Melanie Hines has practiced law for over 30 years. A former public official, Melanie has extensive experience interacting with the Legislature, Executive branch agencies, including the Governor's Office and the Florida Cabinet, and the Judiciary. As a result of her work in the areas of economic crime, consumer protection, and state licensing regulations, she is knowledgeable in virtually all State government practice areas affecting Florida's business interests.
Melanie focuses her practice in the areas of white collar criminal defense, administrative law, and civil litigation. Since joining Berger Singerman, she has represented corporate and individual clients in grand jury investigations, before regulatory licensing boards, in defense of agency enforcement actions, and in civil RICO and fraud cases. She has also conducted internal investigations for public and private entities.
Representative Experience
· Counsel to a charitable foundation in a suit to recover losses from the Madoff Ponzi scheme
· Independent Counsel to the Florida House of Representatives in ethics proceedings
· Counsel to a former Secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection in a grand jury investigation
· Special Counsel to the State Division of Insurance Rehabilitation and Liquidation for Receivership litigation and asset recovery
· Independent Counsel to Florida's State Board of Administration Audit Committee regarding the Local Government Investment Pool
· Independent Counsel to a major public utility regarding economic development tax credits
· Independent Counsel to the Florida Democratic Party regarding finances
· Counsel to a national start-up precious metals dealer
· Counsel to architects, building contractors, engineers, health care professionals, medical centers, pharmaceutical companies, real estate brokers, restaurants, and securities dealers
· Criminal defense counsel to individuals and businesses under investigation or indicted for fraud- related offenses in state and federal court
· Defense of employment discrimination and ADA claims
· Legislative lobbying experience
Professional & Community Involvement
· Member, Senior Circuit Judge Review Panel (2010-2011)
· Member, Federal Judicial Nominating Commission (2009-Present)
· Member, Tallahassee Bar Association
· Member, Tallahassee Women Lawyers Association
· Member, Federal Bar Association (President Elect, 2012)
· Member, Florida Supreme Court Historical Society
· United Way "Power of the Purse" Steering Committee (2007-2008)
· Florida Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Florida Class XXIII graduate
· Member, Judicial Management Council (2007-2008)
· Member, Florida Bar Professionalism Committee (2007-2009)
· FSU Law School Adjunct Professor, Corporate Governance, Trial Skills (2003-2004)
· Past President, William H. Stafford American Inn of Court (2004-2005)
· Past President, Tallahassee Bar Association (2001-2002)
· Chair, Florida Bar Criminal Law Section (2003-2004) and Criminal Rules Committee (1995-1996)
· Chair, Voluntary Bar Liaison Committee (2005-2007)
· Florida Bar Foundation Fellow
· American Bar Association Fellow
· Prosecutor/Public Defender Training Program Faculty Member (2004)
· Volunteer Guardian/Attorney Ad Litem for Dependent Children
· Florida Supreme Court Justice Teaching Volunteer
· Florida Bar E-Mentor
· Mentor, Tallahassee Women Lawyers and FSU Law School
· Mentor, FSU School of Criminology and Criminal Justice "MORE" Program (mentors offering real world education)
Awards & Recognition
· AV Rated Martindale-Hubbell
· The Best Lawyers in America, (Administrative Law, 2007-2012; White-Collar Criminal Defense, 2009-2012)
· Florida Trend Magazine's Legal Elite, (Criminal Law, 2006-2011)
· Florida's Super Lawyers (2006-2012)
· Florida Association of Women Lawyers' Leader in the Law (2012)
