Attorney Jeffrey Lance Abood oozes movie-star charisma.
Never forced — it’s simply who he is. As a litigator with the venerable Abood Law Firm (aboodlaw.com), founded by his extended family in 1956, his high-energy go-getter personality blends with honest-to-goodness integrity and placing a priority on community action.
With a focus on authenticity, he brings that same energy to his sartorial style — with custom suits, bold colors and patterns and an easy understanding of how to bring it all together to elevate his work and his life.
Growing up in Southern Missouri, Abood was signed with a modeling and acting agency in high school, doing commercials and modeling for department stores — he even earned a prestigious acting scholarship to the University of Miami. “My parents, however, put the kibosh on that,” he says. “So I went to law school.”
This career choice was not a hard sell. A family friend — an attorney who used his power to help people in his small town — planted the seed early. A volunteer stint on his uncle’s political campaign in Metro Detroit did the rest. He fell in love with the area, enrolled at Wayne State, earned his law degree at Cooley Law School in Lansing and launched his own firm in 2009, specializing in personal injury and criminal defense.
“Suddenly, I was getting criminal cases for professional athletes and divorce cases, and I was doing a good job,” he says. “Word started spreading.”
During that time, he worked on some cases with his cousin, Andrew Abood, in his extended family’s Abood Law Firm in East Lansing. The collaborations led the cousins to launch the firm’s Birmingham office in 2012. Today, Abood’s practice spans divorce law in Birmingham and higher-profile criminal defense on a national stage, representing NBA, NFL and NHL players.
Each day is a constant hustle — and Abood loves every second. “I’m happiest when I’m in court all day,” he says. “That being said, most divorce cases are resolved through private mediation.”
In tune with his high-energy work ethic, Abood has fun with his iconic style. “I’m a firm believer that you can never be overdressed,” he says. “When I talk to people — college students, law students or other lawyers — I tell them that the initial impression is extremely important. You do not need to spend a lot of money on clothes, but you should look polished and groomed.
“It makes a big difference,” Abood says. “People notice you more, they tend to listen more closely. You’re more confident when you feel like you dress well, so you perform better.”
Abood's interest in style started young. His parents always dressed him in unique pieces, and that early instinct to stand out only grew from there. During high school in Missouri, he worked at The Buckle — the “it” store at the local mall — where he earned a reputation as the resident denim expert.
His signature style is bold, with custom shirts and suits created by wardrobe specialist Bill Dobinski, co-owner of BB Custom Clothing in Clawson. “I’ve never tried to follow any trends or styles — I like everything to stand out and create my own style. I like bright colors, herringbone and windowpane plaids and striped suits. I like to mix and match,” he says. “It’s rare to find me in a plain suit. I think since Covid, it’s allowed us to get even more creative in how we dress.” Abood is involved in every detail — the lining, the stitching, his monogram, even mixing and matching hand-chosen buttons. His favorite finishes on his polished, manicured look: visits with his dream team of Shamayne Mercer at BABS Salon & Spa Aesthetics, Elizabeth Pugh Arsov at Elizabeth's Head To Toe and George Nikollaj at 6 Salon.
He also has Dobinski build a custom interior cigar pocket into every suit. “He actually suggested the idea — he does it with his own suits,” Abood says. “In a regular pocket, cigars get damaged or crushed, and it can be uncomfortable. This keeps cigars intact without disrupting the line.”
When he does exhale, he can usually be found in Birmingham — dining at Elie's, settled into Churchill’s Cigar Bar & Bistro or in his ventilated home cigar room, built during the COVID shutdown. He reaches for Davidoff Millennium, Tabernacle by Foundation Cigars, and Padrón. “I don't really collect cigars," he says. "I just enjoy a good one.” His current go-tos: Davidoff Millennium, Tabernacle by Foundation Cigars and Padrón.
Off the clock, he trades the courtroom for the sidelines in PsychoBunny and Lululemon. Along with his wife, Joelle, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Henry Ford Hospital, free time is spent on his kids’ activities — his son Beau, 8, plays travel and recreational soccer, basketball and flag football, and daughter Estelle, 5, plays travel soccer. “It's nonstop,” he says.
Equally important — to Abood and the family firm — is giving back to the community. Abood serves on the board of the Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority, supports On the Wings of Angels and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and more.
In every room he enters — as attorney, father, husband, style icon — Abood performs at the highest level. Impeccably dressed, deeply rooted, and completely, unapologetically himself.