Court-approved attorney hourly rates: District Court, E.D. Michigan
33 approved rates from 16 fee rulings since October 20, 2024. Latest ruling Nov 19, 2025. Data as of October 20, 2026.
| Role | Median | Middle half | Range | Rates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Partner | $500 | $225 to $795 | 5 | |
| Attorney | $355 | $255 to $450 | $225 to $710 | 21 |
Approved rates by year
| Year | Partner | Associate | Paralegal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $500 (5) |
Median approved rate by the year of the ruling (number of rates in brackets). A year shows a median at 5 or more rates. Not adjusted for inflation.
Attorney rates by years of experience
| Experience | Median | Middle half | Rates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-19 years | $488 | 6 |
Only rates where the opinion states the attorney's years of experience.
The court approved a lower rate than requested for 7 of 33 timekeepers (21%), by a median 26.9%.
Cite these rates
$500/hr
In E.D. Michigan fee rulings since October 20, 2024, the median court-approved partner rate was $500 an hour (5 rates).
$355/hr
In E.D. Michigan fee rulings since October 20, 2024, the median court-approved attorney rate was $355 an hour (21 rates).
Copy these rulings as citations
Recent E.D. Michigan rulings with the rates they approved, formatted for a fee petition. Check each ruling before citing it.
Pipefitters Local 636 Defined Benefit Pension Fund v. K & S Mechanical Services, LLC, No. 2:25-cv-10536 (E.D. Mich. Nov. 19, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $225 for a partner; $200 for an associate); MCPHERSON v. Suburban Ann Arbor, LLC, No. 2:20-cv-13152 (E.D. Mich. Oct. 29, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $450 for an attorney); Minchella v. Brantley, No. 2:24-cv-12680 (E.D. Mich. Oct. 21, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $375 for an attorney with 15 years' experience); Poplar v. Genesee County Road Commission, No. 2:21-cv-12568 (E.D. Mich. Sept. 26, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $475 for an attorney with 13 years' experience; $250 for an attorney; $450 for an attorney with 26 years' experience); K.B. by mother, Next Friend, and guardian T.B. v. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, No. 1:18-cv-11795 (E.D. Mich. Aug. 28, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $795 for a partner; $225 for an attorney); Poplar v. Genesee County Road Commission, No. 2:21-cv-12568 (E.D. Mich. Aug. 26, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $475 for an attorney with 13 years' experience; $250 for an attorney; $450 for an attorney with 26 years' experience); Bennett v. Amazon.Com Services, Inc., No. 2:23-cv-11070 (E.D. Mich. Aug. 26, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $350 for an attorney; $575 for an attorney with 14 years' experience); Breeze Smoke, LLC v. Speed Wholesale, Inc, No. 4:25-cv-10184 (E.D. Mich. Aug. 8, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $550 for a partner with 16 years' experience); Miller v. Corby Energy Services Inc., No. 5:24-cv-12354 (E.D. Mich. July 17, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $240 for an attorney; $280 for a partner; $120 for a paralegal); Dorman v. Clinton, Township of, No. 2:15-cv-12552 (E.D. Mich. July 15, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $255 for an attorney); Brown v. MGM Grand Casino, No. 2:22-cv-12978 (E.D. Mich. June 25, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $500 for a partner with 15 years' experience; $300 for an associate with 4 years' experience; $400 for an associate with 7 years' experience); Latifa & Halal Kitchen, LLC v. Harouf Corp, No. 2:23-cv-12779 (E.D. Mich. Apr. 14, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $350 for an attorney; $100 for a paralegal).
Rulings
Rates turn on experience, practice area, and the work done. Use these as a starting point and cite the rulings, not this page, in a fee petition.
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Pipefitters Local 636 Defined Benefit Pension Fund et al v. K & S Mechanical Services, LLC et al
Nov 19, 2025 · ERISA benefits
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner $225 $225 Associate $200 $200 The court's words
17.25 hours were spent working on this litigation at the hourly rate of $225 per hour (for partners) and 0.7 hours were spent at the hourly rate of $200 per hour (for associates)
17.25 hours were spent working on this litigation at the hourly rate of $225 per hour (for partners) and 0.7 hours were spent at the hourly rate of $200 per hour (for associates)
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MCPHERSON v. Suburban Ann Arbor, LLC et al
Oct 29, 2025 · Consumer protection · Fee cut details
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $450 $450 The court's words
The total fee demand of $78,142 represents billings for approximately 174 hours of attorney labor at the previously adopted $450 hourly rate, which the court of appeals affirmed as reasonable.