· Florida Bar Presidential Award of Merit (2007)
· Florida Commission on the Status of Women, Outstanding Achievement Award (2003)
· Recipient of Florida Cabinet Resolutions for Public/Private Partnerships in Crime Prevention (1998-2002)
Articles & Presentations
Articles
· "How Great Marketing Ideas Can Easily Go Wrong: The Rules of the Game for a Game Promotion," 850 Magazine, June 2011
· "Prosecutions for Obstructing Federal Investigations," White Collar Criminal Defense and Special Investigations Alert, August 2010
· "Public Corruption and Special Investigations," Public Corruption and Special Investigations Alert, July 2010
· "In a 'First in the Nation' Move, Florida More Than Doubles Its Data Mining Capabilities to Detect Health Care Fraud," Heath Care Fraud Newsletter, July 2010
· "When a Whistle-blower Goes Too Far," Berger Singerman Employment Law Alert, May 2009
· "Florida's Economic Stimulus Plan," Berger Singerman Administrative Law Alert, January 2009
· "Statewide Grand Jury, Behind the Secrecy," Daily Business Review, July 15, 2008
· "Regulatory and Criminal Enforcement Response, A Primer," Berger Singerman Alert, July 2008
· Interview on Political Changes in the Capitol, Smart Business Magazine,January 2007
· "Compromised Identity as a Defense to Regulatory Action; Prevention has an Important Role," Berger Singerman Administrative Law Alert, November 2004
· "Unemployment Compensation Claims -Keeping Your Claims Experience to a Minimum," Berger Singerman Administrative Law Alert, October 2004
· "Switching Sides," Criminal Law Section Newsletter 2004
· Evidence in Florida, Co-author, Chapter 5, Witness Competency and Examination, Florida Bar/Lexis® 2002
Presentations
· Volunteering as a Guardian ad Litem Florida General Counsel's Association, March 2012
· "Employee Handbooks - Some Best Practices", Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce, Leads Group 5, February 2012
· Mock Suppression Hearing, Florida Supreme Court Justice Teaching Institute, February 2012
· "Women in Law Enforcement," Criminology in Context Lecture Series, Florida State University School of Criminology, April 2011
· "The Implications of Health Care Fraud on Policy and Litigation," FSU Center for Innovative Collaboration in Medicine and Law, March 2011
· "Creating a Workplace That Works For You," Women's Leadership Summit; Tallahassee Association for Women Lawyers, March 2011
· "Insurance Insolvency Fraud - Preparing Cases for Prosecution, " Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Insurance Rehabilitation & Legislation, February 2010
· "Practicing with Professionalism," Panel Speaker, Young Lawyers' Division, May, 2008
· "Diversity in the Legal Profession," Panel Speaker, Tallahassee Women Lawyers' Meeting, April 2008
· "Criminal Justice and Our Constitutions, That Delicate Balance," Panel Participant, President's Showcase, Florida Bar Convention, June, 2008
· "Update from the Capital," Berger Singerman SportsTalk, September 2007
· "Responding to Government Investigators and Crisis Management," Berger Singerman SportsTalk, May 2006
· "Economic Crime in Health Care in the 21st Century" Center For the Study of Economic Crimes, St. Thomas University in Miami, March 17, 2006
· "Health Care Fraud," Southeast TagLaw Conference, January 2006
· "Corporate Ethics," Tallahassee Bar Association, June 2005
· "Corporate Governance, Sarbanes-Oxley and More," Lorman Seminar, June 2005
· Implications of Sarbanes-Oxley for Non-Profits, Florida Society of Association Executives, July 2004
· Program Chair and Moderator, "Mediation in Criminal Cases," Criminal Law Section Meeting, July 2004
Prior Affiliations
· Office of Statewide Prosecution, Department of Legal Affairs (1991-2003)
· Office of the Governor, Statewide Grand Jury Legal Unit
· Office of the Public Defender, Second Judicial Circuit
· Law Offices of Albert J. Krieger, P.A.
