MICHELLE C. HARRELL is an experienced litigator, shareholder and Chair of the firm's Complex Litigation and Risk Advisory Practice Group. Ms. Harrell concentrates her practice in the areas of complex commercial litigation, real estate matters (land use/zoning, easements, landlord/tenant), shareholder disputes, receiverships, franchise and distribution law, hospitality law, family law (divorce and probate), trust disputes (trustees and beneficiaries), class actions defense and Alternative Dispute Resolutions (ADR). She was also named a DBusiness Top Lawyer for 2010 in the areas of Real Estate and Litigation.
Ms. Harrell received her Bachelor of Science degree in accounting, summa cum laude, from the University of Detroit in 1990 and her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Wayne State University Law School in 1993. While at Wayne State, she participated in moot court competitions and received three American Jurisprudence Awards. Ms. Harrell is a Barrister Emeritus in the American Inn of Court, Oakland County Chapter, a Mentor in the Oakland County Bar Association Mentor Program and an Oakland County Circuit Court Case Evaluator (Complex Commercial Neutral). Ms. Harrell is an approved ADR provider for Macomb County (Family Matters, Probate) and Oakland County (Civil/Commercial, Probate, District Court).
Ms. Harrell authored the article "Caveat Receiver: Practical Tips for Appointing or Serving as a Receiver" for the Michigan Bar Journal. Her receivership expertise was the focus of the Michigan Lawyer's Weekly article, "Putting the Stress in Distressed" while several of her litigation matters were featured in the Crain's Detroit Business story "A&P Stops Paying Rent on Farmer Jack's Spaces: 24 Lawsuits Filed." As of January 1, 2014, Ms. Harrell was appointed by the Mayor of Grosse Pointe Woods to the city's Planning Commission for a three-year term. On October 3, 2014, she was appointed to the Board of Directors of Living Arts. She is also an active member of the Hydrocephalus Association, Michigan Chapter.