Biography

Melissa S. Ruiz is a trial attorney who represents Fortune 500 companies and closely held businesses in complex commercial and civil litigation across Texas. Her practice focuses on business disputes, including breach of contract and fiduciary duty claims, shareholder and LLC member disputes, fraud and misrepresentation, employment matters, intellectual property litigation, surface and mineral rights disputes, and trust and estate litigation. She also has experience litigating sophisticated forum-selection and procedural issues.

Melissa regularly drafts and argues dispositive motions and appears in state and federal courts throughout Texas, including at trial and in summary judgment proceedings. Clients value her clear, persuasive advocacy, strategic approach to litigation, and strong organizational skills. Her background in biomedical engineering provides a unique technical perspective that is particularly valuable in matters involving complex factual or technical issues.

Prior to joining Jackson Walker, Melissa practiced as a litigation associate in Waco, Texas. During law school, she served as a judicial intern to the Honorable Alan D. Albright of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas. Before pursuing a legal career, Melissa worked as an engineer in the regenerative medicine field—experience that continues to inform her analytical rigor and detail-oriented approach to the practice of law.

Additional Languages

Spanish

Education

B.S., Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin
J.D., Baylor Law School

Bar Admissions

Texas