Neil S. Rockind

During the 1960's, we witnessed for the first time, citizens fighting back against government overreaching and unfairness. Neil Rockind was born on September 6, 1968, at the height of those tumultuous times in Detroit, Michigan. He received his education from Bloomfield Hills Andover High School (Class of 1986); the University of Michigan (Bachelor of General Studies, 1990); and, Wayne State University Law School (Juris Doctor, 1993).

Rockind's talents as a trial lawyer were honed during his tenure as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office, one of the most famous prosecutor's offices in the country. Rockind was an assistant prosecutor from 1993 to 1997 and handled thousands of criminal cases, many of which resulted in jury trials. Due to both his record and his ferocity, Rockind gained the moniker, "the Rockweiler." His career as a prosecutor was chronicled in profile articles that appeared in several local newspapers, including the Detroit Free Press and the Oakland Press.

As a prosecutor, Rockind quickly became a special prosecutor, the title given to prosecutors who were specifically assigned to handle complex and high profile cases.  As a special prosecutor, he handled the most complex and high profile cases in the office, including but not limited to People v Kevorkian (the prosecution of famed assisted suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian), People v Horton (the prosecution of a pastor charged with taking clandestine videotapes of his parishioners in the bathrooms of his church) and People v Mayhew (a groundbreaking vehicular homicide case). Rockind also prosecuted many high level drug dealers, including one of the few cases resulting from an Oakland County Citizen's Grand Jury indictment.

In 1997, Rockind made a change:  he pursued a career as a criminal defense lawyer.   In private practice, Rockind has handled countless high profile cases. He was the legal commentator for WDIV (NBC) and had a recurring role on a legal news series for WJBK (Fox 2).  

He has represented clients in matters ranging from drunk driving to complex federal cases. He has represented lead defendants in cases involving no notoriety whatsoever and others, such as the infamous Basketbrawl (Piston v Pacer) assault case (in which he obtained the only dismissal) and the investigation into noted attorney Geoffrey Nels Fieger, that have garnered national media attention.   

Neil Rockind is/has been a member of the Michigan State Bar, New York State Bar, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan, Michigan Trial Lawyers Association, American Bar Association, American Association for Justice, National College of District Attorneys (past member) and Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan (past member). He is a member of the Criminal Defense section of the State Bar of Michigan. He is also on the Regional Advisory Board of the Anti Defamation League and on the Board of Directors for the Friends of the Israeli Defense Force - Michigan Chapter.

He was named one of Michigan's Mover's and Shakers by 944 Magazine and profiled in the October, 2009 Edition of the magazine.  He was also selected as one of Michigan's SuperLaywers for 2009 through 2015 , an honor bestowed upon only 5% of the lawyers practicing in the state.  Super Lawyers Magazine named him among the Top 100 lawyers in Michigan and in 2013 and 2014, he was named among the Top 50 lawyers handling cases for individuals.  He was named a Top 100 Trial Lawyer by The National Trial Lawyers Association, received the Distinguished Service Award by Oakland County and a DBusiness Top Lawyer by DBussiness Magazine.  In 2015, Rockind earned a the coveted "Leader in the Law" award from the Michigan Lawyer's Weekly.  He was also named among the Nation's Top One Percent by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel.  He has lectured to lawyers, police officers and citizens regarding current issues in law.