Melissa Bandy

Melissa Bandy is a Member of the firm with a practice focused on commercial transactions, real estate, banking, and business law. She represents a wide range of clients, including banks, financial institutions, developers, real estate investment trusts (REITs), private equity investors, property managers, construction contractors, and retailers. Her work involves documenting and structuring secured and unsecured loans, asset-based financing, working capital credit facilities, and real estate finance transactions.

Bandy earned her J.D. with high honors from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law, where she served as Editor-in-Chief of the UA Little Rock Law Review. She completed her B.A. in English at Davidson College. Licensed to practice in Arkansas and Texas, she has built a reputation for delivering precise and practical legal advice across multiple jurisdictions.

Bandy advises clients through every stage of the real estate lifecycle, including property acquisition, financing, development, leasing, and tax-deferred Section 1031 like-kind exchanges. She also represents multifamily property owners in securing and restructuring Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, and HUD financing. In addition to real estate, Bandy counsels businesses on corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), corporate restructurings, and business sales.

Active in professional and community organizations, Melissa Bandy serves as Chair of the firm’s Culture and Belonging Committee, participates in the Association of Law Firm Diversity Professionals, and sits on the Board of Directors for the Museum of Discovery. She is also a member of the Arkansas Bar Association, the Arkansas Association of Women Lawyers, and national housing and compliance organizations. With her broad transactional experience and leadership in both legal and civic communities, Bandy provides clients with trusted counsel in complex business and real estate matters.

Law Office Affiliations

• Member, Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C.
• Chair, Mitchell Williams Culture and Belonging Committee
• Member, Association of Law Firm Diversity Professionals
• Member, National Association of Licensing and Compliance Professionals
• Member, National Multifamily Housing Council
• Member, Arkansas Bar Association
• Member, Arkansas Association of Women Lawyers

Licensed State

• Arkansas
• Texas

Education

• University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Davidson College
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges