Amanda M Ghannam

Amanda M Ghannam

Detroit Civil Rights/Employment Attorney
  • Employment Law, Civil Rights, Education Law
  • Michigan
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Biography

Amanda M. Ghannam is a Detroit-based attorney representing workers in employment disputes, whistleblowers, survivors of sexual abuse, and victims of police misconduct in negotiations and lawsuits in state and federal court. Amanda specializes in advocacy for clients experiencing discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in the workplace. She has secured numerous settlements for clients who were wrongfully terminated and has a record of success defending employees accused of breaching non-competition agreements.

Amanda also has years of experience representing victims and survivors of sexual assault, abuse, and harassment, including with cases involving former Olympic sports doctor Larry Nassar. Amanda approaches her cases with a combination of expertise, compassion, and fierce advocacy to help her clients obtain not just compensation, but accountability and closure.

In 2020, Amanda and her co-counsel obtained a historic federal restraining order injunction prohibiting the Detroit Police Department from using excessive force against Black Lives Matter protestors. The case, Detroit Will Breathe, et al. v. City of Detroit, et al., resulted in a $1.03-million-dollar judgment in favor of Amanda's clients.

Amanda earned her Juris Doctor with a specialization in Labor, Work, and Income from Northeastern University School of Law in Boston, Massachusetts. During her time at Northeastern, she worked at the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, interned for the Eastern District of Michigan's Honorable Victoria Roberts, and clerked at two Boston labor and employment firms. Amanda joined NachtLaw in 2018 and manages the firm's Detroit office.

Education
Northeastern University School of Law
J.D. (2018) | Labor, Work, and Income
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Honors: Full Tuition Merit Scholarship
Activities: Texas Young Lawyers Association National Trial Competition Student Bar Association Teaching Assistant to Professor Jessica Silbey (Constitutional Law) Research Assistant to Professor Margaret Russell
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Professional Experience
Attorney
NachtLaw, P.C.
- Current
Attorney specializing in plaintiff-side employment and civil rights litigation.
Law Clerk
Hirsch Roberts Weinstein LLP
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- Researched and wrote legal memoranda regarding issues arising in management-side employment practice (including cutting-edge noncompete and trade secret issues; employer background check and equal opportunity employment policies; anti-harassment training guidelines; and wage-and-hour claims). - Attended and presented at client trainings and seminars. - Wrote motions in Superior Court proceedings. - Wrote position statements in state agency proceedings.
Law Clerk
Sandulli Grace, P.C.
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- Researched and wrote legal memoranda on issues arising in union-side labor and employment law, including race discrimination, sexual harassment, accommodation of disabled employees, arbitration of employee discipline, collective bargaining, and constitutionality of agency fees, public employee retirement, FMLA leave, and more. - Attended labor arbitrations, agency proceedings, and contract negotiations. - Wrote motions in state agency proceedings and post-hearing arbitration briefs.
Judicial Intern to Judge Victoria A. Roberts
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
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- Researched a wide range of legal issues arising at the federal trial level, including intellectual property, First Amendment gender discrimination, First Amendment retaliation, and garnishment of wages as restitution in criminal cases. - Wrote legal memoranda and drafted judicial opinions, including rulings on motions in limine during trial. - Edited jury instructions and helped negotiate agreements between parties on jury instructions & verdict forms pre-trial. - Observed court proceedings including motion and plea hearings, sentencings, and trials.
Legal Intern
Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination
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- Interviewed complainants and filed lawsuits under Massachusetts state anti-discrimination laws. - Investigated active employment discrimination cases by requesting information from complainants, respondents, and attorneys, reviewing all the evidence, and deciding whether each case met the standard for a probable cause finding. - Wrote investigative dispositions after concluding investigations. - Researched and drafted legal memoranda on novel legal issues.
Professional Associations
National Arab American Bar Association
Current
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State Bar of Michigan  # P83065
Member
Current
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Women Lawyers Association of Michigan
Member
- Current
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Michigan Association for Justice
Member
- Current
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National Employment Lawyers Association
Member
- Current
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Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Michigan
State Bar of Michigan
ID Number: P83065
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Federal District Court for the Central District of Illinois
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Federal District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
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Federal District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
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Practice Areas
    Employment Law
    Employment Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, Whistleblower, Wrongful Termination
    Civil Rights
    Discrimination, Employment, Police Misconduct
    Education Law
Languages
  • English
Social Media
Websites & Blogs
Website
Contact & Map
Nacht & Roumel, P.C.
Detroit
2921 E Jefferson Ave
Suite 102
Detroit, MI 48207
Telephone: (734) 663-7550
Nacht & Roumel, P.C.
101 North Main Street
Suite 555
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Telephone: (734) 663-7550