Melissa Iyer has been practicing with Burch & Cracchiolo since 2006.  In that time, Melissa has represented a number of governmental institutions and their elected officers including the Maricopa County Attorneys’ Office, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the State of Arizona in a number of high profile cases involving a range of issues including negligence, Section 1983 liability, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Equal Educational Opportunities Act, and cases involving the United States and Arizona constitutions.

Melissa has also spent considerable time representing businesses in a variety of commercial matters including securities litigation, business and partnership disputes, and real estate disputes.

Representative Engagements

• Representation of the Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction in a high profile case involving education funding for English Language Learners. The case was heard by the United States Supreme Court and a decision was rendered in favor of the Superintendent.
• Representation of the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office as amicus curiae before the United States Supreme Court.
• Representation of small and mid-sized Arizona companies in litigation involving claims of fraud, securities fraud, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and employment disputes.
• Litigation claims involving escrow agent’s fiduciary and contractual duties for national title companies.
• Representation of Indian Tribes in personal injury cases by successfully utilizing sovereign immunity defense.

Professional Affiliations

Arizona Bar Association
Maricopa County Bar Association
American Bar Association
Arizona Women Lawyer’s Association
Young Lawyers Division of Arizona Bar Association

Reported Cases

Horne v. Flores, 129 S. Ct. 2579 (2009)
District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 U.S. 570 (2008)  (as amicus curiae)
Beltran v. Harrah’s Arizona Corp., 220 Ariz. 29, 202 P.3d 494 (Ct. App. 2008)

Community Involvement