Photo of Sherrie L. Farrell

Sherrie L. Farrell Member

Sherrie L. Farrell is the Office Managing Member for the Firm's Detroit office, and Chair of the Firm's Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Ms. Farrell advises clients on all aspects of business disputes, including a broad range of complex litigation matters. She has significant experience serving as a National Coordinating Counsel. She serves as National Discovery Counsel for a Fortune 25 manufacturer in asbestos and other toxic tort litigation. Ms. Farrell also had the primary responsibility to develop and defend Fortune 25 corporate fact and expert witnesses in national tort litigation.

Ms. Farrell has been involved in successfully implementing strategies related to both discovery disputes and trial issues in numerous jurisdictions across the country.

Ms. Farrell’s extensive experience includes complex commercial and general business matters, and pharmaceutical litigation. She also has represented manufacturers, closely-held corporations, auto suppliers and construction companies in both litigated and non-litigated commercial matters.

Ms. Farrell has significant experience in corporate bankruptcy matters and business restructuring. She has represented troubled suppliers, staffing corporations, construction companies and other regional and national businesses in creditors’ rights matters, out-of-court restructurings and as debtors’ and creditors’ counsel in bankruptcy proceedings. She also has represented financial institutions in matters involving breach of contract, loan workouts, and UCC issues.

Ms. Farrell has a breadth of experience in leading document and information investigations. She has worked extensively with corporate counsel to develop and implement discovery strategies.

In addition to providing legal counsel, she provides counsel to area businesses on regional government and public policy issues and has experience serving the City of Detroit during three different mayoral administrations.

Prior to joining Dykema, Ms. Farrell was a journalist and public relations practitioner.

Ms. Farrell recently was featured in Law360's Minority Powerbrokers series. She also was named a Michigan Chronicle 2015 Woman of Excellence. She has been recognized as a Michigan Super Lawyer since 2014 and named in The Best Lawyers in America© for Commercial Litigation since 2013.

  • Women of Color and Diversity and Inclusion at Firms and In Corporations: Working Group to Develop Solutions for 2017, Corporate Counsel Women of Color 12th Annual Career Strategies Conference, Las Vegas, NV
    September 21, 2016
  • Protect and Defend—Cybersecurity and Data Privacy, The Detroit Chapter of the Society of Corporate Secretaries and Governance Professionals
    February 5, 2015
  • Managing a Data Breach, Panelist, Corporate Counsel Women of Color
    October 2014
  • Litigation Management: Thinking Outside the Box, Panelist, Network of Trial Law Firms
    August 2014
  • Who's Minding Your Supply Chain? Network of Trial Law Firms—Cybersecurity Panel
    April 24, 2014
  • Data Privacy—Is Your Company Prepared?, Panelist, Network of Trial Law Firms
    April 2014
  • Maintaining Momentum for Diversity and Inclusion: Perspectives from the General Counsel's Office, Dykema
    September 2013
  • Top Ten Litigation Risk Assessment Tips for 2013, Speaker, Network of Trial Law Firms
    November 2012
  • Ethics Panel Discussion: Crisis Management For In-House Counsel, Network of Trial Law Firms (Panel Member)
    2011
  • Platinum in the Profession, State Bar of Michigan, Young Lawyers Division (Panel Member)
    2010
  • The Role of National Coordinating Counsel, American Bar Association, Women in Transportation and Emerging Issues in Motor Vehicle Product Liability Seminar (Panel Member)
    2007
  • Freedom of Expression on the Air, American Bar Association, Emerging Issues in Motor Vehicle Product Liability Program
    April 2007
  • Managing Business Risks: How to Utilize Insurance Vehicles to Minimize Business Exposures, Privately-Owned Business Seminar
    June 2006
  • The Art of Working with Outside Counsel-Partnering to Deliver Quality Legal Services, American Bar Association, Emerging Issues in Motor Vehicle Product Liability Program
    April 2006

Memberships & Involvement

  • American Bar Association
  • Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association
  • Federal Bar Association
  • National Bar Association
  • Wolverine Bar Association, President, 2008-2009
  • Women's Lawyers Association of Michigan, President, 2000-2001
  • State Bar of Michigan Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee, 2010-present.

Community/Civic Activities

  • Gift of Life-Michigan Governing Board, Board Member, 2011-present
  • Legal Aid and Defender Association, Inc., Board of Directors, Member, 2010
  • Advisory Board of Minority Organ Tissue Transplant Education Program (MOTTEP) of Detroit, Member
  • Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Detroit, Class XVIII, Member
  • Wayne State University, Board of Visitors, Member
  • University of Detroit Mercy Law School, Inns of American Court, Barrister
  • Black Family Development, Inc., Board Member
  • Just the Beginning Foundation, Mentor, Legal Profession Diversity Pipeline Program

Recipient of the D. Augustus Straker Bar Association Trailblazer Award for 2016

Named a Michigan Chronicle 2015 Women of Excellence Honoree

Named to Lawyers of Color's Inaugural Nation's Best List, 2019

Named to Savoy Magazine's Most Influential Black Lawyers list, 2015 & 2018

Recognized in Michigan Super Lawyers® for Business Litigation, Business/Corporate Law, and Bankruptcy, 2014-Present

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Commercial Litigation; Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 2013-Present. Copyright 2015 by Woodward/White, Inc., Aiken, SC.

Named a Top Lawyer by dbusiness Magazine for Commercial Litigation, 2015

2012 Wolverine Bar Association President's Award  for promotion of diversity in the legal profession

2011 Robert Millender Visionary Award, Michigan State College of Law, Black Law Students' Association

2005 Honorary Alumni of the Year, Wayne State University School of Law

1995 Regional Winner, Top Oralist, National Association of Trial Lawyers, National Oral Advocacy Competition