AREAS OF PRACTICE
Immigration, Education, Labor and Employment

CONTACT INFORMATION
Tel: 1.314.880.3611
Fax: 1.314.880.3601
Email:

BAR ADMISSIONS
Missouri, 1990
Illinois, 1991

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 to present, and in “Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers,” 2005-2012 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.”  Best Lawyers has named Melanie Gurley Keeney as the "St. Louis Best Lawyers Immigration Law Lawyer of the Year" for 2012, and she has been selected for inclusion in the Martindale-Hubbell© 2012 Bar Register of Preeminent Women 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.

EDUCATION

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

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

B.A., Baylor University, magna cum laude, 1987

• Phi Beta Kappa

PRESENTATIONS

• "ADA/FMLA Update," Central Association of College and University Business Officers Indianapolis Winter Workshop, February 2013
• “Facebook, Texting, Teachers, and Students…Oh My!”, MARE (Missouri Association of Rural Education), February 2013
• "New Expansion of the Public Policy Exception to the Employment At-Will Doctrine," MUSIC (Missouri United School Insurance Council) Annual Membership Meeting, January 2013
• “Legal, Practical and PR Issues Surrounding Background Checks,” MoASBO (Missouri Association of School Business Officials), November 2012
• “Sizzling Hot “Must Knows” for In-House Counsel – Turning Up the Heat!” ACC (Association of Corporate Council), November 2012
• “Green Cards”  --  So Many Options, So Little Time . . .,” NAFSA: Association of International Educators, October 2012
  
• "Use of Electronic Communications by School Athletic Personnel," MIAAA (Missouri Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association), April 2012
  
• "Facilities Use and the First Amendment in the Schools," MoASBO (Missouri Association of School Business Officials), April 2012
• "Sexual Harassment - What Every School Employee Must Know," MoASBO (Missouri Association of School Business Officials), April 2012
• "ADA/FMLA Update," Central Association of College and University Business Officers Indianapolis Winter Workshop, March 2012
• "Troubleshooting for Company Employees That Work at a Client Site," AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association), February 2012
• "A Year in Review - Key Decisions in Defending Employment Claims," ACC (Association of Corporate Counsel), November, 2011
• "To Search or Not to Search? - Cell Phones, Lockers, Backpacks, and other Annoying Student Possessions", Missouri School Law Seminar, 2011
• "Employment Law Update," Central Association of College and University Business Officers 43rd Annual Winter Workshop, February 2011
• "The Fair Labor Standards Act: Strategies for Prosecuting and Defending Claims," Missouri Bar CLE Labor & Employment Law Symposium, November 2010
• "Anatomy of a Missouri Human Rights Trial, Class Litigation Update and Tips for Investigating Allegations of Misconduct," ACC (Association of Corporate Counsel), August 2010
• "Tips for Investigating Allegations of Misconduct," St. Louis Chapter of the ACC (Association of Corporate Counsel), August 2010
• "Hot Topics in Immigration & Employer Sanctions Compliance", GAPP (Gateway Association of Payroll Professionals), May 2010
• "Employment Law: Persistent Issues and Recent Developments", CACUBO (Central Area College and University Business Officers), February 2010
• "Monitoring Student Electronic Communications", United Educators Insurance Telephone Roundtable, February 2010
• "School Law: Teacher Termination, Student Discipline and Emerging Issues", MASPP (Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals) Conference, January 2010
• "Ask the Experts" panel, MUSIC (Missouri United School Insurance Council) Annual Membership Meeting, January 2010
• "Important New Compliance and Liability Issues Regarding E-Verify, Federal Contractors, I-9 and Missouri Human Rights Act," ACC (Association of Corporate Counsel), October 2009
• "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 

PROFESSIONAL AFFLIATIONS

• 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