A man in a suit and tie stands in a modern, blurred office setting, facing the camera with a neutral expression—typical of lawyers in Chicago offering professional litigation support.

Amir E. El-Aswad

Associate

Amir E. El-Aswad

Associate

Amir El-Aswad is a member of the firm’s Commercial Litigation and Labor & Employment practices.

Amir advocates for corporate clients in complex commercial and employment disputes across state and federal courts, as well as in arbitral forums. His practice spans a broad range of matters, including restrictive covenant enforcement, trade secret misappropriation, trademark infringement, antitrust litigation, cyber fraud, business torts, commercial real estate, and contract and warranty disputes. Amir is adept at motions practice and oral advocacy, regularly drafting and arguing dispositive motions, preliminary injunctions, and other high-impact filings. He is also experienced in managing large-scale e-discovery, negotiating favorable settlements, and structuring tailored dispute resolution agreements.

Before joining Foley, Amir served as a law clerk to the Honorable David M. Lawson of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. During law school, he was a summer associate in Foley’s Chicago office and a student advocate in the University of Chicago Law School’s Supreme Court and Appellate Clinic, where he contributed to merits and amicus briefs filed before the U.S. Supreme Court. Amir also gained exposure to constitutional and criminal law through judicial internships with the Honorable David McKeague of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and the Research Division of the Michigan Court of Appeals. Amir began honing his oral advocacy skills well before law school, competing at the national level in undergraduate mock trial, and later earning the highest grade in Trial Advocacy at the University of Chicago Law School.

Amir is deeply committed to advancing equal access to justice. He serves as the Co-Director of the Federal Bar Association – Detroit Chapter’s Diversity Committee and maintains an active pro bono practice, including ongoing collaborations with the Detroit Bar Association’s Legal Services Clinic and Lakeshore Legal Aid, where he provides legal assistance to underserved individuals facing housing, family, criminal, and consumer issues.

Awards and Recognition

  • Recipient, Outstanding Young Lawyer Award – Barrister’s Pro Bono Award, Detroit Bar Association (2025)

Community Involvement

  • Dedicated to pro bono efforts, including prisoner civil rights and clemency
  • Co-director, Federal Bar Association Diversity Committee, Eastern District of Michigan Chapter

 

July 25, 2025 Honors and Awards

Amir El-Aswad Receives Outstanding Young Lawyer Award

Foley & Lardner LLP attorney Amir El-Aswad received an Outstanding Young Lawyer Award from the Detroit Bar Association.
Close-up of a printed document titled "NON-COMPETE AGREEMENT" in bold letters on a white sheet of paper, often reviewed by Chicago lawyers specializing in intellectual property law.
April 14, 2025 Labor & Employment Law Perspectives

Noncompetes in Flux: What Else Can Employers Do to Protect Themselves?

As we continue to report, noncompete agreements have been subject to unprecedented scrutiny over the past few years.
A close-up of an electric vehicle being charged, showing an orange charging cable plugged into the car's charging port—ideal imagery for lawyers in Chicago specializing in intellectual property law and emerging technologies.
March 14, 2025 Manufacturing Industry Advisor

Brainwaves: 100 Days and Beyond | Presidential Policy Shifts Impacting Automotive

In a recent Brainwaves event hosted by the Society of Automotive Analysts and Foley & Lardner LLP, titled “100 Days and Beyond: Presidential Policy Shifts Impacting Automotive,” business and legal executives gathered in Detroit to discuss the significant shifts in presidential policies and their profound impact on the automotive sector.
A pen rests on a non-compete agreement form with blank spaces for the names of the first and second party, ready for review by Chicago lawyers at a corporate law office.
March 18, 2024 Labor & Employment Law Perspectives

Drafting Non-Competes in a Shifting Regulatory Landscape

As our readers are aware, we have been tracking the ongoing trend of restricting employee non-compete agreements by various states and the federal government, including the FTC and NLRB.
Five workers stand around a large metal table handling car body panels in an automotive manufacturing facility, much like a team providing litigation support in law offices or managing intellectual property law cases with precision and teamwork.
February 22, 2023 Blogs

Warranty and Pricing Disputes Between Suppliers and OEMs: Trends, Pitfalls and Preparation

Over the course of the last three years, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and suppliers have been rocked by a series of challenges, including shutdowns and restarts due to COVID-19, extreme labor turnover, higher costs, and prolonged shortages requiring the use of substitutions or alternative products.
Close-up of a bronze Lady Justice statue holding balanced scales, her eyes covered by a blindfold—a timeless symbol often found in law offices, representing fairness and impartiality in litigation support.
December 1, 2022 Manufacturing Industry Advisor

Case Law Update: Disputes Relating to Supply Chain Disruptions Hit the Courts

Over the last two years, the widespread shortages, stoppages, and other disruptions affecting much of the global supply chain have led manufacturers, suppliers, and buyers alike to examine their contract terms for an available excuse for nonperformance.