MELANY O’BRIEN

“I was inspired to go into legal work because I wanted to help people. I was always interested in the law, and out of law school I took a job that I thought would be great,” recalled Melany. “It was with a great law firm and a really great group of people, but it was doing insurance defense work. I was working for the insurance companies, and after a couple of years, I found it was not rewarding. I started in personal injury and I now feel like I’m helping people who would not be able to get through this process by themselves because the insurance company will just walk all over them, and take advantage of them, if they’re not represented by someone who is looking out for their best interest.”

With a career focused on Personal Injury and Product Liability Law, as well as Civil Litigation, Melany has served on the Practice and Procedure, Mediation, Legislative, Ways and Means, and Judicial Resources committees in the Nebraska State Bar Association. She is currently the Chair of the House of Delegates and a member of the Executive Council of the Nebraska State Bar Association. She is also a Fellow and Board Member of the Nebraska Bar Foundation. Melany is also the attorney of the firm.

Of all the affiliations Melany is deeply involved with, she is most proud of the work she does with the Women’s Center for Advancement (WCA). “Being on that board, I feel we’re doing so many meaningful things to help people get out of abusive situations, and as you know, Hauptman O’Brien provides free cab rides for someone who’s in an abusive situation. If they want a ride to an agency or a hospital, we cover the cost of rides for people who are going through an unfortunate ordeal and are seeking help.”

Melany is a recipient of the David A. Svoboda Trial Award and is the author of “Lead Poisoning Prevention in Nebraska,” in The Nebraska Lawyer Magazine and “Personal Injury & Workers’ Compensation Proceeds in a Divorce,” for the Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys.

“Ask anyone who has worked with Melany or been part of her social life and they will all be quick to tell you she is determined, funny, loyal, hard-working,” said Attorney Tim O’Brien. “She is caring and she is always open-minded, but when it’s time to fight for her clients, nobody is more tenacious than Melany O’Brien.”