Overview
Melissa Osio Martinez is the managing partner of WSHB's Rio Grande Valley office. She is an experienced trial attorney with a distinguished career representing some of the largest companies in Texas. She is well-regarded for her vigorous representation of construction, transportation, business, insurance, and Fortune 500 companies. Melissa is also sought after for her significant experience representing defendants against serious bodily claims, wrongful death, professional liability, general negligence, and business-related contractual disputes from inception to resolution through negotiated settlements or trial.
Melissa was born in Bryan, Texas and raised in the Rio Grande Valley. Following in her aunt’s footsteps as the first female Hispanic graduate of Texas A&M University, Melissa continued the family legacy graduating as an Aggie. She then attended Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law where she served in leadership and interned for the First Court of Appeals in Houston. Melissa’s legal career began under the guidance of now Former Thirteenth Court of Appeals’ Chief Justice Dori Contreras Garza and as an Assistant District Attorney for Hidalgo County prosecuting hundreds of misdemeanor and felony cases. For over ten years, Melissa practiced as a senior trial attorney for a top Fortune 100 company where she earned distinctions such as Rookie of the Year, Best Trial Win Percentage, and Best Disposition Ratio in Texas. She later held the best nationwide disposition ratio at the 18th largest Latino-owned financial services company.
Melissa is deeply involved in the RGV community where she is raising her children. She serves on the McAllen Performing Arts and Convention Center Board, Leaders in Education Assembly for the District of McAllen, and as a Junior League McAllen Sustainer. Her service on professional boards currently includes Chair for the State Bar of Texas Diversity in the Profession Committee, District #15 Director for the Texas Association of Defense Counsel, and the Alumni Advisory Board of her law school.
Credentials
Education
- Texas Southern University (J.D., 1999)
- Texas A&M University (B.A., 1997)
Licensed to Practice in
- Texas
- California
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
- U.S. District Court, Central District of California
Newsroom
News
Events, Seminars & Speaking Engagements
Community
Community Activities
- McAllen Performing Arts and Convention Center Board
- Leaders in Education Assembly for the District of McAllen
- Junior League of McAllen Sustainer
Memberships
- Chair, State Bar of Texas Diversity in the Profession (2024 - 2025)
- Vice Chair, State Bar of Texas Diversity in the Profession (2023 - 2024)
- District #15 Director, Texas Association of Defense Counsel
- State Bar of Texas Construction Law Section
- State Bar of Texas Women in the Law
- Construction Law Foundation of Texas
- Defense Research Institute (DRI)
- DRI Trucking Law Committee
- Texas Bar College
- Hidalgo County Bar Association
- Hidalgo County Women's Bar Association
- Texas Aggie Bar Association