Melissa Maravich

Neutral Information
Rates and Fees

Overview

Melissa Maravich is a mediator and attorney who mediates cases including automobile, business/commercial, employment, personal injury, and premises liability issues, among others. She is a partner at Burch, Porter & Johnson in Memphis where she has a diverse litigation practice. Melissa has appeared before state, federal, and appellate courts in numerous jurisdictions.

Melissa is currently the managing member for the firm’s largest insurance company client and handles general commercial liability, catastrophic claims, complex commercial litigation, and coverage issues on behalf of insurance companies and corporations. She also represents corporations and municipalities in employment, property/zoning matters, and large commercial lease disputes. In addition, she participates in various national transportation and insurance defense practice groups and defends corporations in wrongful death and property damage cases.

Prior to her defense work, Melissa had an active plaintiff’s practice focusing on civil rights litigation against municipalities, employment discrimination, wrongful death actions, and products liability. She has experience in mass tort, class action, and multi-district litigation matters.

Melissa has been a Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 Mediator since 2002 and served as a voluntary mediator for Shelby County Criminal Court Pretrial Services for several years. She regularly speaks at seminars regarding trial practice and the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. She has been listed in Best Lawyers in America for 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026 for her expertise in Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, Labor Law – Management, and Litigation – Insurance. She is a Memphis Bar Foundation Fellow and has served on the Board of Directors for Girls, Inc. of Memphis, the YMCA of Memphis and the Mid-South, and the Community Legal Center. She also served as Chair of the Fee Dispute Committee of the Memphis Bar Association for several years.

Education

University of Memphis, J.D., 1989
Middle Tennessee University, B.S., 1979

Admitted to Practice

Tennessee, 1989

Professional or Trade Affiliations

Federal Bar Association
American Bar Association
Tennessee Bar Association
Memphis Bar Association
Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association
Tennessee Association of Professional Mediators since May of 2017
Mid-South Community Justice & Mediation Center, Inc. – Pro-Bono Mediator

Publications

Reduce the Risks at Trial by Choosing Mediation, February 2023
Author, Opening Statement Considerations, Memphis Lawyer, Vol. 29, Issue 6 (December 2012)
Author, Navigating the Potholes – Opening Statements, ALFA International Transportation Practice Group Publication (2012)
Co-author, Relevance, The Tennessee Balancing Act,57 TENN. L. REV. 33

Speaking Engagements

Presenter, Opening Statements, Continuing Legal Education Presentation at FedEx Corporate Headquarters (October 2013)
Presenter, Plaintiff’s Attorney in Mock Trial, ALFA International Transporation Practice Group Annual Seminar (2012)
Presenter, Federal Motion Practice and Oral Advocacy, U.S. District Court of the Western District of Tennessee (2000

Honors and Awards

Certified Rule 31 Mediator by the Tennessee Supreme Court
Fellow, Memphis Bar Foundation
Litigation Section, Memphis Bar Association; Tennessee Bar Association; American Bar Association
Member, Civil Justice Reform Act Advisory Group Committee, U.S. District Court, W.D. Tennessee (1995 – 2000)
Chair, Fee Dispute Committee, Memphis Bar Association
Judicial Clerk to the Honorable Jerome Turner, Judge, U.S. District Court of the Western District of Tennessee (1989 – 1990)
Best Lawyers in America (2023 – 2026)

Rates and Fees

Rates - Melissa Maravich

If you have questions regarding our rates and fees, please contact support@milesadr.com

Mediation (Travel $100/hr.) Rates
2 Party Case: $200 per party; per hour
3 Party Case: $175 per party; per hour
4 Party Case: $150 per party; per hour
5+ Party Case: Flat Rate Available Upon Request
Arbitration Hourly Rate: $350

Travel time and expenses, including meals and lodging, billed separately and split equally among the parties at the Neutral's hourly rate.
Pre/Post Consultation & Document Review: Hourly Mediation/Arbitration Rate

Mediation /Arbitration Admin Fees
Nashville Mediation Admin Fee - $200 per party
Arbitration Commencement And Administration Fee: $1500 per party

MEDIATION CANCELLATION POLICY

Mediations cancelled within 10 days of the mediation will be charged a cancellation fee of $500. However, mediations cancelled, rescheduled or settled within 24 hours of the mediation will be charged 4 hrs. of the Neutral's hourly rate . Cancellation fees shall be sent to the cancelling party unless otherwise agreed to by the parties.

ARBITRATION FEE PAYMENT POLICY

Arbitration Commencement and Administrative Fee is $1500.00 per party, per arbitrator. At the commencement of arbitration, each party will be invoiced $1500.00. This fee is refundable minus $500.00 per party until the initial case management order has been issued. All arbitration related invoices are due upon receipt.

ARBITRATION CANCELLATION POLICY

If a single-day Arbitration Hearing scheduled on the merits of the case cancels or reschedules within 15 business days of the hearing, the parties will be charged 4 hours of the Arbitrator’s hourly rate. However, if the single-day Arbitration Hearing cancels or reschedules within 2 business days of the hearing, the parties will be charged 8 hours of the Arbitrator’s hourly rate.

If a multi-day Arbitration Hearing scheduled on the merits of the case cancels or reschedules within 28 business days of the hearing, the parties will be charged 4 hours of the Arbitrator's hourly rate for each day reserved for the hearing. However, if the multi-day Arbitration Hearing cancels or reschedules within 7 business days of the hearing, the parties will be charged 8 hours of the Arbitrator's hourly rate for each day reserved for the hearing.

Issuance of the Final Arbitration Order/Award

Arbitration Awards/Orders will not be issued to either party until Miles has received full payment for all fees and expenses associated with the arbitration.