Position: Shareholder.
Practice Areas: Immigration; Education; Labor and Employment Law.

Melanie Gurley Keeney practices in the areas immigration, labor, employment and education law. Melanie represents institutions of higher education, corporations and individuals in immigration law matters, including obtaining temporary and permanent visas and handling employer sanctions issues, I-9 compliance, consular processing and naturalization. She frequently speaks on immigration, labor and education issues. Melanie has been listed in St. Louis Magazine’s “St. Louis’ Best Lawyers” and “The Best Lawyers in America,” from 1997-2007, and in “Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers,” 2005 and 2006 editions as a top lawyer and one of the top 50 female lawyers in Missouri and Kansas and in Kansas City Magazine as one of the “Top Missouri Lawyers.”

Melanie also represents private employers regarding employment discrimination charges and lawsuits, wage-hour compliance, non-competes, wrongful discharge actions, privacy, defamation and related tort litigation, disability issues, and provides preventive employment law services, including supervisor training programs and employment compliance audits.

Her experience in education law includes representing institutions of higher education and school districts regarding various personnel and student matters, including tenure, terminations, discrimination and constitutional claims. She also defends educational clients in both federal and state lawsuits.

Melanie is a founding Shareholder of the Firm.

• J.D., Washington University School of Law, 1990

• B.A., Baylor University, magna cum laude, 1987, Phi Beta Kappa

• Missouri, 1990
• Illinois, 1991

• The Missouri Bar
• Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
• National Council of School Attorneys Board of Directors, 1996-2000
• Missouri Council of School Attorneys, Chairman, 1997
• American Immigration Lawyers Association ("AILA"), Missouri-
  Kansas Chapter Chair, 1997-1999

• “Visa Issues Regarding Employment,” Washington University, October, 2006
• “School is Not a ‘Religion Free’ Zone” MSBA Annual Conference, October, 2006
• “Visa Status & Making the Transition from Full-Time Student to Full-Time Employee in the United States,” Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville, October, 2006
• “Hiring Practices How to Avoid Liability” Mid-Continent Dental Congress of St. Louis, September, 2006
• “Hot Topics in Student and Employee Immigration Law” NSBA Audio Conference, September, 2006
• “Hot Topics in Immigration,” Human Resource Management Association, Roundtable Discussion, April, 2006
• “Hot Topics in Immigration Law,” Midwest Regional Employee Relocation Council, Roundtable Discussion, April, 2006
• “Hot Topics in Education Law,” Cooperating School Districts, January 2006
• “First Amendment Update,” Missouri United School Insurance Council, January 2006
• “Employment Law for Not-for-Profit Institutions,” University of St. Thomas, October 2005
• “Update on PERM,” AILA MO/KS Chapter Meeting, May 2005
• “The ABC’s of Immigration Law for Employers,” Missouri Employee Relocation Council, April 2005
• “Family Visa Updates,” AILA MO/KS Chapter Meeting, March 2005
• “Update on Religion Issues Impacting Schools,” Missouri United Insurance Council Annual Meeting, January 2005
• “Update on Staff and Student Issues,” Missouri Lutheran Schools Association, 2004
• “An Analysis of The Impact NCLB May Have On Placement Decisions Under The IDEA,” COSA Annual Conference, 2004
• "Immigration Issues in Higher Education," College and University Professional Association, 2004
• "Immigration in a Fluctuating Economy," Sterling Education Seminar, 2004
• “Tips For Employees Traveling Abroad And Other Post 9/11 Issues,” St. Louis Employee Relocation Council, 2003
• “Student Visa Issues and Discipline,” Association of Student Judicial Affairs, Fall Conference, 2003
• “Legal Issues in the Area of School Liability,” Lutheran High Schools, 2003
• “Legal Issues in the Area of Staff and Student Management,” St. Louis Lutheran Elementary School Association, 2003
• “Church and State,” Co-Editor, Chapter 9 of The Missouri Bar Association’s MoBarCLE Deskbook, 2003
• “Policing Cybermisconduct and Other Hot First Amendment Topics,” Missouri United School Insurance Council, 2003
• “State Criminal Records Checks: Scope, Cost and Procedure,” BAMSL Not-For-Profit Sector, 2002
• “Immigration Issues Impacting Students Post-Graduation,” Washington University-Olin School of Business, 2002; 2003
• Legal Goolash – Pre/Post Employment and Cyber Liabilities,” Missouri United School Insurance Council, 2002
• “Post September 11th Issues,” AAIM Executive Roundtables, St. Louis, St. Charles, and Edwardsville, 2001-2002
• “Proving Discrimination: Evidence and Discovery Issues,” American Bar Association, 2001
• “Issues Involving Students with Limited English Proficiency,” COSA Annual Seminar, 2001
• “Immigration Law,” Lorman Education Seminar, July 2000
• “Nonimmigrant Visa Issues,” Panelist–AILA, June 2000
• “Legal Issues and Liabilities,” Missouri Community College Association Conference, June 2000
• “Ethics Issues for Board of Regents,” Board of Higher Ed., 2000
• “Dress Codes in Public Schools,” NSBA Annual Conference, March 2000
• “Student Dress Codes: Constitutional Tailoring Required,” NSBA Inquiry & Analysis, January 2000
• “NAPR Labor Employment and Immigration Issues for Physician Recruiters,” AILA Mid-year Conference, 1999
• “Student Control and Discipline,” COSA Advanced Advocacy Seminar, 1999
• “I-9 Compliance, Employer Sanctions,” Lorman Seminar for Human Resources Personnel, 1999
• “Labor Certification Issues,” AILA Annual Conference, 1999