Melanie Huffines is a litigator in the Wilmington office, bringing a passion for advocacy and finding the best possible resolution to disputes. Melanie has defended corporations and individuals, both domestic and international, facing federal and state criminal investigations, maritime personal injury and negligence claims under the Jones Act and general maritime law, as well as claims for breach of contract, negligence, defamation, and other torts. She has experience advising clients on information privacy, federal and state regulatory compliance, and maritime first-party insurance coverage issues including bad faith and unfair and deceptive trade practices. Melanie also serves on the Board of Directors of the Charlotte International Arbitration Society.
Melanie joined Cranfill Sumner in 2019 after graduating magna cum laude from Campbell University School of Law. In her time at Campbell Law, she clerked with Cranfill Sumner, the North Carolina Court of Appeals, and Toshiba. She was a member of Campbell’s National Moot Court Team, an editor on the Campbell Law Review, a teaching scholar for Torts professor Lisa Lukasik, President of the Public Interest Law Student Association, received two writing awards in the Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, and was inducted into the Order of Old Kivett.
A North Carolina native, Melanie enjoys camping, hiking, reading, and spoiling her two cats Mr. T and Othello.
Most Recent Posts
Cranfill Sumner Volunteers Provide Legal Advice During NCBF Empower Hour
On June 1, 20 volunteers from Cranfill Sumner LLP provided legal service to individuals who are unable to afford it through the “NC Free Legal Answers” Empower Hour program with the North Carolina Bar Foundation.… Read More
Round 2! U.S. Supreme Court Has Heard the Arguments on Section 1782 – Discovering the Issues With Discovery in International Arbitrations
As noted in our prior posts, the U.S. Supreme Court Justices (with the exclusion of Justice Clarence Thomas who was… Read More
PART I: Round 2! US Supreme Court to Review 28 U.S.C. §1782 Discovery Question on International and Foreign Tribunals
The Supreme Court is (once again) slated to decide the issue of whether a private commercial arbitral panel constitutes a… Read More
Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Participate in 4ALL Statewide Service Day
Members of the Cranfill Sumner LLP offices participated in the North Carolina Bar Foundation’s 15th Annual 4ALL Statewide Service Day on Friday, March 4. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the event was held virtually this year.… Read More
Cranfill Sumner Attorneys and Paralegals Volunteer for Mock Trial Competition
Attorneys and paralegals from the Charlotte and Wilmington offices of Cranfill Sumner LLP volunteered for regional Mock Trial competitions in their local areas on Feb. 5. They served as judges and jurors during the mock proceedings, which allowed high school students to participate in mock trial competitions and learn about the judicial process. … Read More
CSH Law Attorneys Participate in CIAS Fall Symposium Virtual War Room
Attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law) participated in the Oct. 21 Fall Symposium for the Charlotte International Arbitration Society (CIAS) Virtual War Room on Hybrid and Virtual Arbitrations. The continuing education conference provided best practices for dispute resolution processes and for handling evidence and proceedings in hybrid and virtual international mediations and arbitrations.… Read More
CSH Law Attorneys Featured in Defense Counsel Journal
An article written by attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law) is featured in the current issue of Defense Counsel Journal, a publication of the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC).… Read More
Cranfill Sumner LLP Staff Members Participate in 4ALL Statewide Service Day
Members of the Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law) offices participated in the North Carolina Bar Foundation’s 14th Annual 4ALL Statewide Service Day on Friday, March 5. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the event was held virtually this year.… Read More
Cranfill Sumner LLP Attorneys Elected to Serve on CIAS Board of Directors
Mica Nguyen Worthy, Jack Wright and Melanie Huffines have been elected to serve on the board of directors for the Charlotte International Arbitration Society (CIAS). The elections were held during the CIAS 2021 Virtual Board Retreat on February 5, 2021.… Read More
CSH Law Attorneys and Staff Participate in Mock Trial Competition
On Feb. 5 and Feb. 6, Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law) attorneys and staff members volunteered at the 29th annual NCAJ High School Mock Trial Competition which was held virtually. The attorneys and staff who participated were Deedee Gasch, Melanie Huffines, Levi Huston, Colleen Shea, and Emily Enojado.… Read More
Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Volunteer for Legal Aid Eviction Project
In May 2020, Legal Aid of North Carolina launched an effort to help North Carolinians who were struggling to pay rent and were facing eviction. Legal Aid paired available emergency financial support with a search for volunteer attorneys from across the state who could help negotiate past and future payments with landlords.… Read More
Expanded FMLA Leave and Paid Sick Leave
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act is Signed Into Law On March 18, 2020, President Trump signed into law the… Read More
Cranfill Sumner Staff Members Participate in 4ALL Statewide Service Day
Members of the Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) offices participated in the North Carolina Bar Foundation’s 13th Annual 4ALL Statewide Service Day on Friday, March 6.… Read More
Cranfill Sumner Attorneys and Paralegals Volunteer for Mock Trial Competition
Attorneys and paralegals from Cranfill Sumner LLP’s Wilmington office volunteered for the Wilmington Regional Mock Trial competition. The attorneys and paralegals who participated are:… Read More
Melanie Huffines Joins Cranfill Sumner Wilmington Office
Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) today announced that Melanie Huffines has joined the firm’s Wilmington office as an associate attorney. She will focus her practice in civil and criminal defense.… Read More
