Melinda A. Williams is an attorney with Messerli Kramer and a member of the firm’s Business Litigation Group. A former senior federal prosecutor and Criminal Chief of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota, Melinda brings more than two decades of Department of Justice experience to the firm. She has tried more than 40 jury trials to verdict and has handled some of the most significant federal investigations and prosecutions in Minnesota and Washington, D.C.
Melinda concentrates her practice on complex business litigation, internal investigations, fraud matters, crisis management, and trial strategy. Her experience is particularly valuable to businesses and individuals facing government investigations, enforcement scrutiny, internal crises, high-stakes commercial disputes, fraud claims, and matters where civil litigation risk intersects with criminal, regulatory, or reputational exposure.
During her career with the Department of Justice, Melinda served in multiple senior leadership roles, including Criminal Chief, Senior Litigation Counsel, and Counsel to the United States Attorney. As Criminal Chief, she supervised more than 50 attorneys and staff and oversaw all criminal prosecutions in the District of Minnesota. Her work included major matters involving complex fraud schemes, money laundering, public corruption, human trafficking, violent crime, organized crime, narcotics, crimes against children, and appellate litigation.
Melinda is dedicated to helping clients navigate their most difficult disputes and most sensitive legal challenges with judgment, credibility, and practical strategy. She draws on her extensive courtroom, investigative, and leadership experience to help clients assess risk, protect their interests, and move forward with clarity in high-stakes matters.