Melissa N. Subjeck

Melissa is an experienced and dedicated business litigator. She represents prominent national corporations in complex contract, intellectual property, banking, employment, and business disputes, as well as professional malpractice matters. Melissa’s extensive experience litigating intellectual property matters includes patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret disputes.  Melissa also represents banks and financial institutions in class action and complex civil litigations, including matters involving allegations of fraud and breach of fiduciary duty, as well as those implicating their BSA/AML programs.  In addition, as a member of the firm’s COVID-19 Litigation and Employment Action Team, Melissa regularly represents and counsels suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and vendors on a variety of contract and supply chain disputes, including force majeure.

She has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in diverse areas, including the financial, aerospace, pharmaceutical, medical, dental, and genetic testing industries.  She has prosecuted and defended these cases across New York State and elsewhere, frequently obtaining or opposing applications for preliminary injunctive relief.

In addition to general business and intellectual property litigation, Melissa—an owner, breeder, and experienced rider of several national champion Arabian and Half-Arabian horses—is also well versed in and uniquely positioned to practice equine and agriculture law. Melissa’s knowledge of these industries, combined with her experience in contract and litigation matters, makes her particularly adept at protecting the diverse legal needs of agricultural operations and horse owners, breeders, trainers, and equestrian facilities. Melissa represents clients in a broad range of matters, including those related to equine and agriculture litigation, dispute resolution, and industry specific contracts. 

• Listed, Best Lawyers in America (Gaming Law; Cannabis Law; and Commercial Litigation) 2020 - 2024
• Listed, Upstate New York Super Lawyers (Business Litigation) 2013 - 2023
• Buffalo Business First’s 40 Under Forty award, 2014
• National Trial Lawyers’ Top 40 Under Forty
• Leadership Buffalo Class of 2014

• Federal Bar Association
• New York State Bar Association
• Bar Association of Erie County
• Co-Chair of Intellectual Property, Computer, and Entertainment Law Committee, Bar Association of Erie County

• SPCA Serving Erie County board of directors, co-chair of legislative committee, and governance committee

• Former National Federation for Just Communities of Western New York board of directors and co-chair of the Dash for Diversity Committee
• Former Roswell Park Cancer Institute All-Star Night Committee
• Former Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo Foundation Event Planning Committee
• University at Buffalo School of Law mentoring program
• United States Equestrian Federation, member
• Arabian Horse Association of New York, member