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Oct 21, 2025 · Civil rights
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney 15 years $375 $375 The court's words
Plaintiff requests a $375 hourly rate for Attorney Kevin Kelly. ECF No. 17, PageID.167. The rate is reasonable in light of Attorney Kelly’s fifteen years of experience
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Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable
Oct 10, 2025 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $175 $175 The court's words
Plaintiff’s counsel reports he spent 31 hours on this matter, and requests fees at a rate of $175 per hour,2 which is reasonable in light of current market rates and Plaintiff’s Counsel’s many decades of experience.
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Poplar v. Genesee County Road Commission
Sep 26, 2025 · Employment
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney 13 years $650 $475 Attorney $250 $250 Attorney 26 years $450 $450 The court's words
Plaintiff seeks fees for the services provided by Attorney Roumayah at a rate of $650 per hour. The Magistrate Judge found a reduced hourly rate of $475 reasonable.
Defendant does not challenge the $250 hourly rate for Attorney Sheena
Plaintiff seeks fees for the services of now-Judge Gafkay at a rate of $450 per hour and the Magistrate Judge found this reasonable.
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Aug 28, 2025 · Civil rights
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner $795 $795 Attorney $225 $225 The court's words
Plaintiffs’ Counsel’s hourly rates among the 18 attorneys range from $795 an hour for equity partners and senior litigators to $225 an hour for junior attorneys.
Plaintiffs’ Counsel’s hourly rates among the 18 attorneys range from $795 an hour for equity partners and senior litigators to $225 an hour for junior attorneys.
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Poplar v. Genesee County Road Commission
Aug 26, 2025 · Employment
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney 13 years $650 $475 Attorney $250 $250 Attorney 26 years $450 $450 The court's words
Considering all this information, an hourly rate of $475 is reasonable, as it is consistent with the 75th percentile rate for Roumayah’s field of practice and also exceeds the 75th percentile rates for years in practice and for office location.
Defendant does not challenge the $250 hourly rate for Attorney Sheena
the $450 sought for Gafkay’s work is reasonable.
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Bennett v. Amazon.Com Services, Inc. et al
Aug 26, 2025 · ERISA benefits
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $350 $350 Attorney 14 years $700 $575 The court's words
The Clinic seeks an award of $5,684.00 in attorney fees, representing 16.24 hours of work by Ms. Patek at $350 per hour.
Mr. Hamawi requests an hourly rate of $700.00, however the Court finds that $575.00 would be a reasonable hourly rate comparing the hourly rates for plaintiff’s-side insurance lawyers with the rates for attorneys with 11 to 15 years of experience.
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Breeze Smoke, LLC v. Speed Wholesale, Inc et al
Aug 8, 2025 · Intellectual property
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner 16 years $550 $550 The court's words
Plaintiff seeks $550 to $680 per hour for attorney Mary A. Hyde, a lead partner of this lawsuit with over sixteen years of experience
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Miller v. Corby Energy Services Inc. et al
Jul 17, 2025 · Other
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $240 $240 Partner $280 $280 Paralegal $120 $120 The court's words
Jason Brown, Senior Counsel: $240.00 per hour
Matthew T. Wise, Partner: $280.00 per hour
Jameika Draughn, Paralegal: $120.00 per hour
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Dorman et al v. Clinton, Township of
Jul 15, 2025 · Other
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $255 $255 The court's words
Those fees are based an hourly rate of $255.00 dollars per hour for the 3.6 hours that Plaintiffs' counsel says it took him to draft and "pursu[e]" the motion to compel.
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Brown et al v. MGM Grand Casino
Jun 25, 2025 · Employment · Fee cut details
Role Experience Requested Approved Partner 15 years $500 $500 Associate 4 years $300 $300 Associate 7 years $500 $400 Law clerk $100 $100 Paralegal $100 $100 The court's words
the Court is satisfied that $500 per hour for Mr. Hurwitz is a reasonable hourly rate for his services.
the Court concludes that $300 per hour is reasonable for Mr. Childress’s services.
the Court errs to the median hourly billing rate for plaintiff-side employment attorneys, which is $400 per hour.
The Court finds that $100 per hour is reasonable for the work performed by Ms. McDaniel and Ms. Stepowski.
The Court finds that $100 per hour is reasonable for the work performed by Ms. McDaniel and Ms. Stepowski.
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Latifa & Halal Kitchen, LLC v. Harouf Corp et al
Apr 14, 2025 · Intellectual property
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $350 $350 Paralegal $100 $100 The court's words
Howard, another experienced attorney, charged the same rate.
