Shereef H. Akeel

Shereef H. Akeel is one of the nation’s most respected civil rights and employment attorneys. Recognized among the Forbes Top 200 Lawyers in America (2024), Akeel has built his reputation on litigating complex, high-stakes cases that deliver justice for individuals harmed by powerful institutions. He has been named a Top 100 Trial Lawyer by the American Trial Lawyers Association (ATLA), Lawyer of the Year by Michigan Lawyers Weekly, and a Super Lawyer for 20 consecutive years in civil rights law. He is nationally ranked as a Tier One Civil Rights Lawyer by U.S. News & World Report.

Over his 28-year career, Akeel has handled some of the most consequential civil rights and employment cases in the country. He has led high-profile class actions involving age, race, and religious discrimination, secured million-dollar verdicts and settlements in both federal and state courts, and represented the wrongfully convicted in their pursuit of justice. Akeel is also a leading voice in False Claims Act (Qui Tam) litigation, advocating on behalf of whistleblowers exposing fraud against the U.S. government.

What sets Akeel apart is his unwavering commitment to using the law as a tool for systemic change. He has brought cases that not only secured justice for individuals—but changed policies, industries, and institutional behavior. Early in his career, he filed a landmark lawsuit under the Graham Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act after a defective pool drain led to the tragic death of a young child. The case sparked nationwide reforms, requiring dome-shaped drains in hotels, public pools, and fitness centers to prevent future tragedies.

In another case, Akeel sued a national department store after his client—wrongly suspected of shoplifting—was subjected to a cross-gender search. The lawsuit resulted in a corporate policy change requiring same-gender searches, safeguarding the dignity of future customers. He also challenged U.S. Customs and Border Protection for questioning travelers about their religious practices, ending the unconstitutional practice nationwide.

Akeel’s litigation against a major auto manufacturer over a forced-distribution performance evaluation system revealed a disparate impact on minority groups. As a result, the company abandoned the program. He successfully challenged a local police department’s policy of forcing a women to remove their hijabs during mug shots, leading to a revised procedure that now respects religious rights. In the financial sector, Akeel filed suit against a national bank accused of discriminatory targeting based on religion and ethnicity—resulting in the cessation of those practices.

Akeel’s impact extends internationally. He has led human rights class actions against corporate contractors accused of profiting from torture at Abu Ghraib and has played a central role in legal challenges to the federal no-fly list and invasive border interrogation protocols.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan, a J.D. from Detroit College of Law (now affiliated with Michigan State University), an M.B.A., and is a Certified Public Accountant. His unique combination of legal skill, financial insight, and moral clarity positions him as a powerful advocate in the fight for accountability and justice.

Currently, Akeel focuses his practice on employment law, civil rights, whistleblower protection, and personal injury—fighting tirelessly for individuals whose voices would otherwise go unheard.