Heidi Sharp’s practice concentrates on employment law and civil rights violations. The core of Heidi’s practice is her work with individuals.  Persons who others have turned down or turned away. Be it because their case is too difficult or others didn’t find them ‘worthy enough’ for representation because of their station in life. Heidi understands that each persons’ plight is personal and difficult for them, and gives each the same common respect.  Her experience includes claims – in the courtroom and out, often settled discreetly and quickly –  involving whistleblowing, wage and hour laws, FMLA violations, equal pay violations, sex, race, disability, accommodations, national origin, pregnancy, or age discrimination and harassment, contract violations, and severance negotiations. She also brought numerous cases against public entities, from municipalities, police departments, and the State of Michigan, refusing to allow intimidation to prevent her clients from seeking the truth.

Heidi’s work has provided significant guidance to other attorneys, with opinions handed down from the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals on important issues such as FMLA, forced arbitration, accommodations, and damages. Heidi has appeared in numerous appellate Courts and administrative agencies, including the EEOC, unemployment insurance agency, Michigan Department of Civil Rights, Michigan Employment Relations Commission, and the Michigan Tax Tribunal. Heidi has also successfully assisted many federal employees through the EEOC process or with the Merit Systems Protection Board. Heidi has extensive experience in Michigan Tax Tribunal claims and School litigation, having represented both parents and school systems for many years with various civil rights issues including Special Education, teacher contracts, FOIA, students’ rights and the Open Meetings Act.

Heidi’s leadership in the field has been the basis for her selection as the Chairwoman of the Macomb County Labor and Employment Committee and as a member of the State Bar of Michigan, Labor and Employment Council, among other honors. Significantly, in 2016 Heidi was named to the Michigan Lawyers Weekly “Women in the Law Class of 2016”.

Heidi earned a BA from Western Michigan University, Magna Cum Laude and a Juris Doctor from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law where she was the Editor of “In Brief”.

Heidi is extremely active in the Community and currently sits as the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of the Macomb County Habitat for Humanity and is an annual judge at the Michigan High School Moot Court Competition, among various other activities.

EDUCATION

Western University Michigan – Bachelor of Arts – Magna Cum Laude (2002)
University of Detroit Mercy School of Law – Juris Doctor (2006)

AREAS OF PRACTICE

Labor & Employment Law
Civil Rights
Real Estate
Small Business Services

HONORS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS

2023 Lawdragon 500 Leading Civil Rights & Plaintiff Employment Lawyers
Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Employment & Civil Rights Lawyers (2021)
Selected to “Super Lawyers” (2017-2022)
Spirit Award from Macomb County Habitat for Humanity, for high standards of leadership and genuine support to Macomb County Habitat for Humanity (2018)
Women in the Law Class of 2016 by Michigan Lawyers Weekly
“AV” Preeeminent^® Martindale Hubbell Rating
“Rising Star” as listed in “Super Lawyers” (2011-2015)
Macomb County Habitat for Humanity “Volunteer of the Year”, Special Tribute by Governor Rick Snyder (2015)
Service Award for Recognition to the Law School Community (2006) Presented at University of Detroit Mercy School of Law
Michigan Press Association Foundation Award Scholarship (2002)
Finalist, G Mennen Williams Moot Court Competition (2004)
Recipient, Cavanagh Scholarship (2/3 tuition, based on academic achievement)
WMU Medallion Honors Scholar (1999-2002)
National Honor Society Essay Scholar (1999)

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & ACTIVITIES

Macomb Bar Association – Labor & Employment Chair (2012-current)
Habitat for Humanity – Vice President (2014)
Habitat for Humanity – Secretary (2013)
Habitat for Humanity – Board of Directors (2012)
Michigan Association for Justice
Labor & Employment Committee
Federal Bar Association
Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity
Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity

SPEAKING

ICLE Contributor/Faculty Member since 2017

• Labor & Employment Law Institute, Faculty, “Equal Employment Opportunity Case Law Update”, 2017- present
• “Forum Selection in Employment Cases” OnDemand Seminar
• Trial Notebook Seminar, “Motions in Limine”
• “Harassment Claims” OnDemand Seminar
• “Vaccines in the Workplace”, OnDemand Seminar

ABA “Legal Traps Associated with Affinity Groups” 2018, Washington D.C.

• ABA Journal of Labor & Employment Law, Volume 33, Number 3, Fall 2018

“Negotiating and Drafting Settlement Agreements”

• for ACC- Michigan Chapter, 2015