Shereef 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 fortune 500 company 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. Awards and Honors Super Lawyers® Selectees Shereef Akeel included in a Super Lawyers® list Honors Forbes America’s top 200 lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the American Trial Lawyers Association. (ATLA), 2010 - 2012 Super Lawyer in Civil Rights, 2006 - 2022 President's Award - Center for Constitutional Rights, 2006 - Present Defender of Freedom Award - ACLU, 2005 - Present ADC - Guardian of Justice, 2006 American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), April 3, 2005 Law and Politics Magazine, Michigan Super Lawyer, 2006 - 2014 Michigan Lawyers Weekly, Lawyer of the Year, 2004 Guardian of Civil Rights - ADC, 2006 - Present Other Sources of Feedback About Shereef Akeel Included on the 2026Michigan Super Lawyers list Past Lists 2025 Michigan Super Lawyers list 2024 Michigan Super Lawyers list 2023 Michigan Super Lawyers list 2022 Michigan Super Lawyers list 2021 Michigan Super Lawyers list 2020 Michigan Super Lawyers list 2019 Michigan Super Lawyers list 2018 Michigan Super Lawyers list 2017 Michigan Super Lawyers list 2016 Michigan Super Lawyers list 2015 Michigan Super Lawyers list 2014 Michigan Super Lawyers list 2013 Michigan Super Lawyers list 2012 Michigan Super Lawyers list 2011 Michigan Super Lawyers list 2010 Michigan Super Lawyers list 2009 Michigan Super Lawyers list 2008 Michigan Super Lawyers list 2007 Michigan Super Lawyers list 2006 Michigan Super Lawyers list

• Partner

• Melamed, Dailey & Akeel, Partner/Founder, 1996 - 2004
• Michigan Basic Property Insurance, Account Supervisor, 1991 - 1995

• Speaker, Labor and Employment Law Section, Michigan State Bar
• Speaker, Labor and Employment Law Institute, ICLE
• Speaker, Annual Conference (Civil Rights Laws, Locally and Nationally), The Michigan Association of Justice
• Lecturer, 34th Annual Labor & Employment law Institute, Lecturer, Managing Religious and Cultural Differences in the Work Place, Institute Continued Legal Education, Law, 2009 - Present
• Lecturer, How to Negotiate Settlement Agreements Without a Mediator: All the Skills You Long Ago Forgot!, The Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Legal, 2008 - Present
• Lecturer, Mediation Best Practices, State Bar of Michigan, 2008 - Present
• Representative Clients
• Abu Gharib Torture Victims
• Blackwater Shooting Victims

• Michigan, 1996
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan, 1996
• U.S. District Court Western District of Michigan, 1996
• U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 2005
• U.S. Supreme Court, 2007
• U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 2025
• Specialties and Certifications
• Certified Public Accountant, State of Michigan, 1991

• State Bar of Michigan, 1996 - Present (Member)
• American Association of Justice (Member)
• Michigan Association of Justice (Member)