Michelle C. Harrell

Summary Michelle Harrell is a litigation attorney and strategic legal consultant. During her 30+ years in practice in Michigan state and several federal courts. Michelles experience ranges from multimillion-dollar disputes among multi-national corporations to neighbors involved in boundary-line disputes to trust beneficiaries claims to an estate and everything in-between. Client goals are always the priority. Because often the best result for the client is to avoid the expense and burden of litigation, she has counseled clients how to avoid litigation or to creatively and quickly resolve disputes. Michelle has served as a court appointed receiver (in commercial litigation and family/domestic matters) and represented other receivers in fulfilling their role, seeking court approvals, and strategizing and defending against claims. Michelle serves as a AAA/ICDR-appointed and privately-retained arbitrator and mediator in complex commercial, construction, real estate, employment and domestic relations/trust matters. Michelle earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting, summa cum laude, from the University of Detroit in 1990 and a Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Wayne State University Law School in 1993, along with several awards for first-in-class. Michelle was appointed to the State Bar of Michigan Alternative Dispute Resolution Council in 2023. Michelle is the Treasurer of the State Bar of Michigan, Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, and a member of its Executive Committee. Michelle 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). Michelle has served as the Chair of the State Bar of Michigan, U. S. Courts Committee. Michelle also served a member of the Planning Commission for the City of Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan. Featured Podcast Episode The Litigation War Room - Episode 26: Real Estate Litigation with Michelle Harrell LISTEN HERE The Litigation War Room - Episode 26: Real Estate Litigation with Michelle Harrell LISTEN HERE The Litigation War Room - Episode 26: Real Estate Litigation with Michelle Harrell LISTEN HERE Awards Honoree, Best Lawyers in America , Land Use and Zoning Law (2025 - present), Litigation - Construction (2026) Recipient, Michigan Top Verdicts & Settlements (2018) Honoree, Notable Women Lawyers, Crains Detroit Business (2017) Recipient, Rated AV Preeminent, Martindale Hubbell, (2007 - present) Honoree, Top Lawyers, Litigation, Real Estate, DBusiness (2010) Honoree, Michigan Super Lawyers, (2018 - 2023) Honoree, Leading Lawyers (2015 - present) All Service Areas All Practices Commercial Litigation All Industries Construction Franchise and Distribution