Melissa M. Grand helps clients navigate the complex laws and regulations governing the education and consumer finance industries.
Melissa is an experienced education law attorney who represents independent schools, charter schools, charter school management organizations, and other educational institutions on all manner of education law, compliance, and operational issues. She focuses on delivering cutting-edge advice to help her clients navigate the ever-changing education landscape, including providing advice to a myriad of schools throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Melissa works closely with schools to develop COVID-19 parent/student and employee return-to-school plans, policies and procedures that comply with national, state and local laws as well as department of education and health authority guidance, all while adhering to each school's unique culture. With respect to COVID-19, Melissa also provides counsel regarding health and safety practices for students, teachers, janitorial staff, health staff, visitors and volunteers, outbreak and re-closure plans, and other key considerations. Additionally, she provides guidance on the legal and regulatory aspects of the COVID-19 vaccine in school settings and considerations in requiring the vaccine for employees and students.
Melissa advises schools on parent/student handbooks, employee handbooks, enrollment contracts, vendor contracts, immunization issues as well as on federal law compliance issues when schools are recipients of federal financial assistance. She routinely provides training to school boards of trustees, administration and employees on topics including Title IX, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), open meetings/ethics laws and other board governance matters.
Melissa also represents banks, mortgage lenders and financial services clients in mortgage-related litigation. She handles cases involving a broad range of federal statutes and regulations pertaining to consumer finance, including the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Regulation Z, the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).
In addition, Melissa represents large and small companies in all manner of complex commercial disputes. She has extensive experience practicing in Louisiana district courts and courts of appeal.