Melissa P. Martin

Melissa focuses her practice on energy and natural resources , land administration, and private client matters. She also advises individuals and families on estate planning and probate matters, with a focus on understanding the unique personal, business, and asset considerations that shape each client’s goals. In her energy practice, Melissa advises oil and gas producers, royalty owners, and land administration teams on mineral title, division order, curative, and transactional matters. She analyzes instruments affecting mineral ownership and conducts due diligence for energy transactions. In addition, Melissa provides strategic oversight and legal support for land administration operations, including lease and land records management, division order administration, ownership calculations, due diligence, acquisitions and divestitures, contract administration, and technology-enabled data extraction and analysis. Her experience spans complex land systems, multidisciplinary projects, and process improvement initiatives designed to make land operations more accurate, efficient, and scalable.

Before joining Steptoe & Johnson, Melissa held legal, title, division order, and management roles with a Fortune 500 energy exploration and production company, supporting assets across multiple regions. She led multidisciplinary teams and developed a practical understanding of how legal advice intersects with land operations, business objectives, and the people responsible for carrying them out. Melissa brings that same practical, people-centered approach to her work with clients, combining thoughtful legal guidance with a genuine commitment to understanding the people and goals behind each matter. This combination of legal, land, and business experience allows Melissa to see the full picture—connecting sophisticated legal advice with the practical realities of managing assets, businesses, and family wealth.

During her time in law school, Melissa served as a law clerk for Judge A. Richard Caputo in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, providing her with invaluable insight into the judicial process.