Rachel Melissa

Rachel Melissa

Of Counsel

503.802.5675
rachel.melissa@tonkon.com

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Services & Industries

Education

J.D., Order of the Coif, University of Oregon School of Law, 2004

B.A., cum laude, English, University of Puget Sound, 2000

Bar & Court Admissions

Oregon State Bar
U.S. District Court, District of Oregon

Overview

Rachel Melissa is a business attorney in Tonkon Torp’s Environmental & Natural Resources and Information Privacy & Security practice groups.

In her environmental practice, Rachel assists industrial and agricultural clients in matters relating to contaminated site cleanup, source control, and liability considerations. Her work has focused on the federally-managed Portland Harbor Superfund Site and other state-managed cleanup projects. In addition, Rachel has experience in a wide range of environmental enforcement and regulatory matters involving issues such as stormwater management, asbestos, and solid waste.

Rachel also has broad experience with data privacy law – both in the United States and the European Union. In her information privacy and security practice, she advises businesses on compliance with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (CCPA), and the many analogous state privacy laws coming into effect across the country. Rachel has particular expertise in drafting comprehensive privacy policies and advising data brokers of their regulatory and consumer responsibilities.

Rachel is known for her professionalism, communication, and thoughtful attention to detail. She has a unique interest in untangling complicated statutes and regulations and applying those laws in the context of real-world problems.

Rachel joined Tonkon Torp after nearly five years as Senior Counsel at Melissa Data Corporation, where she focused on data privacy, regulatory compliance, content drafting, and employment matters. Her experience also includes over a decade with Pearl Legal Group PC, a boutique environmental firm in Portland, and tenure as a litigation associate with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP in Washington, D.C. Immediately after law school, Rachel served two judicial clerkships – at the Oregon Court of Appeals and Lane County Circuit Court.

Outside of work, Rachel loves to read and talk about books and is a frequent attendee at the Portland Literary Arts lecture series. She plays clarinet and piano, enjoys live music, and travels internationally whenever the opportunity arises. When not spending time with her family, you might find Rachel tending her flower garden or working on her newest hobby – learning to watercolor.

Representative Work
Activities & Memberships

Community Involvement & Activities

The Jeremy Wilson Foundation
2020-Present, Board of Directors – President

Lake Oswego Sustainability Network
2022-Present, Advocacy Committee – Volunteer
2023-2024, Board of Directors – Member

Oregon Dog Rescue
2022, Volunteer


Professional Memberships

Multnomah Bar Association
Oregon Women Lawyers

Awards & Recognition
News & Publications

Rachel Melissa Joins Tonkon Torp Environmental & Information Privacy Practice Groups

Tonkon Torp LLP is happy to share that Rachel Melissa has joined its Business Department as an attorney in its Environmental & Natural Resources and Information Privacy & Security practice groups.

Oregon Polystyrene Ban Now in Effect

By Rachel Melissa – In 2023, the Oregon legislature passed Senate Bill 543, which bans many uses of polystyrene foam (commonly known by its brand name, Styrofoam) in the state. On January 1, 2025, that bill formally went into effect. The law has three primary targets: food vendors that package food into containers; entities that sell or distribute foam containers and packing peanuts; and entities that sell food containers containing added perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

Navigating Extended Producer Responsibility Laws: What Businesses Need to Know

By Rachel Melissa and Maureen Bayer – In an important development for the sustainability movement, Oregon and Colorado are implementing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws that shift the responsibility for managing packaging waste to the manufacturer. The overarching goal of these laws is to enhance the diversion of recyclable materials from landfills, ensure responsible recycling, and ease the financial burden on local communities.

Publications & Presentations

Comment, Oregon’s Response to the Impact of Domestic Violence on Children, 82 Oregon Law Review 1125, 2003