Akeel & Valentine, Plc

Managing Partner and lawyer Shereef 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. A highlight of Akeel’s career was finally obtaining justice with his legal team for the Iraqis who were tortured in the infamous Abu Ghraib prison after 20 years of litigation, where in 2024 a Virginia jury issued a $42 million verdict holding a multi-billion dollar corporation accountable for its war crimes. 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.