Mike’s practice focuses on business and commercial litigation, as well as the protection of intellectual property rights, and, in particular, those provided under the federal “Lanham Act.”  He has extensive experience in matters involving corporate governance and closely owned corporations.  He regularly represents defendants in actions brought under Vermont’s Consumer Fraud Act, including those involving telemarketing and solicitation for charities.

Upon graduation from Harvard Law School, Mike became a law clerk to the Honorable Sterry R. Waterman, Senior Judge of the United States Second Circuit Court of Appeals.  After his clerkship, Mike entered private practice in New York City, first with Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver and Jacobson, and later with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.  At those firms, Mike’s principal activities included complex litigation in securities, mergers and acquisitions, and other business-related areas.

Mike returned to Vermont to serve as General Counsel to the Vermont Public Service Board.  Subsequently, he was appointed by Vermont’s governor to be the state’s first Director for Public Advocacy immediately after that position was created by the Vermont legislature.  In such capacities he acquired expertise in all aspects of utility regulation and energy law.  Since his return to private practice as a founding partner of Burak Anderson & Melloni PLC, a substantial portion of his practice has been related to commercial litigation and utility matters.

Education:

Harvard University, J.D., 1971

University of Vermont, B.A., summa cum laude, 1968

Bar Admissions:

New York, 1974

U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, 1975

U.S. District Court, Eastern and Southern Districts of New York, 1975

Vermont, 1979

U.S. District Court, District of Vermont, 1983

U.S. Supreme Court, 1989

Decisions and Orders:

In re Chittenden Solid Waste District, 2007 VT 28, 182 Vt. 38, 928 A.2d 1183

Fab-Tech, Inc. v. E.I. Du Pont De Nemours and Company, No. 1:04-CV-275 (D. Vt., April 16, 2007)

Grand Circle LLC, d/b/a VBT Bicycling Vacations v. Susan Rand and Sojourn Active Vacations, Inc., Docket No. S0389-05 CnC (Vt. Superior Ct. May 3, 2005)

Sheldrake v. Skyline Corporation, Docket No.1269-01 CnC (Vt. Superior Ct., Dec. 10, 2002)

Order re: Petition of Vermont Electric Cooperative Inc. for authority to issue First Mortgage Bonds in the amount of $21,500,000 and to issue to the Rural Utilities Service and the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation TPB Certificates re: bankruptcy reorganization plan, Docket No. 5971 (Vt. Pub. Serv. Bd., June 26, 1997)

In re Chittenden Solid Waste District, 163 Vt. 185, 657 A.2d 197 (1995)

Vermont Department of Public Service v. Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Co., et al., 151 Vt. 73, 558 A.2d 215. (1988)

In re Consolidated Rate Appeals of Green Mountain Power Corporation, 142 Vt. 373, 455 A.2d 823 (1983)

Professional Associations and Experience:

Martindale-Hubbell AV Rating

Association of the Bar of the City of New York

Vermont and American Bar Associations

Vermont Public Service Board

Public Policy Committee of the Vermont Business for Social Responsibility

Community Service:

Member of the Public Policy Committee for VBSR

Former Board Member of the King Street Youth Center