About Us
Melissa Polk, Principal Attorney
Melissa is a Bay-Area-based attorney and mediator with over 15 years of legal experience. She is passionate about helping her clients navigate the legal system and protecting their rights. As a skilled negotiator, she genuinely enjoys working with people to find solutions to difficult problems. Melissa's practice is mediation and collaborative divorce-based. She can handle complex litigation involving move-away cases and asset division. Melissa can also prepare and review prenuptial and postnuptial agreements and consults on cases involving various family law issues. And Melissa can also provide mediation services to those clients looking to avoid the stress and high cost of litigation.
Melissa graduated from John F. Kennedy University School of Law. While in law school, she interned with the Environmental Protection Agency in San Francisco assisting the attorneys with legal research and working on cases involving environmental regulations and policy matters. Melissa received a Bachelors of Science degree in Environmental Science and Policy with a minor in Political Science from the University of California, Davis.
Ms. Polk formerly worked as a Senior Associate Attorney at Beck Law Group, PC in Santa Rosa. While at the firm, she focused primarily on family law and civil litigation cases.
Melissa is committed to giving back to the local Bay Area community, which she continues to demonstrate in the following ways:
- I am a member of the Alameda County Bar Association and the San Francisco Bar Association.
- Representing pro bono clients through the Justice and Diversity Center of the Bar Association of San Francisco.
- Volunteering at the Alameda County Bar Association's Dissolution Clinic.
- Being a member of the Family Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution Sections of the San Francisco Bar Association and the Alameda County Bar Association.
- Being an active member of the Family Law Section of the California State Bar.
- Serving as an attorney on the family law panel for the Alameda County Bar Association and the San Francisco Bar Association's lawyer referral programs.
- Being a volunteer mediator with the San Francisco Department of Police Accountability.
- Being a volunteer mediator with the Alameda County Superior Court Day of Court Mediation Program.
- I am the chair of the ACBA ADR Executive Committee.
- I am a Member of the Academy of Professional Family Law Mediators.
- Member of the Association of Family And Conciliation Courts.
- Speaker at APFM 2022 Conference Opening Plenary Panel.
- Speaker at the Academy of Professional Family Mediator's Opening Plenary Panel. The topic was "Stretching our Limits in Mediation Practice". October 13, 2022.
- Speaker at the APFM 2023 conference panel on Complex Parenting Issues.
- Organized a panel discussion on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Mediation for the Alameda County Bar Association.
- Board Member, Academy of Professional Family Mediators
In her spare time, Melissa enjoys reading, traveling, exploring new restaurants with friends and spending time with her husband and two kids.
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Priyashna Pillay-Prasad, Paralegal
Priyashna, earned her Juris Doctor and Master of Legal Studies from Monterey College of Law. Prior tolaw school, Priyashna earned her undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice/Concentrations inCorrections, Probation & Parole. She also earned her Paralegal Certificate from the University of the Pacific.
Priyashna has worked as a family law paralegal since 2017, where she assists clients in navigating the complexities of the family law system. She has gained valuable experience in complex family law matters through her work at various law firms.
In her personal time, Priyashna enjoys playing and watching basketball, particularly supporting theSacramento Kings. She also enjoys running her small business “R&P Flower Wall and Photo BoothRentals,” with her husband. She also has a passion for traveling and spending quality time with her husband, family, friends and nieces and nephews during her leisure hours.
