Overview

Khalilah Spencer is a partner in the firm’s Litigation Department. Recognized as a Super Lawyer-Rising Star, she has significant and successful experience in several jury trials and arbitrations involving a wide variety of complex commercial, environmental tort and employment matters. She primarily represents public and private companies in various industries including automotive, financial services, telecommunications, and real estate. She also has significant pro bono experience in civil rights advocacy related to public education, voting rights, and election protection.

Khalilah also serves as Honigman’s Inclusion, Equity and Social Responsibility Partner. In that role, she serves as an ex-officio member of the firm’s Board of Directors, chairs the firm’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, and leads the firm’s women and minority recruitment and community outreach activities. Additionally, Khalilah is responsible for development and implementation of firm’s pro bono and social responsibility programs.

Services

Experience

Representative Matters

  • Represented automotive manufacturer in defense of potential class action by customer arising from alleged product defect
  • Defended several class actions alleging toxic tort claims arising from alleged emissions and contamination
  • Served as a second chair in several Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitrations, representing broker-dealer firms
  • Counseled and obtained judgment in favor of the employer in several ERISA matters
  • Represented City of Detroit mayoral candidate in election campaign and subsequent recount efforts
  • Represented automotive manufacturer in breach of contract claim against NASCAR driver

Prior Experience

  • Dickinson Wright, PLLC, Associate, 2002-2008

Credentials

Education

Admissions

Court Admissions

Recognition

Awards

  • The Best Lawyers in America, 2024-2025
    • Recognized in practice area of Commercial Litigation
  • NAACP Detroit Branch, Ida B. Wells Freedom & Justice Award, 2024
  • Named as one of the Michigan Chronicle’s Women of Excellence for 2021
  • Michigan Super Lawyers, Recognized as a Rising Star, 2014-2017
  • Legal Aid Defender Association, Pro Bono Spirit Award for Wayne County, 2013
  • FrontPage Detroit, FP40 under 40, 2012
  • Crain's Detroit Business, Notable Leader in DEI, 2023

Professional & Community Involvement

State Bar of Michigan

  • District H Character and Fitness Committee, 2011-present
  • Labor and Employment Section
  • Litigation Section

American Bar Association

  • Litigation Section

Detroit Bar Association 

Federal Bar Association 

Wolverine Bar Association

  • Minority Clerkship Committee, 2004-present

Women Lawyers Association of Michigan

  • Wayne Region, Executive Board Member, 2002-2004

Detroit Branch NAACP

  • Executive Committee, 2006-present
  • Legal Redress Committee, 2006-present
  • Detroit Youth Council, Co-advisor, 2006-present

Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion, “We Don’t Want Them: Race & Housing on Trial," Plaintiff’s Attorney, October 2009

PRO BONO

Possesses significant pro bono experience in civil rights advocacy involving public education, voting rights, and election protection

News & Insights

News

Events

  • Combating Unemployment Claims: Which Claims You Can and Can't Fight
    Event | |
  • Combating Unemployment Claims: Which Claims You Can and Can't Fight
    Event | |
  • Advanced Workplace Investigations
    Event | |
  • Demonstrative Evidence
    Event | |
  • Payroll Basics
    Event | |

Alerts

Publications

  • Michigan Voter Protection Laws in a Nutshell
    Publication | Advancement Project |
Jump to Page

Necessary Cookies

Necessary cookies enable core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility. You may disable these by changing your browser settings, but this may affect how the website functions.

Analytical Cookies

Analytical cookies help us improve our website by collecting and reporting information on its usage. We access and process information from these cookies at an aggregate level.