Melisa Zwilling

Melisa Zwilling is a shareholder with Carr Allison in the Birmingham (AL) office and serves as the chair of the firm’s Business Development Committee. Her practice focuses on Labor and Employment and Professional Liability.

Having practiced law for more than 25 years, Melisa defends employers against claims alleging discrimination, harassment and retaliation in addition to alleged violations of leave laws, civil rights laws, wage and hour laws, OSHA standards and guidelines, claims alleging constitutional violations and state law torts and breaches of contract, to name a few. Melisa also assists clients by drafting and updating employee handbooks and non-compete, employment and severance agreements. A popular choice of counsel by insurers, Melisa is often requested to defend lawyers, insurance agents, consultants and brokers, among others, when professional liability claims are brought against them. She practices in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies.

For her outstanding legal work, Melisa has an AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale-Hubbell. She has repeatedly been selected as one of The Best Lawyers in America®, most recently for Labor and Employment Litigation, Insurance Litigation and Workers’ Compensation/Retaliatory Discharge Employer Defense. In addition, she was named in the Top 50 Lawyers in America for Alabama. She has been recognized by Mid-South Super Lawyers® as one of Birmingham’s Top-Rated Lawyers and ranked in the Top 100 Women Lawyers in Birmingham.

Raised in the country, Melisa continues to spend much of her free time outdoors with her family. She can often be found building furniture, riding horses or fishing.

After suffering a stroke at the age of 35, Melisa spent several years as a volunteer for the American Heart and Stroke Associations. She tries to live every day to the fullest and looks for opportunities to make a positive difference in the lives of others.