Meet our Founder
Melissa B. Brisman, Esq.
Welcome to the world of reproductive law, where dreams of parenthood are transformed into reality through the legal expertise and compassionate guidance of Melissa Brisman.
As a distinguished attorney, entrepreneur, and pioneer in reproductive law, Melissa Brisman has dedicated her career to helping couples and individuals fulfill their dreams of parenthood. With an impressive educational background and an unwavering commitment to her clients, Melissa has established herself as a trusted leader in the field.
Education and Expertise
Melissa has a record of academic excellence, graduating as Valedictorian from the prestigious Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. She then went on to graduate with honors from Harvard Law School. Melissa is licensed to practice in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Texas, and is also a licensed Certified Public Accountant.
Passion Turned Mission
Driven by personal experience, Melissa embarked on her mission to assist couples in building their families in 1996. As her own first client, she guided the process that led her and her husband, Dan, to become parents of twin boys through a gestational carrier. This profound experience prompted Melissa to establish a practice founded on compassion, empathy, and a genuine understanding of the emotions surrounding parenthood. She also welcomed a daughter in 2003 through a gestational carrier.
A Trailblazer in the Field
Melissa's groundbreaking achievements have reshaped the legal landscape of assisted reproduction. Among her many accomplishments:
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Melissa obtained court orders that granted genetic parents’ placement on the original birth certificates of their children born through gestational carriers in Maine in 1997, and then in New Jersey in 2000.
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She argued and won landmark cases before the Supreme Court of Massachusetts in 2001 and the State Supreme Court of New York in 2004, establishing vital legal precedents for birth orders in these states.
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She was the first attorney to obtain a court order in New Jersey placing two women on the birth certificate of their child, without an adoption, and, in 2005, to place two men on the birth certificate of their children born through a gestational carrier, without an adoption, in Pennsylvania.
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She assisted two women who were validly married in Canada to be placed on the birth certificate of their child in the New York in 2008.
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In 2010, Melissa was invited to Taiwan to assist the government in drafting surrogacy legislation.
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Melissa spearheaded efforts to promote and regulate compensated surrogacy in New Jersey and New York, resulting in the enactment of the New Jersey Gestational Carrier Act in 2018 and the New York Child Parent Security Act in 2021.
A Respected Leader
Melissa is frequently invited to share her knowledge at prestigious institutions and events worldwide. As a keynote speaker, Melissa has captivated audiences at the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, and the Donor Egg Conference in Charleston, South Carolina, among others. She is dedicated to educating professionals and advocating for legal change in the field.
Melissa has served on the boards of:
American Fertility Association (AFA)
Path2Parenthood
Fertile Dreams
Conceive Magazine
Parents Via Egg Donation (PVED)
LIVESTRONG Fertility Advisory Committee
Her professional memberships include:
Resolve,
American Bar Association-Family Law Section-Reproductive and Genetic Technology, Committee (ABA)
American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM)
Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (AAARTA)
Society for Ethics in Egg Donation and Surrogacy (SEEDS)
New York Attorneys for Adoption & Family Formation (NYAAFF)
Family Equality
Recognition and Contributions
Melissa's contributions to the field have garnered numerous accolades, including:
2004 Star of Resolve Award
2006 Named as a finalist for the prestigious Forbes Enterprise Award
2015 Infertility Hero Award
2017 Advocacy Award from P2P (Path to Parenthood)
2019 Stevie Gold Award for "Lifetime Achievement in Business"
2019 Stevie Silver Award for "Women Run Workplace of the Year"
Melissa has authored chapters in notable publications such as:
"Reproductive Medicine Secrets" by Zev Rosenwaks
"Fertility Preservation in Male Cancer Patients" by John P. Mulhall
"Principles of Oocyte and Embryo Donation" by Mark V. Sauer
Empowering Clients, Transforming Lives
The firm of Melissa B. Brisman, Esq., LLC concentrates in drafting and negotiating contracts for gestational carrier arrangements, as well as ovum, sperm, and embryo donation contracts. Melissa and her team also excel in facilitating adoptions, including same-sex and stepparent adoptions. Their expertise extends to obtaining court orders that allow intended parents to be listed on the birth certificate of their child at birth. Additionally, Melissa's firm provides thorough insurance reviews on behalf of intended parents and gestational carriers.
Melissa B. Brisman is a trusted advocate, leader, and legal pioneer who has positively impacted the lives of countless individuals and families. With her vast knowledge, unwavering dedication and compassionate approach, Melissa continues to shape the field of reproductive law and empower clients to realize their dreams of parenthood.
Read the University of Pennsylvania Gazette Article that describes the legal challenges that confronted Melissa on her journey to parenthood and how she shaped the law to ensure the parental rights of her three children. Learn how these groundbreaking efforts paved the way for others to realize their dreams.
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