Calyssa Zellars is an experienced crisis management attorney and public relations professional. Before co-founding Saint Park, Calyssa crafted strategy and managed crisis communications for municipalities, businesses, law firms, and non-profit organizations facing high-stakes publicity and reputational issues at a top-ranked New York-based public relations and communications firm.

Calyssa began her public relations career with the Detroit Lions, conducting media outreach for the team’s internal business units, corporate sponsors, and the inaugural Quick Lane College Bowl game. Prior to her corporate communications role, Calyssa worked in marketing for the Detroit Lions through Challenge Detroit, an urban revitalization fellowship.  

Calyssa has practiced law in both litigation and transactional roles. As Chief Counsel for Impact Litigation at the Decarceration Collective, she practiced in federal courts around the country winning freedom for incarcerated individuals serving life in prison for nonviolent drug offenses. As a corporate attorney, Calyssa advised private equity funds in the IT, energy, construction, and healthcare sectors, on buy-side mergers and acquisitions transactions at one of the largest Midwest-based law firms.

She enjoys writing and conducting historical research for her platform @LouisHiltonStories, reading, cheering on her Heels, and spending time with her husband and mini golden doodle.

Calyssa Zellars

Co-Managing Partner & Head of Crisis Management Practice

czellars@saintparklaw.com

(313) 230-4557

  • Chair, Black Law Students Association

    Alden J. Butch Scholarship Award

    Intern, Honorable Gershwin Drain at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

    Dykema Gossett Diversity Scholarship

    Student Supervising Attorney, Community and Economic Development Clinic

  • Journalism and Spanish minors

    Kathy A. Arnold Taft Award for Leadership in Education Policy

    Universidad de Sevilla, Study Abroad Fall 2011

Education

  • Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals

    Central District of Illinois

    Eastern District of Wisconsin

  • Michigan

Admissions

Representative Matters

Crisis Management and Public Relations

  • Provided ongoing crisis response and support for high-profile prosecutors receiving pushback from political opponents. 

  • Crafted crisis strategy and performed ongoing crisis management for a large city’s public works department.

  • Conducted a crisis audit and developed a crisis plan for a major health foundation. 

  • Generated a strategic communications strategy for sports philanthropy initiatives that forged partnerships with community-based organizations dedicated to sustainable health and wellness in Detroit. 

  • Drafted a crisis plan and proactive and reactive messaging regarding the acceptance of foreign investment into a major sports group.

  • Published thought leadership op-eds in major publications across the technology, legal, and sports sectors. 

  • Drafted an op-ed placed in a national publication for a diversity-focused non-profit following a race-related mass shooting. 

  • Crafted a strategic communications plan for a diversity-focused legal organization, including messaging pillars, speaking engagements, proactive pitching, desksides, thought leadership programming, newsjacking opportunities, strategic partnerships, communications to their board and stakeholders, press releases, and media advisories. 

  • Conducted media outreach, writing press releases, and pitched editorial opportunities to meet the communication needs of the Detroit Lions’ internal business units and corporate sponsors.