The Legal Intelligencer: Keystone Conversations: Obermayer Partner Melissa Atkins Talks ‘Unchartered Waters’ of Employment Law, Captaining a Division 1 NCAA Basketball Team

Obermayer partner Melissa Atkins was featured in The Legal Intelligencer’s fifth installment (published on February 25, 2022) of an ongoing series called “Keystone Conversations” focusing on diverse lawyers in Pennsylvania and how they’ve achieved success and developed their legal careers. Melissa spoke about her labor and employment practice, her work in the City Solicitor’s Office, as well as her successful college career captaining a Division 1 NCAA basketball team and how it influenced her as a lawyer.

“It would be hard for it not to—especially when it comes to preparation, time management, and interactions with opposing counsel. Two of the most important lessons I have learned as an athlete are: 1) how to overcome adversity; and that 2), sometimes, your attitude alone can resolve a conflict. The latter of the two is probably most significant. I have resolved many cases for clients because of the relationships I have with my adversaries. You can be a strong advocate for your client without being contentious and unpleasant. My dad always said, “You get more bees with honey!” and it very much rings true, for me, in my practice.”

Read the full article here.

Melissa represents employers in all aspects of labor and employment law, including employment-related agreements, union negotiations, Act 111 negotiations, grievance hearings, executive compensation, internal investigations, wage and hour matters, employee benefits, as well as employment litigation. Melissa works with municipalities and companies in a wide range of industries including health care, financial services, information technology, universities and secondary schools, manufacturing, and nonprofit organizations.