Biography
Akeel has been recognized as a Top 100 Trial Lawyer by the American Trial Lawyers Association (ATLA), a Lawyer of the Year by the Michigan Lawyers Weekly, and a Super lawyer for 13 consecutive years in areas of civil rights, in addition to being nationally recognized by US News & World News Report as a Tier One Civil Rights lawyer.
Akeel has been involved in several high profile age and race employment class action discrimination cases. Akeel has, also, prosecuted several high profile False Claims Act (Qui Tam) suits representing whistleblowers who reported fraudulent conduct against the United States. Akeel has managed to obtain million dollar verdicts and settlements for his clients both in federal and state courts. Akeel, has, also been involved in several noteworthy class action lawsuits challenging the no-fly list, and interrogation procedures at the border and abroad. Akeel has, also, taken his work internationally in filing human rights class action lawsuits against corporate profiteers like Blackwater on behalf of victims, who were tortured in Abu Gharib, and elsewhere. Akeel has managed to obtain settlements and justice for many victims through litigation, and the art of mediation.
Akeel obtained his Bachelors Degree from the University of Michigan, graduated from Detroit College of Law in 1996 (which merged with Michigan State University). Akeel, also, has a CPA, and a Masters in Business Administration from Wayne State University. Currently, Akeel specializes in employment law, civil rights, and personal injury.
Education
- Michigan State University, Detroit College of Law, East Lansing, Michigan
- J.D. - 08/1996
- Honors: cum laude
- Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
- M.B.A. - 1992
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- B.A. - 1987
Classes & Seminars
- 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
- Lecturer, How to Negotiate Settlement Agreements Without a Mediator: All the Skills You Long Ago Forgot!, The Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Legal, 2008
- Lecturer, Mediation Best Practices, State Bar of Michigan, 2008
Representative Clients
- Abu Gharib Torture Victims
- Blackwater Shooting Victims
Past Positions
- Melamed, Dailey & Akeel, Partner/Founder, 1996 to 2004
- Michigan Basic Property Insurance, Account Supervisor, 1991 to 1995
Professional Associations
- State Bar of Michigan, Member, 1996
- American Association of Justice, Member
- Michigan Association of Justice , Member
Certified Legal Specialties
- Certified Public Accountant, State of Michigan, 1991
Current Employment Position
- Partner
Practice Areas
- Employment Law/Discrimination 50%
- Personal Injury/Civil Rights 50%
Bar Admissions
- 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
Honors
- Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the American Trial Lawyers Association. (ATLA)
- Super Lawyer in Civil Rights
- President's Award - Center for Constitutional Rights
- Defender of Freedom Award - ACLU
- ADC - Guardian of Justice
- American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
- Law and Politics Magazine, Michigan Super Lawyer
- Michigan Lawyers Weekly, Lawyer of the Year
- Guardian of Civil Rights - ADC