Raffi Melkonian

Raffi Melkonian

Houston, TX recognized lawyers icon Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2020
Wright Close Barger & Guzman

18 Best Lawyers awards

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Awarded Practice Areas

Appellate Practice Commercial Litigation

Biography

Raffi has broad experience in both trial and appellate matters nationwide. He has briefed and argued dozens of appeals in federal and state courts of appeals around the United States. Raffi also maintains an active practice in the United States Supreme Court, including both merits and amicus briefs. In 2019, Raffi briefed and argued Fort Bend v. Davis, where his client prevailed in a 9-0 decision written by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The Firm later successfully represented Ms. Davis in her jury trial on remand.

An elected member of the prestigious American Law Institute, Raffi is widely experienced. To take only a few examples, he has handled appeals in securities fraud litigation, corporate governance litigation, employment litigation, antitrust class actions, products liability class actions, insurance coverage disputes, partnership disputes, and intellectual property litigation. Raffi regularly litigates the most difficult and complex appellate cases.

Raffi tweets about appellate practice at @RMFifthcircuit. As Social Media Chair and council member of the State Bar of Texas’s Appellate Practice Section, he helps administer the Section’s twitter account @TexAppOrg. He is also the Chair-Elect of the Houston Bar Association’s Federal Practice Section. Raffi regularly speaks and writes about appeals in forums across Texas and the United States.

Wright Close Barger & Guzman

18 Best Lawyers awards

Wright Close Barger & Guzman logo

Overview

  • Harvard University, J.D., cum laude, graduated 2005
  • University of Cambridge, M.Phil, graduated 2002
  • University of St. Andrews, M.A., first class honours, graduated 2001

  • Texas, State Bar of Texas
  • New York, New York State Bar

  • American Law Institute, 2023-present - Elected Member
  • Armenian Bar Association - Member
  • Garland R. Walker American Inn of Court - Member
  • Houston Bar Association, Federal Practice Section - Chair-Elect
  • State Bar of Texas, Appellate Section - Co-Chair of Social Media

  • United States District Courts for the Eastern District of New York
  • United States District Courts for the Southern District of New York
  • Texas, State Bar of Texas
  • New York, New York State Bar
  • American Law Institute, 2023-present - Elected Member
  • Armenian Bar Association - Member
  • Garland R. Walker American Inn of Court - Member
  • Houston Bar Association, Federal Practice Section - Chair-Elect
  • State Bar of Texas, Appellate Section - Co-Chair of Social Media
  • Harvard University, J.D., cum laude, graduated 2005
  • University of Cambridge, M.Phil, graduated 2002
  • University of St. Andrews, M.A., first class honours, graduated 2001
  • United States District Courts for the Eastern District of New York
  • United States District Courts for the Southern District of New York

Client Testimonials

Awards & Focus

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Appellate Practice
  • Commercial Litigation
Awards:
  • Best Lawyers in America, Appellate Practice, 2020-2026
  • Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators, 2024-2026

  • Texas Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2017-2025

    • Top 100 Super Lawyers in Houston, 2020-2023
  • Texas Rising Stars by Thomson Reuters, 2016

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