For more than three decades, Frederick D. Elias has helped clients solve complex business disputes, navigate sensitive employment matters, minimize risk, and protect their businesses and reputations. Fred believes the best legal victory is the one that never requires litigation. He works closely with business owners, executives, and in-house counsel to identify potential issues before they become costly disputes. When an amicable resolution is no longer possible, clients rely on Fred’s experience as a skilled litigator who is prepared to vigorously protect their interests.

Fred’s practice focuses on Commercial Litigation, Construction Litigation, and Labor & Employment Law. He represents clients across a broad range of industries, including financial services, construction, land development, manufacturing, health care, hospitality, advertising, food distribution, and technology.

His commercial litigation experience includes contract disputes, shareholder disputes, breach of fiduciary duty claims, business torts, intellectual property disputes, and defamation claims. In the construction arena, Fred drafts and negotiates construction agreements and represents clients in contract and warranty claims, lien foreclosure actions, and zoning disputes. He also advises employers on a wide range of labor and employment matters, including employment agreements, employee handbooks, restrictive covenants, wage and hour compliance, civil rights issues, and workplace litigation.

Throughout his career, Fred has achieved significant results for his clients, including securing a $1.8 million trial verdict in a construction contract dispute against a municipality, successfully defending a developer against $17 million in copyright and Lanham Act claims, obtaining dismissal of a $10 million partnership dispute, preserving a $10 million commercial and residential development through successful zoning litigation, defending employers in high-stakes discrimination and employment matters, and obtaining substantial recoveries in employment-related litigation.

Fred’s dedication to his clients and the legal profession has earned him Martindale-Hubbell’s AV Preeminent® rating and consistent recognition as a Michigan Super Lawyer. He is also a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum®, an honor reserved for trial lawyers who have achieved verdicts or settlements of $1 million or more.

Outside the office, Fred enjoys spending time with his brilliant wife, Jane, their endlessly entertaining twins, Jason and Rebecca, and the undisputed apex predator of the family backyard—Remy, their 11½-pound Coton de Tulear, also known as the Royal Dog of Madagascar.