Melanie Gurley Keeney practices in the areas of Employment, Immigration, and Education law.  Melanie represents institutions of higher education, corporations and individuals in immigration law matters, including obtaining nonimmigrant and immigrant visas and handling employer sanctions issues, I-9 compliance, E-Verify issues, 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 1997-2008, and in “Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers,” 2005-2009 editions as a top lawyer and has been listed as 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 public and private employers regarding employment discrimination charges and lawsuits, wage-hour compliance, disability issues, constitutional matters, and student issues, and provides preventive employment law services, including supervisor training programs and employment compliance audits.  Melanie handles discrimination and retaliation claims asserted under Title VII, the ADA, ADEA, FMLA, Section 1983, the MHRA, sexual harassment, and other federal and state employment claims.

Melanie is a founding Shareholder of the Firm and serves on the Firm’s Management Committee.

• Notes and Topics Editor, Journal of Urban and Contemporary Law

• Phi Beta Kappa

• "E-Verify Update" for MoASBO 2009 Spring Conference, Lake Ozark, Missouri, April 2009
• “E-Verify and Missouri H.B. 1549,” for Cooperating School Districts and St. Louis Personnel/Placement Directors' Assoc. (SLPPDA)
• “E-Verify – Legal Update on Federal and State E-Verify Obligations,” MSBA and COSA, Tan-Tar-A Resort, 2008
• “Immigration Law and Employer Compliance: A New Era for Employer Liability,” Lorman Education Services, St. Louis, 2008
• “E-Verify Requirements and Timelines,” American Subcontractors Association, St. Louis, 2008
• “Welcome Address,” USCIS Naturalization Ceremony Guest Speaker, Federal Courthouse, St. Louis, 2008
• “Immigration & Careers: Bringing Policy into Local Perspective,” Washington University Law School Public Service Advisory Board, St. Louis, 2008
• “Post Graduate Visa Issues,” Washington University, February, 2007
• “NCLB and IDEA: A Disgruntled Marriage”, MOCASE Law Seminar, Tan-Tar-A Resort, Missouri, 2007
• “Ethical Implications of New E-Discovery Rules and Handling Related Conflicts-of-Interest Situations,” KASB School Law Seminar, Kansas City, 2007
• “Bullying: Lessons to Combat Cruelty,” Webinar sponsored by United Educators, July 2007
• “Hot Employment Topics,” St. Louis Society of Associate Executives (SLSAE), June, 2007
• “Nightmare on Elm Street: New E-Discovery Rules and Implications for School Districts,” KSBA School Law Seminar, Kansas City, 2007
• “Ethical Implications of New E-Discovery Rules and Handling Related Conflicts-of-Interest Situations,” NSBA Council of School Attorneys Advocacy Seminar, Kansas City, 2006
• “Visa Issues Regarding Employment,” Washington University, 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 

• 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