About Melanie

Knowledgeable, Effective and Relied Upon for thirty years

Melanie O’Brien is the owner and principal of Law Offices of Melanie P. O’Brien, LLC. Attorney O’Brien is able to help her clients achieve their legal goals through her thirty years of experience,  personal attention to each client, and her vigilant and pragmatic advocacy style. She is attentive to the details of each client’s case while appreciating the larger context of how actions have impact and consequences.

Melanie began her legal career with Griffin & Griffin, P. C. (later to become Griffin, Griffin & O’Brien, P.C.), a law firm in Waterbury, CT that served as general counsel for a rapidly expanding Connecticut bank, where she acquired experience with residential and commercial loans, refinances, regulatory compliance,and evaluating and resolving claims. Her practice included advising small businesses, forming business entities, drafting business purchase and sale agreements, service agreements and leases.

After opening her own firm, Law Offices of Melanie P. O’Brien, LLC, in Ridgefield, CT, Melanie was appointed to serve as Bethel Town Attorney where she acquired experience with municipal law, public construction projects, state grants,and local governmental operation and procedures.

Attorney O’Brien was engaged as a consultant by a commercial bank in Fairfield County to manage and resolve its non-performing commercial loan portfolio, including the sale of REO loans.This position was also responsible for loan modifications and restructures. Acting as outside counsel to banks has given her a unique perspective that she brings to counseling clients in connection with real estate and financing transactions both residential and commercial, as well commercial loan workout.

Melanie also represents and advocates for senior citizens in connection with wills and planning for incapacity and care needs, insurance claim denials, Medicare claim denials, and nursing home admissions.

To accommodate her clients, Attorney O’Brien will arrange appointments at a client’s home or place of business in addition to her offices in Bethel.

Throughout her legal career Melanie O’Brien has volunteered extensively in the community and considers that work essential to her.  Among her former and current volunteer activities are the Girl Scout Scouts, Bethel Public Schools volunteer, Sunday school teacher, Ethics Commission, Bethel Board of Education (Vice Chair), BVNA (Board of Directors), and CT Permanent Commission on the Status of Women (Commissioner).

She is also a former instructor at Post University for paralegal courses in real property, estates and business transactions. She has given seminars to first time home buyers and legislative updates to mid-level bank management.

Melanie O’Brien is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association and local chambers of commerce.

Melanie O’Brien is married and has four children.

Areas of Practice

All Real Estate:

• Purchase and Sale
• Refinance
• Leases
• Bank Owned Property

Other areas of practice include:

• Wills
• Planning for incapacity
• Estate administration
• Business transactions

Melanie O’Brien represents individuals, families and small businesses in Fairfield and New Haven Counties, including Bethel, Ridgefield, Redding, Newtown, Danbury, Brookfied, Wilton, Southbury, Middlebury, and Waterbury.

Admissions

• Admitted to Connecticut Bar, 1985
• Admitted to United States District Court, District of Connecticut

Education

• Graduate of Suffolk University Law School, Boston, MA, Juris Doctor, 1984
• Graduate of Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY, B.A., 1977