When asked to describe Syeda Davidson, one of her first employers replied, “I think anyone can represent an ‘overdog,’ but it is not just anybody who can capably represent an underdog.” As illustrated by her career path, Syeda has made it her mission to live up to this description ever since. Syeda represented survivors of intimate partner violence at Lakeshore Legal Aid, and then spent seven years at The Sharp Firm, representing workers in employment discrimination cases. She joined the ACLU in 2020.
Syeda has a B.A. from the University of Michigan – Dearborn and is a cum laude graduate of Thomas M. Cooley Law School. Recognizing that advocacy is not limited to litigation, Syeda also serves on the Board of Directors for Affirmations, Detroit Together Men’s Chorus, and the Oakland County Bar Association. Additionally, she has served on the Board of Commissioners for the State Bar of Michigan, and was recently appointed to its Judicial Qualifications Committee. Syeda has written articles for multiple publications and served as a managing editor for the American Bar Association’s magazine, TYL. She is proud to have been recognized by a variety of organizations for not only her legal abilities, but also for her leadership, integrity, and commitment to pro bono work.