Service Areas

Education

University of California, Hastings College of Law, J.D.
Northwestern University, B.M.

Bar Admissions

Michigan

Frederick A. Acomb

Principal

acomb@millercanfield.com

Detroit
T: +1.313.496.7607
O: +1.313.963.6420
F: +1.313.496.8454

Chair, International Dispute Resolution Section

Fred Acomb handles complex commercial litigation and international arbitration matters for clients from all over the world. He's arbitrated to conclusion bet-the-company matters in the United States and abroad. His work has taken him around the world, from Kuwait City to the Isle of Jersey. Clients benefit from his prior leadership and experience as counsel to Miller Canfield, loss prevention partner, and Chair of the firm's professional ethics committee.

"Good lawyers are relentlessly creative on behalf of their clients."
Frederick A. Acomb

Experience

Lead defense counsel in international dispute over rights in the largest reserve of brown coal in the world.

Obtained no-cause in bet-the-company IP licensing dispute in the London Court of International Arbitration.

Obtained defense summary judgment in case that put at risk the state's stock of housing for persons of low and moderate income and where the ultimate issue was ownership of over $350 million in reserve funds.

Obtained state supreme court opinion that expanded the jurisdiction of the state's court of claims and overruled two of the supreme court’s prior decisions.

Professional Activities

American Bar Association, International Law and Practice Section
International Bar Association
State Bar of Michigan, International Section
Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association
Oakland County Bar Association, Fellow, 2010-present

Honors + Awards

Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation 2010-present; Litigation-Intellectual Property 2012
DBusiness Magazine, Top Lawyers, Business Litigation 2011
Martindale-Hubbell AV® Peer Review Rated
Who’s Who in American Law
Who’s Who in America
Who’s Who in the World

Civic, Cultural + Social Activities

Detroit Central City Community Mental Health, Director 2006-2009; Advisory Board, 2005-2006; Director, 2003-2005; Co-chair, Capital Campaign Committee, 2003-2005
Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival, Co-chair, Preview Party & Benefit Auction, 2002
20-30 Club, Trustee, 1995-1997
Kaleidoscope Concerts, Director, 1993-1997
Fanclub Foundation for the Arts, Trustee, 1995-1996

Publications

"There are 'Answers' to be found via foreign anti-suit injunctions," (Co-Author), Michigan Lawyers Weekly, October 17, 2011

“Discovery in the United States in Aid of International Arbitration,” (Co-Author), Michigan Bar Association, The Litigation Newsletter, Winter 2011

"Dispute Resolution in Michigan: Getting the Deal Through-Dispute Resolution 2011," (Co-Author), Global Arbitration Review, Law Business Research Ltd., official research partner of the International Bar Association, 2009, 2010, 2011

"Dealer/Sales Representative Termination," Michigan Causes of Action Formbook, 2010-2011

New Michigan Sales Commission Statute," (Co-Author), ICLE Materials, 1998

"New Michigan Sales Representative Statute," (Co-Author), 73 Mich. B.J. 208, February. 1994

"Michigan Sales Representative Statute Imposes Stiff Penalties on Manufacturers," (Co-Author Larry J. Saylor), Enterprise Magazine, (November 1994

"Multi-State 23(B)(3) Class Actions Premised Exclusively on Diversity of Citizenship: A Case against Circumventing Federal Subject Matter Jurisdiction Requirements," (Co-Author), 41 F.I.C.C. Quarterly 2, 1991

Speeches

"Pathways to Employment in International Law," (Co-Panelist), Michigan State University College of Law, sponsored by International Section of the American Bar Association, October 20, 2011

"Law Firm Risk Management," International Bar Association, Annual Litigation Forum, Krakow, Poland, May 19, 2011

"U.S. Discovery in Aid of International Arbitration," (Co-Author), Nuts & Bolts of International Commercial Arbitration, sponsored by University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, International Law Section, and State Bar of Michigan Alternative Dispute Resolution Section, April 14, 2011

“Doing Business with Germans,” CLF/Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce seminar, 2001

“Doing Business in the United States,” seminar series in Baden Wuertemburg, Germany, 1999-2000

“Drafting Sales Representative, Agency and Distributor Agreements,” ICLE seminar, 1998