Melanie Cogburn Peel serves Of Counsel to MosterWynne, working with the firm’s individual and business clients regarding various liability, risk management, administrative, policy and litigation issues. Ms. Cogburn Peel prosecutes and defends civil lawsuits in State and Federal courts, perfects and conducts appeals, pursues alternative dispute resolution (mediation and arbitration) and advises as to all facets of complex commercial and civil matters. 

Ms. Cogburn Peel helps clients manage the risks and deal with the legal issues that accompany a growing business; she explains to clients the practical implications of each on their business’ goals and growth targets. The focus of her work ranges from vendor and partner disputes to breaches of contract claims and securities fraud; creation and enforcement of Employment, Non-disclosures and Confidentiality Agreements to litigation of ERISA and insurance benefits claims. 

Prior to joining MosterWynne Ms. Cogburn Peel worked with the trial boutique firm Taylor, Dunham & Burgess, L.L.P. for seven years, handling all aspects of litigation.  Before then she served as Staff Attorney for the presiding judge of Travis County, the Honorable John K. Dietz, 250th District Court.  In this role she handled all briefing and research for the Court, focusing on business litigation, personal injury and administrative appeals.  She drafted jury charges and participated in more than 25 trials to bench and jury.

Ms. Cogburn Peel is a savvy researcher, writer and analyst, in addition to an experienced trial lawyer, which allows her to work alongside clients and advise them throughout the dispute resolution and litigation process.  She has repeatedly negotiated favorable settlements for local, regional and national clients, and has successfully won multi-million dollar cases ranging from $5million to more than $40million for individuals and corporations. 

Importantly, Ms. Cogburn Peel leverages her knowledge and risk management outlook when drafting various contracts and agreements, and when advising other MosterWynne attorneys who are putting together these deals.  This includes, among others, partnership and vendor/outsourcing agreements, as well as merger and acquisition documents whose subject matter warrant thorough circumspection.