Melvin R. McVay, Jr. is a founding member of Phillips Murrah and serves as a Shareholder and Director in the Firm’s Oklahoma City office. Mel also previously served on the Firm’s Executive Committee and as the Chair of the Firm’s Litigation Practice Group. He is also a member of the Firm’s Commercial and Consumer Financial Services Practice Groups as well as the Natural Resources Group.

Mel has concentrated his practice in the litigation of complex business and commercial transactions. His practice covers a wide range of commercial and business litigation matters which regularly involve litigation relating to financial institutions, real estate, construction disputes, oil and gas, product liability, class actions and appellate advocacy. During his career, Mel has represented financial institutions and corporations in a variety of industries, in both state and federal courts, as well as in arbitration and administrative proceedings.

Mel has a Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™ rating and has been listed as a Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters for 13 years. He’s been named Lawyer of the Year in Oklahoma City by Best Lawyers® in Litigation – Bankruptcy (2014) and Litigation – Banking and Finance (2022). Mel is also listed on Best Lawyers® in the areas of Banking and Finance Law, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, and Insurance Law and for Litigation in the areas of Real Estate, Bankruptcy, Banking and Finance, and Commercial Litigation.

Mel is an active member in his community and has served on the Board of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority since 2009.

• University of Missouri (B.S.)
• University of Tulsa (M.B.A.; J.D.)

• Oklahoma Bar Association
• Oklahoma County Bar Association
• American Bar Association (Business Law, Employment Law & Litigation Sections)
• Oklahoma Association of Defense Counsel

• Representation of individuals and companies in business and commercial litigation cases and arbitration proceedings
• Represents numerous banks, including the nation’s second largest bank, as well as mortgage companies in both litigation and transactional matters. This has included representation involving foreclosures, lender liability claims, bankruptcy and regulatory disputes
• Represents the largest title company in the U.S. in various litigation cases
• Successfully litigated cases, in both state and federal court, involving foreclosures; class actions; mass tort liability; construction law; fraud; bad faith; RICO and oil and gas claims
• Represented numerous companies and individuals in bankruptcy and receivership proceedings in Oklahoma, Ohio, Texas, California, Massachusetts and New York
• Represented Fortune 500 Company in mass tort product liability cases
• Successfully defended commercial real estate developers regarding high-profile projects in various complex litigation matters
• Successfully represented professional sports team in a wide range of commercial litigation matters
• Represents one of America’s largest trailer manufacturers in both litigation and transactional matters

• Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™
• Best Lawyers®: Lawyer of the Year in OKC: Litigation – Banking and Finance (2022)
• Best Lawyers®: Antitrust Law (2026)
• Best Lawyers®: Product Liability Litigation – Defendants (2024-present)
• Best Lawyers®: Insurance Law (2021-present)
• Best Lawyers®: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law (2020-present)
• Best Lawyers®: Financial Services Regulation Law (2020-present)
• Best Lawyers®: Banking and Finance Law (2018-present)
• Best Lawyers®: Commercial Litigation (2011-present)
• Best Lawyers®: Litigation – Banking and Finance (2011-present)
• Best Lawyers®: Litigation – Bankruptcy (2011-present)
• Best Lawyers®: Litigation – Real Estate (2011-present)
• Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters: (2006-2014, 2016-present)
• Best Lawyers®: Lawyer of the Year in OKC: Litigation – Bankruptcy (2014)
• 405 Magazine Top Attorney in Banking And Financial (2023-present)