Melissa Francis has been a practicing attorney for 21 years. She is a graduate of Plymouth-Canton High School and earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Relations from Michigan State University’s James Madison College in 1998. She earned her Juris Doctorate from Wayne State University Law School in 2001. She is admitted to practice law in the State of Michigan, Federal District and Bankruptcy Courts for the Eastern and Western District of Michigan, and the United States Supreme Court. With 19 years of experience in Debtor and Creditor side Bankruptcy practice, Melissa is able to assist Creditor clients exercise their rights in Chapter 7, 11, 12, and 13 Bankruptcy cases. Ms. Francis is also able to help small business clients learn more about their Bankruptcy options under the Bankruptcy Code’s new Subchapter V of Chapter 11.
Since association collections matters routinely involve bankruptcy issues, her vast experience in that field provides the Firm with a unique resource that provides tremendous value to the firm’s clients. Melissa is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute. She was a speaker at the 2019 Community Association Institute Law Conference in New Orleans discussing Consumer Bankruptcy and its impact on Community Associations. She was also a speaker at the 2019 American Bankruptcy Institute Detroit Conference on Veteran’s Day.
Ms. Francis is a Past Dean of the Metro Detroit Alumni Senate of Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity International. She is active in the Plymouth-Canton Community as a member of the St. Thomas A’Becket Church choir, Spotlight Players Theater Company, and the Plymouth-Canton Marching Band Alumni Community.
Presentations
Community Association Institute Michigan Mini Expo – The Anatomy of Pool Infrastructure and Proper Amenity Rules (May 2023).
Canton Chamber of Commerce Mast-HER-Mind – Estate Planning with Tracy N. Danner-Bond (February 2023).
Canton Township Neighborhood-Know-How – Attorney Roundtable with Edward J. Zelmanski, Gregory J. Fioritto, Tracy N. Danner-Bond, Richard L. Wagner, Jr., and Brooke M. Jordan (September 2022).
United Condominium Owners of Michigan – Enforcement of Condominium Documents Against Co-Owners and Tenants with Tracy N. Danner-Bond (August 2022).
Community Association Institute Michigan Chapter – Is Your Association Keeping Up With Technology with Kevin Hirzel (March 2020).
American Bankruptcy Institute Hon. Steven W. Rhodes Consumer Bankruptcy Conference – Bankruptcy and State Law with Hon. Maria L. Oxholm, Brett A. Border, and Andrew C. Thompson (November 2019).
Canton Township Neighborhood-Know-How – Condominium Association Document Amendments with Edward J. Zelmanski, Mark B. Davis, and Stacia A. Miller (May 2019).
Canton Township Neighborhood-Know-How – Homeowners’ Associations: Association Document Essentials and Board Powers with Gregory J. Fioritto (April 2019).
Community Association Institute National Law Seminar – Trends: Advanced Issues in Bankruptcy with Jacqueline D. Foster and Erin A. Maloney (January 2019).
United Condominium Owners of Michigan – Fair Housing Act: Handling Hostile Environment Claims (June 2018).
United Condominium Owners of Michigan – Member of Legal Panel Discussion with Tracy N. Danner-Bond, Kevin Hirzel, Daniel Feinberg, John Finklemann, and Jeffrey Vollmer (October 2016).
Community Association Institute Michigan Chapter – Bankruptcy Basics with Mark B. Davis (August 2015).
