Distinguished Paralegal Award: Melissa B. Donovan
Melissa “Missy” Donovan is a Senior Litigation Paralegal at Cranfill Sumner LLP, where she has worked for nearly 22 years.
Missy began her legal career at the North Carolina Court of Appeals, serving as an executive assistant and later as a paralegal to Staff Counsel, former Chief Judge R.A. Hedrick, and former Chief Judge John C. Martin.
Since joining Cranfill Sumner in 2003, Missy has gained extensive experience in the firm’s civil litigation practice group, particularly regarding appeals. She acts as the gatekeeper for all state and federal appeals, and she is an invaluable resource in the appellate space, supporting each of Cranfill Sumner’s 80+ attorneys with their appellate needs.
Leveraging her deep knowledge of the appellate process, Missy became a pioneer for North Carolina paralegals. From 2013 to 2019, she was the first non-attorney to serve as a Paralegal Liaison for the North Carolina Bar Association’s Appellate Rules Committee. In 2018, she was appointed Committee Chair of the Paralegal Division Liaison for the NCBA’s Appellate Practice Section.
Missy has also contributed to several presentations focused on appellate and paralegal work. She has presented at the North Carolina Certified Paralegal Examination Review Course, as well as at CLEs and annual meetings for the Appellate Practice Section.