Melissa Rae Ellison

Prior to joining the firm, Melissa gained experience in labor and employment matters while working for a major national retailer, where she focused on employment discrimination law.

Melissa earned her juris doctor from the Salmon P. Chase College of Law. During law school, she served as a Senior Editor for the Northern Kentucky Law Review. She also was a recipient of numerous academic accolades including the John G. Tomlin Torts Award and the CALI Torts Award.

Before pursuing a legal career, Melissa spent a decade working in museum outreach and education. She holds a Master of Arts in Museum Studies from Johns Hopkins University and is a graduate of Centre College, where she majored in History and minored in Spanish.

A Tennessee native, Melissa enjoys staying active and spending time with her husband and daughter.

Melissa is licensed to practice law in Kentucky, Ohio and the U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio.

Community Service

•Meals on Wheels of Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky

Thought Leadership

Legal Updates for Real Estate E&O Liability

New Ohio Law Targets Real Estate Wholesaling Practices

May 7, 2026

Effective March 2, 2026, the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing (REPL) now requires real estate wholesalers to clearly disclose their intention and business model when contracting with a property owner and seller. This was part of Ohio Senate Bill 155, which passed unanimously in the Ohio Senate in June 2025, and was signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine on December 1, 2025. Real estate wholesalers serve as intermediaries in property transactions. They enter into a purchase agreement with a seller with no intent to buy the property themselves. Instead, they assign the contract to another buyer or investor at a higher price or charge a fee, typically 5% to 10% of the sale price, to earn a profit.The REPL, in partnership with the Ohio Department of Aging (ODA), and Ohio District 5 Area Agency on Aging in Richland issued a Consumer Alert in March 2025, on wholesalers, citing a rise in unsolicited real estate offers targeting older Ohio homeowners, often offering complex financial arrangements that include hidden risks, leaving older homeowners financially vulnerable.Under this new legislation, real estate wholesalers in Ohio are required to disclose their status to sellers or property owners and clarify that they do not represent the seller in the transaction. The law mandates that this disclosure be made through a clear and conspicuous written statement informing the seller that the individual is acting as a wholesaler. This disclosure must also be separate from the purchase contract or agreement between the parties and must be printed in bold type with a font size of at least 12 points. In the event a wholesaler fails to provide proper notice to the seller, the seller may cancel the purchase contract at any time before the close of escrow without penalty, giving the wholesaler 30 days to return any earnest money or deposits to the seller.Wholesalers who do not clearly disclose their role or properly inform the seller may also face disciplinary action from the Ohio Superintendent of Real Estate. This can include penalties such as suspension or revocation of their real estate license, as well as potential civil liability, monetary damages, and responsibility for attorneys’ fees.