Melissa Gott

Areas of Focus

Parental Alienation & High-Conflict Child Custody

Melissa represents parents in complex North Carolina custody disputes involving alleged parental alienation, interference with the parent-child relationship, and other high-conflict family dynamics. These cases can involve psychological manipulation of children and issues extending well beyond a traditional custody dispute.

Through strategic litigation and early intervention, Melissa and her legal team have obtained significant custody modifications, including complete custody reversals, in cases where the circumstances warranted substantial court intervention. Melissa also speaks and educates others about recognizing alienating behaviors and the importance of addressing serious parent-child relationship interference before it becomes entrenched.

Revenge Porn & Image-Based Sexual Abuse

Melissa is one of a relatively small number of North Carolina attorneys handling civil litigation involving revenge porn and nonconsensual distribution of intimate images. At a time when few firms were willing to pursue these claims, she developed a practice focused on helping victims seek accountability and legal remedies.

Her work has included obtaining a judgment exceeding $30 million for a victim of image-based sexual abuse. Melissa also educates the public about legal remedies available to victims and advocates for greater awareness of this rapidly evolving area of law.

Sextortion & AI-Generated Intimate Images

Technology is creating new ways to exploit and harm victims. Melissa's practice includes matters involving sextortion, threatened disclosure of intimate content, digitally altered images, and realistic AI-generated intimate imagery.

These matters can involve overlapping questions of privacy, tort law, criminal conduct, technology, evidence preservation, and the practical challenge of limiting further distribution of harmful content.

Complex Family Law

In addition to parental alienation matters, Melissa handles complex North Carolina family law disputes, including equitable distribution and other matters requiring significant litigation strategy, careful preparation, and an understanding of complicated family dynamics.

Appeals & Appellate Matters

Melissa’s appellate experience began during law school when she clerked for Judge John Tyson at the North Carolina Court of Appeals. Her practice has included matters before the North Carolina Court of Appeal and North Carolina Supreme Court, as well as legal research, appellate briefing, and strategy in complex cases.

Business & Real Estate Transactions

Melissa combines her legal experience with a strong business and financial background. She holds both a Juris Doctor, earned cum laude, and a Master of Business Administration, allowing her to approach transactions and disputes from both legal and business perspectives.

Her practice includes multimillion-dollar real estate matters, business transactions, contracts, estate planning, and other matters in which legal decisions can have significant long-term financial consequences.

Her business background is particularly valuable in matters involving significant assets, financial consequences, contracts, property, and business interests.

Mediation & Alternative Dispute Resolution

Melissa’s credentials provide an additional perspective on resolving difficult disputes. In addition to her litigation practice, she is:

• D.R.C. Certified Mediator

• Financial Family Law Certified Mediator

• Parenting Coordinator

• Collaborative Attorney

These qualifications allow Melissa to evaluate disputes from multiple perspectives and pursue negotiated solutions when appropriate while remaining prepared to litigate when resolution outside the courtroom is not possible.

A Strategic Approach to Difficult Legal Problems

Melissa is not a typical general practice attorney. Her career has been built around matters requiring strategic thinking, detailed legal analysis, and practical solutions.

Whether negotiating a business acquisition, structuring a real estate transaction, planning an estate, protecting a parent-child relationship, or pursuing relief for a victim of image-based sexual abuse, Melissa focuses on identifying the client's long-term objective and developing a strategy designed to achieve it.

Education & Legal Background

Melissa earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with distinction, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she concentrated in finance and the legal environment of business.

She received her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Campbell University School of Law, where she served as an editor of the Campbell Law Review. During law school, Melissa worked as a research assistant on Williston on Contracts.

She also earned her Master of Business Administration from Campbell University’s Lundy-Fetterman School of Business.

Professional Recognition

Melissa's work has received local, national, and international recognition. Her honors have included:

• AV Preeminent® rating by Martindale-Hubbell

• Lawyers of Distinction recognition

• Lawyer International Legal 100

• Global 100

• Lawyer Monthly Magazine – Women in Law Award for legal expertise and contributions in real estate

• Wilmington-Cape Fear Home Builders Association Attorney of the Year

• Voted Best Attorney in the Wilmington area by readers of Wilmington Magazine

• Recognition by The American Registry of America's Most Honored Lawyers

Community & Public Service

Beyond her legal practice, Melissa has a longstanding commitment to civic, charitable, professional, and public service.

Her service has included involvement with organizations and initiatives such as the Battleship North Carolina preservation efforts, Wilmington-Cape Fear Home Builders Association, Wayne County Historical Association – Revolving Fund Division, Cape Fear Area Resource Center, Classical Charter Schools of America, Rotary, Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center, American Heart Association, Guardian ad Litem, and pro bono legal work.

Melissa has also participated in governmental, legislative, and public-policy initiatives at the local, state, and national levels.

Outside of her practice, Melissa is active with her local church and enjoys traveling with her family, including participating in mission trips.

Bar Admissions & Professional Memberships

Melissa is a member of:

• United States Supreme Court Bar

• U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina

• North Carolina State Bar

• North Carolina Bar Association

• New Hanover County Bar Association

• Real Estate Lawyers Association of North Carolina

• North Carolina Association of Professional Family Mediators