In The News
News & Notes, Florida Bar News, Melanie Hines, March 01, 2007
Disney Resort to host Voluntary Bar Leaders Conference, The Florida Bar News, Melanie Hines, June 15, 2007
Magazine names 90 local lawyers to list of elite, Tallahassee Democrat, Brian Rich, Dan Thompson, Melanie Hines and Kelly O'Keefe, July 07, 2007
Law Day Banquet 2008, Tallahassee Bar Bulletin, Dan Thompson & Melanie Hines, May 10, 2008
Special Report: White- Collar Crime Behind the secrecy, Daily Business Review, Melanie Hines, commentary, July 15, 2008
Three Tallahassee Berger Singerman Attorneys Named 2009 Best Lawyers in America, Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce, Brian Gart, Melanie Hines, Dan Thompson, December 22, 2008
People on the Move, Sun Sentinel, Chuck Lichtman, Melanie Hines, May 04, 2009
James Gassenheimer, Melanie Hines, Sept-Oct 2009, Corporate Counsel Edition Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers, James D. Gassenheimer, Melanie Ann Hines, September 04, 2009
MAH Hired to Investigate Ethics Complaint, CBS4, Melanie Hines, October 07, 2009
MAH Hired to Investigate Ethics Complaint, Miami Herald, Melanie Hines, October 07, 2009
Fla. Independent Counsel Will Investigage Sansom, CBS 4, Melanie Ann Hines, October 07, 2009
Sansom probe panel hires prosecutor, Miami Herald, Melanie Ann Hines, Mitchell Berger, October 07, 2009
Sansom probe panel hires prosecutor, Miami Herald, Melanie Ann Hines, Mitchell Berger, October 07, 2009
MAH Hired to Investigate Ethics Complaint, St. Petersburg Times, Melanie Hines, October 08, 2009
MAH Hired to Investigate Ethics Complaint, Tallahassee Democrat, Melanie Hines, October 08, 2009
MAH Hired to Investigate Ethics Complaint, Jacksonville Observer, Melanie Hines, October 08, 2009
Former prosecutor to guide House inquiry into Sansom, St. Petersburg times, Melanie Ann Hines, Mitchell Berger, October 08, 2009
House to continue sansom inquiry, Tallahassee Democrat, Melanie Ann Hines, October 08, 2009
Former Prosecutor Named Counsel in Sansom Probe, The Jacksonville Observer, Melanie Ann Hines, October 08, 2009
House cost to prosecute Sansom: $300 an hour, St. Petersburg Times, Melanie Hines, October 13, 2009
House cost to prosecute Sansom: $300 an hour, The Buzz Florida Politics, Melanie Ann Hines, October 13, 2009
Twenty-Four Attorneys Named Florida Super Lawyers By Publishers of Law & Politics Magazine, Daniel H. Aronson, Robert W. Barron, James L. Berger, Mitchell W. Berger, Howard Berlin, Anthony J. Carriuolo, John Eaton, Brian K. Gart, Jorid Guso, Melanie Ann Hines, Nick Jovanovich, Charles H. Lichtman, Sheldon S. Polish, Brian G. Rich, Leonard K. Sam, June 08, 2010
Thirteen Attorneys Named to Florida Trend's 2010 Florida Legal Elite List, Robert W. Barron, Douglas A. Bates, Howard J. Berlin, Jordi Guso, Rene Harrod, Melanie Ann Hines, Andrew M. Hinkes, Charles H. Lichtman, Kelly A. O'Keefe, Brian G. Rich, Leonard K. Samuels, Frank Scruggs, Paul Steven Singerman, July 01, 2010
Fifteen Berger Singerman Attorneys Named to 2011 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America, October 28, 2010
Charles Lichtman and Melanie Hines Reappointed to Federal Judicial Nominating Commission of Florida, Charles Lichtman, Melanie Hines, April 27, 2011
In the News Report, 5.08.11, David Black, Melanie Hines, Stefanie Moon, Frank Caplan, Deborah Talenfeld, Mike Greene, Jordi Guso, Dan Lampert, Dan Mielnicki, Chuck Lichtman, May 11, 2011
In the News Report, 5.29.11, James Berger, Frank Caplan, Melanie Hines, Chuck Lichtman, Paul Singerman, May 31, 2011
In the News Report, 6.19.11, June 20, 2011
Publications
Rules of Promotion, 07/27/2011
In a "First in the Nation" Move, Florida More Than Doubles Its Data Mining Capabilities to Detect Health Care Fraud, Health Care Fraud Newsletter, 07/20/2010
Public Corruption and Special Investigations, Public Corruption and Special Investigations Alert, 07/08/2010
Litigating in Florida, May 2010, Dispute Resolution Team Newsletter, 05/20/2010
Behind the secrecy, Daily Business Review, 07/15/2008
Update from the state capital, Smart Business Network, 01/01/2007