This profile is part of the NACDL Find a Lawyer directory, a public listing of NACDL member attorneys in private practice. The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers is not a law firm and does not represent or assist individuals with criminal or other cases. NACDL provides this directory as a public service without recommendation or warranty.
C. is a Life Member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Life Membership recognizes a demonstrated commitment to criminal defense and the mission of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
Contact Information
- Charlotte, NC
- www.tinfulton.com
Social Media
Biography
Melissa “Missy” Owen always wanted to be a criminal defense lawyer. The daughter of Pittsburgh defense attorney John Knorr, Missy grew up with the practice of criminal law in her blood. Missy has practiced criminal law exclusively since moving to Charlotte in 2002, where she met Noell Tin and joined what was then his solo practice. Their legal partnership was the first brick laid in the building of Tin Fulton Walker & Owen.
Missy represents clients in state and federal courts across North Carolina, handling cases ranging from misdemeanors to homicides. Missy has particular expertise in white-collar and sex offense cases, where she has represented clients in the pre-indictment phase, at trial, and on appeal. She also represents clients in regulatory proceedings involving the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission (SEC).
In white-collar matters, Missy’s keen ability to analyze and digest complex business arrangements and transactions enables her to quickly assess a client’s circumstances and provide immediate guidance. In sex offense matters, she regularly works with forensic experts and consultants to aggressively investigate allegations. As a consequence of her approach to these challenging cases, some of Missy’s clients are never ultimately prosecuted.
Missy has served NACDL in numerous capacities, including as a program co-chair in the CLE Institute and a member of the Women in Criminal Defense Committee, the White Collar Committee, the Title IX Committee, and the Bylaws Committee. She is also active on numerous bar associations and community groups, including service on the Board of Governors of North Carolina Attorneys for Justice and the Ethics Committee at the North Carolina State Bar, which publishes Advisory Ethics Opinions for North Carolina attorneys.
Practice Areas
- Federal Practice
- Sex Crimes
- White Collar Crime
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