Melissa Proffitt

Melissa Proffitt is the Partner-in-Charge of Client Relations at the law firm of Ice Miller LLP. She also is the founder and Chair of the Food & Agribusiness Group and the founder of the Energy Group. She was the first female Managing Partner of the Firm, is a former Office Managing Partner and former chair of the Employee Benefits Group for over 20 years. In addition to practicing law, she is responsible for business development initiatives for the Firm. Melissa concentrates her practice in employee benefits and counsels regional and international clients on benefit issues.

Proffitt has received many awards and acknowledgements including being recognized in “Best Lawyers® in America,” 2006-2024, as an Indiana Super Lawyer from 2004-2024, recipient of Women in Law Award 2021-2024 from “Lawyer Monthly” and has received the Indiana Lawyer Distinguished Barrister Award, Indiana Historical Society’s Living Legends Award, the IBJ’s Indiana 250 Most Influential and Impact Leaders Award, among many other awards. She is an active participant in the Indiana Governor’s and Lieutenant Governor’s agricultural and economic trade missions and initiatives, having attended 17 trade missions to date. Melissa is active in politics at a community and a national level.

Melissa's current board appointments include the Chair to the Indy Chamber Foundation, Vice-Chair of the Indiana Black Expo, Vice-Chair of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, Star Financial Bank, Chair to the Indiana University Women’s Philanthropy Leadership Council, Indiana University Foundation, Ivy Tech Foundation, AgriNovus Board, Go Red for Women, Indiana Sports Corp, NBA 2024 All-Star Committee, Indianapolis Dean’s Council for the Kelley School of Business.

Melissa holds a bachelor’s degree, with distinction, from Indiana University. She received her juris doctor from the Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis.