. Supreme Court
Classes & Seminars
- Speaker, Community Association Institute Law Conference in New Orleans, Consumer Bankruptcy and its impact on Community Associations, 2019
- Speaker, American Bankruptcy Institute Detroit Conference on Veteran’s Day, 2019
Professional Associations
- American Bankruptcy Institute, Member
- Consumer Bankruptcy Association, Detroit, Michigan
- Delta Theta Phi Legal Fraternity Metropolitan Detroit Alumni Senate, Past Dean
Practice Areas
- Bankruptcy
- Bankruptcy and Creditor's Rights - Individual and Small Business
- Board Education
- Developer Disputes
- Insurance Duties & Disputes
- Construction Defects
- Real Estate Litigation
- Transactional Real Estate
- HOA Law
Education
- Wayne State University Law School, Detroit, Michigan
- J.D. - 2001
- Miami University School of Law
- 1999
- James Madison College, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
- 1998
- Major: International Relations
- Plymouth-Canton High School