Practice areas: Business & Corporate, Closely Held Business, Real Estate; view more
Licensed in California since: 1994
Education: Santa Clara University School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2026 Melissa Sayer stands at the helm of Matilija Law in Ventura, California, where she advises both individuals and corporate clients regarding complex business-related issues. With a keen focus on buying and selling businesses and advising clients on general counsel issues, along with her niche practice in agriculture, private water rights, and professional corporations, she has dedicated over three decades to empowering businesses and entrepreneurs of all sizes to flourish. Her excellence in her field is recognized by AV Preeminent peer-review rating* through Martindale-Hubbell. Outside the office, she enjoys life on her avocado ranch near Santa Paula, where she gains firsthand understanding of the hurdles faced by farmers and small businesses in the region.
*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer-review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.
Practice areas
Business/Corporate, Closely Held Business, Real Estate: BusinessFocus areas
Business Formation and Planning, Contracts, Limited Liability Companies, Sub-chapter S Corporations
- 70% Business/Corporate
- 20% Closely Held Business
- 10% Real Estate: Business
First Admitted: 1994, California
Professional Webpage: https://www.matilijalaw.com/people/melissa-sayer
Bar / Professional Activity
- Member of the Ventura County Bar Association since 2001, 2026
- National Association of Women Business Owners since 2019, 2023
- Member of Provisors since 2018, 2026
Representative Clients
- ongoing representation of . plastics manufacturer and sales since 2019, 2026
- ongoing representation of ag grower operation , 2026
- ongoing representation of Medical group regarding partnership issues since 2018, 2026
- representation of professional accountancy corporation regarding corporate clean-up matters, 2022
- represent attorneys in formation of law practice, 2026
- ongoing representation of owner of farming operations since 2020, 2026
Transactions
- Sale of printing business, 2023
- Termination of Water License Agreement and Amendment to Water Well Agreement, 2023
- Purchase of concrete construction business, 2022
- $3M Sale of recycling business, 2026
- Purchase of information technology and solutions company, 2023
- formation of LLC and sale of LLC interests for real estate development, 2021
- contested buyout of ownership interests in film production company, 2023
- water well sharing agreement and water license for limited water resources, 2022
- sale of assets in foreign business to newly formed LLCs and related real estate transfer, 2022
- Sale of medical practice, 2022
Pro bono / Community Service
- member of the California State University Channel Islands Martin V Smith School of Business & Economics Business Advisory Counsel, 2024
- volunteer for Hollywood Food Coalition, 2025
- on-going support to Make a Wish , 2026
- Community Advisory Counsel Women's Economic Ventures, 2019
- ongoing volunteer and supporter of SEEAG-Students for Eco Education and Agriculture, 2026
- ongoing volunteer and supporter of the Local Love Project Ventura County since 2017, 2026
- Guest speaker for National Association of Women Business Owners Ventura County, 2021
Educational Background
- graduated with high honors Eckerd College Double Major BA Environmental Studies/Earth Sciences and Political Science , 1985-1989
- Summa Cum Laude Santa Clara School of Law, 1991-1994
Other Outstanding Achievements
- founding member 2019 and continuing member of the League of Extraordinary Women- Womens Economic Ventures (WEV), 2026
Honors
- Women's Economic Ventures (WEV) is a nonprofit organization that has been dedicated to empowering women and minorities in Santa Barbara & Ventura Counties for the past 30 years. The Spirit of Entrepreneurship Awards are presented by WEV to celebrate and highlight the contributions of outstanding women business owner., Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award Professional Services, Women's Economic Ventures, 2020
- Best Ventura Business Lawyers, Expertise, 2026
- The report includes the region's top female leaders, including entrepreneurs, non-profit heads and those involved in public service., Top 50 Women in Business, Pacific Coast Business Times, 2019
- The highest peer rating standard. This is given to attorneys who are ranked at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal expertise, communication skills, and ethical standards by their peers. Ongoing since 2013., AV Preminent, Martindale-Hubbell, 2026
- The report includes the region's top female leaders, including entrepreneurs, non-profit heads and those involved in public service., Top 50 Women in Business, Pacific Coast Business Times, 2015
- The Pacific Coast Business Times recognizes the leading attorneys and certified public accountants in the Tri-Counties. They do not include in-house counsel or CFOs but do reach out to bar associations, CPA societies and prominent practitioners., who's who in professional services, Pacific Coast Business Times, 2023
Industry Groups
- Agriculture
- Commercial Real Estate
- Contracts
- General Business
- Manufacturing
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Professional Corporations
- Sales
- Water Rights
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2026
