Collins Einhorn is proud to announce that Kari L. Melkonian has received the Oakland County Bar Association Distinguished Service Award. This award recognizes a member of the Oakland County Bar Association who provides exceptional voluntary services to benefit the organization.
Kari’s unquestionable passion for inspiring positive change is displayed through the magnitude of her involvement. Kari has been an active member of the Oakland County Bar Association for 12 years.
Currently, she sits on the OCBA Board of Directors and is an active member of the Circuit Court Committee and Inns of Court Committee. She volunteers as a discovery mediator and serves as a case evaluator in Oakland County Circuit Court.
Previously, Kari was a member of the Board of Directors Nominating Committee, New Lawyers Committee, and Mentor Program. As a board member, Kari has co-chaired the Circuit Court Bench-Bar Conference, Holiday Gala and serves on various board sub-committees. She regularly attends OCBA events, where she greets and makes new lawyers feel welcome.
Kari has also held chair and vice-chair positions on the Circuit Court and Criminal Law Committees. As chair of the Criminal Law Committee, Kari was responsible for organizing the Brown Bag Lecture Series for criminal defense attorneys. She served as chair of the Circuit Court Committee for two consecutive years; under Kari’s leadership, the committee expanded and improved the discovery mediator program.
Kari is a sustaining member of the OCBA and a fellow of the Oakland County Bar Foundation. She has also written articles for LACHES and spoken on many topics at various OCBA CLE seminars.
The values of the Oakland County Bar Association are an ever-present element of Kari’s service. Her commitment to improving the broader legal community is evident through her involvement in other bar and legal activities. Kari is a member of the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association, Claims Litigation Management, and the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel, where she currently serves as a Social Media Committee Co-Chair. Kari has also has made multiple appearances on “Practical Law.”
Kari is passionate about her community and volunteers her time in many activities and charities, including various animal rescue organizations, and as a speaker to volunteers of a women’s shelter regarding the Personal Protection Order process. Every year, Kari participates as a volunteer for the University of Detroit High School Mock Trial Team program and has volunteered as a judge in various high school, college, and law school mock trial competitions. Kari was also an adjunct faculty instructor at Baker College of Auburn Hills, where she taught research and writing, and family law courses to students in the paralegal program.
