Mr. Melzer is a partner with Rutan & Tucker, LLP where he specializes in litigation and trial work. Rutan & Tucker is the largest and oldest Orange County based law firm, tracing its roots back almost 100 years.
Mr. Melzer graduated from law school at the University of California, Davis, in 1987 and was inducted into the prestigious Order of the Coif for graduating in the top 10% of his class. Mr. Melzer began as a civil litigator at Rutan & Tucker immediately after graduation and in January 1995 became a partner with the firm. Mr. Melzer currently serves as an elected member of Rutan & Tucker’s three person Executive Management Committee which is responsible for the firm’s governance and strategic planning. Mr. Melzer is also Co-General Counsel for the law firm.
Mr. Melzer’s trial and arbitration experience includes complex business disputes, class and mass actions, real estate litigation, internal partnership and corporate disputes, false advertising/consumer claims, and public agency-related litigation. In this context, Mr. Melzer has been involved in numerous high profile lawsuits in both Federal and State forums. Mr. Melzer represents a diverse clientele, including Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, corporate and venture principals, as well as public agencies.
Mr. Melzer serves as the Chair of the firm’s Unfair Competition/Class Action Defense Group which represents businesses in class actions, mass actions and unfair business practices litigation.
Mr. Melzer has also been selected as a “Southern California Super Lawyer” by Law & Politics magazine, an honor bestowed upon a mere 5% of the Los Angeles/Orange County bar based on peer-attorney balloting and “Blue Ribbon” panel review.
When not practicing law, Mr. Melzer is active as a coach in youth sports organizations and in a variety of community organizations.
Areas of Expertise
- Business Litigation
- Class and Mass Actions
- Real Estate Litigation
- False Advertising and Consumer Claims
- Internal Partnership and Corporate Disputes
- Public Agency-Related Litigation
Recent Presentations
- Class Action Roundtable, California Lawyer, October 2012
- Class Action Roundtable, California Lawyer, July 2011
Representative Cases
Submitted Upon Request