Melissa Theriault is Senior Counsel in the Cheyenne office. A Wyoming native and experienced litigator, Melissa has spent nearly 20 years in the legal field, focusing her practice on commercial litigation, class actions, construction law, appellate matters, and tort litigation.
After graduating from law school in 2007, Melissa joined a civil defense litigation firm. She has also since served in the Wyoming Attorney General’s Office, where she worked in the Consumer Protection Unit before being promoted to the position of Director of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, where she was cross-designated as a Special Assistant United States Attorney. Melissa rejoined private practice in 2019.
Melissa brings a practical, detail-oriented approach to litigation. She enjoys the “puzzle” of legal work, from identifying the key facts and legal issues to working toward a resolution. She believes litigation is often a collaborative effort, but she is also direct with clients about the realities of their case, guided by one of her favorite principles: the facts are the facts, and the law is the law.
In addition to her legal practice, Melissa is a case manager for people with developmental disabilities. She is an involved member of both the Wyoming and legal communities. She currently serves on the Board of the Wyoming Children’s Society and is involved with the GFWC Women’s Civic League of Cheyenne, a civic organization dedicated to supporting Cheyenne and Laramie County through volunteer service, scholarships, grants, and community projects. In 2024, she served as co-chair of the League’s Christmas House, one of its signature annual fundraisers, helping raise more than $40,000 for the community.
Melissa has a lifelong love of theater, which has helped shape her appreciation for communication, preparation, and storytelling. She earned her B.F.A. in theater from the Theater Conservatory of the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University before returning home to Wyoming and pursuing law.
Outside the office, Melissa is dedicated to her family. She is the proud mother of four children and the wife of a veteran. Her oldest child has served in the United States Air Force. In her free time, Melissa enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, including gardening and hiking.