Melanie Donahue collaborates with her clients early in matters to determine the merits of the case and the level of exposure or liability. With more than 15 years of litigation experience and an MBA, she has the understanding and skill to implement a cost-effective, successful defense strategy, with the client’s business goals in mind.
Melanie represents construction, maritime, transportation, and insurance clients. She focuses her civil litigation practice in the areas of trucking and transportation litigation and defense, construction law, insurance defense and coverage, and mass tort and class action defense.
Melanie began her legal career working in government where she focused on coroner law, mental health, governmental ethics, public records, procurement, labor and employment, and construction, entering private practice in 2013.
She has given presentations on Louisiana mental health laws, ethics in forensic science, and governmental ethics. She has also appeared before various Louisiana House and Senate committees regarding these topics.
When not in a courtroom or counseling clients, Melanie enjoys volunteering in the Mandeville community. She serves on the Louisiana State Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. She also serves on the Louisiana State Bar Association’s Ethics Advisory Service Committee and the Publications Sub-Committee of the Rules of Professional Conduct Committee. Melanie was a member of the Leadership St. Tammany Class of 2013 and the Leadership Louisiana State Bar Association Class of 2014/2015. She has also served as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Youth Service Bureau and NAMI-St. Tammany.
Representative Matters
- Successfully defended several government entities against multi-million dollar claims for alleged asbestos exposure.