Martell charged an hourly rate of $100.
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Ashford v. University of Michigan et al
Mar 31, 2025 · Civil rights · Fee cut details
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney 43 years $710 $710 Attorney 7 years $385 $385 The court's words
Gordon's requested hourly rate of $710 is within the prevailing rate for an attorney in the 95th percentile with more than 35 years of experience ($650) practicing in civil rights ($710) in Michigan based on the Survey, and is reasonable based on her experience, recognition, and success.
Marzotto Taylor has worked as a litigator at Deborah Gordon Law for seven years. ... the requested rate is within the median rate for attorneys practicing in civil rights ($350) and the highest rate for attorneys with 6 to 10 years of experience ($585)—and is exactly that of attorneys at the 75th percentile with similar years of experience ($385).
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Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable
Jan 16, 2025 · Social Security · Statutory rate, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $238 $238 Paralegal $100 $100 The court's words
The requested amount represents 25.93 hours of attorney work and 5.97 hours of paralegal work on plaintiff’s behalf at an attorney hourly rate of $238.45 and a paralegal hourly rate of $100.00.
The requested amount represents 25.93 hours of attorney work and 5.97 hours of paralegal work on plaintiff’s behalf at an attorney hourly rate of $238.45 and a paralegal hourly rate of $100.00.
Earlier rulings
| Case | Date | Approved rates |
|---|---|---|
| Doe v. University of Michigan et al | Dec 27, 2024 | |
| Case Name in Social Security Case - Unavailable | Nov 5, 2024 | Attorney $250 |
| Larsen Graphics, Inc. v. XPO Logistics Freight, Inc | Oct 25, 2024 | Attorney $350, Attorney $350 |
| Joe Hand Promotions, Inc. v. Sahabi Convenience Store, Inc. et al | Oct 24, 2024 | Attorney $250 |
| Baker v. Wroe et al | Oct 22, 2024 | Attorney $355, Attorney $355 |
| G&G Closed-Circuit Events, LLC v. Brothers Bar & Grill, LLC et al | Oct 10, 2024 | Attorney $350, Attorney $200, Attorney $150, Paralegal $125 |
| Concerned Pastors for Social Action et al v. Khouri et al | Jun 27, 2024 | Attorney $300, Attorney $325, Attorney $360, Paralegal $125 |
| Seals v. Wayne, County of et al | May 20, 2024 | Attorney $350, Associate $280, Attorney $450, Associate $200, Associate $250 |
| JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. v. Winget et al | Mar 27, 2024 | Attorney $425 |
| Sheffield v. Dreamers Homecare and Staffing, LLC | Mar 21, 2024 | Attorney $325 |
| St. Clair Marine Salvage, Inc. v. Hawkins et al | Feb 13, 2024 | Partner $520 |
| Krueger v. Experian Information Solutions, Inc. et al | Feb 8, 2024 | Attorney $300, Attorney $300, Attorney $330, Attorney $425, Attorney $425, Attorney $450 |
| HRT Enterprises v. Detroit, City of | Jan 16, 2024 | Attorney $300 |
| RJ Control Consultants, Inc. v. Multiject, LLC et al | Jan 16, 2024 | Attorney $229, Attorney $250, Attorney $250, Paralegal $75 |
| PNC Bank, National Association v. Ballrhodes Trucking, LLC et al | Jan 10, 2024 | Attorney $295, Attorney $295 |
| Stanley v. Wickersham et al | Jan 8, 2024 | Attorney $300 |
FAQ
What hourly rate does the E.D. Michigan approve for partners?
A median of $500 an hour across 5 approved rates in fee rulings since October 20, 2024.
What hourly rate does the E.D. Michigan approve for attorneys?
A median of $355 an hour across 21 approved rates in fee rulings since October 20, 2024, with the middle half from $255 to $450.
How often does the E.D. Michigan cut a requested hourly rate?
For 7 of 33 timekeepers (21%) in recent fee rulings, by a median 26.9% when it did.
How do I prove a reasonable hourly rate in the E.D. Michigan?
With evidence beyond your own declaration, usually recent awards in the same district for lawyers of similar experience. The rulings on this page can be cited directly; use the citation block to copy them.
The data is free to use under CC BY 4.0. Please credit "LegalTime Fee Cut Tracker" with a link to this page. Spot an error? Email team@legaltime.ai with the case name and we will correct it. Summaries of public court opinions. Not legal advice.
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