Member Spotlight

Melissa Tannehill

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Description of your practice:
I am a real estate attorney and my firm handles commercial and residential real estate transactions. I represent buyers and sellers throughout the transaction process when they are buying or selling their home. My clients range from individual clients selling their primary home to investors who hold multiple investment properties or commercial real estate. I also help real estate investors create and structure their business formation and holding company.

Why are you a member of the WBAI?
Being a graduate of Resurrection High School (an all-girls high school on the northwest side of Chicago) I naturally gravitated to the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois and became a member while I was still in law school. I have met many strong and influential female attorneys through the WBAI and have created lasting professional relationships and personal friendships. With the continued support of the WBAI and its members, I had the courage and motivation to open my own practice.

I am honored to be serving my second year as a Director on the WBAI Board and I am looking forward to the year ahead.

What do you think is the best way to empower women in law? 
In my opinion, the best way to empower women in law is to lead by example and reach back to mentor, teach, and support young attorneys. I helped teach a class known as Professional Identity Formation at Loyola Law School this semester. Teaching this class made me realize that the world is ever changing, and it is important to set good examples and be open to change throughout my personal career. I truly enjoyed having the opportunity to be in the academic atmosphere and in the presence of future lawyers and can only hope that sharing my professional experiences with students will positively influence their future careers.

What are you most looking forward to in the following year, personally/professionally?
Professionally, I am looking forward to reaching my firm’s 1 year anniversary. It has been a year of incredible new experiences, learning how to run a successful business, and managing clients and time. I have gained priceless experience that will continue to grow as I grow my firm. I am also looking forward to hiring in the upcoming months.

Personally, I am looking forward to traveling. I plan at least one international trip per year to experience a different country’s culture, people, and food.

Tell us something interesting about you.
The biggest deciding factors that lead me to opening my own real estate practice was because of my interest in real estate investing. As a real estate investor myself, I have the opportunity to help others through my personal experience of owning, rehabbing, and managing real estate. One of my goals for 2020 is to purchase a multi-unit investment property.

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