People + Places
Black Women-led Great Lakes Legal Group Opens in Corktown
March 1, 2018·By BLAC Editorial
Attorneys Jehan Crump-Gibson and Ayanna Alcendor open a law firm in Detroit’s oldest neighborhood.
March 1, 2018
When attorneys Jehan Crump-Gibson and Ayanna Alcendor decided to open a new law firm this year, they chose Corktown. The millennial duo had seen progress in Detroit, and both wanted Great Lakes Legal Group to be a part of it. But this story features two black women helming a "one-stop-shop" for legal services – a seemingly unusual choice for the historic neighborhood.
From their vantage point, it was perfect timing. "The reason why we picked that location is it's an up-and-coming neighborhood, it has so much character – it's Detroit's oldest neighborhood," says Crump-Gibson, 33. "There are a lot of cool businesses that are popping up. We figured, why not? We thought it was important to bring our resources together so that we could offer services to the community – a broad range of services."
These include family law, commercial, business, and probate and estate planning. "Clients don't have to look elsewhere. We can handle multiple matters for any client," Alcendor, 32, adds, calling it a "holistic approach."
The two have a long history together. Crump-Gibson earned her Juris Doctorate from Wayne State University Law School. Alcendor earned hers from Western Michigan Thomas M. Cooley Law School and served as Crump-Gibson's law clerk for a time. Expertise-wise, they legally clicked.
"We practice (in) compatible areas of law," Alcendor explains. "Everything that I don't practice, she does." Crump-Gibson and Alcendor want to serve their community by providing a personal touch. "Business is booming," Alcendor says. "We've been really blessed in that regard. I think what sets us apart is our commitment to clients. It's easy to lose sight of individuals. We care about the whole client. We are also strongly committed to ethic."
Crump-Gibson acknowledges that as black women, Great Lakes Legal Group is an opportunity to rise above expectations. "We (are) oftentimes judged just by how we look. (You) overcome by excelling in the field and bringing others behind you," Crump-Gibson says. "We're coming behind folks who paved the path for us."
Great Lakes Legal Group
2020 14th St., Suite 101, Detroit
Every question deserves a better answer than a search result — here's where this story leads.
Why Every Metro Detroit Nonprofit Should Be Thinking About AI
How a local workshop is helping nonprofit leaders turn curiosity into practical action. For many nonprofit leaders, artificial intelligence still feels like something meant for Silicon Valley or Fortune 500 companies. It isn’t. Whether your organization has three employees or three hundred, AI is quickly becoming another tool that can help teams spend less time […]
Althea Gibson’s Second Act
Most people remember Althea Gibson as a tennis legend. Fewer know she also became the first Black woman to compete on the LPGA Tour, breaking another barrier and opening doors for generations of Black women golfers.
Detroit Jazz Festival 2026 Guide
A local guide to navigating the Detroit Labor Day weekend jazz celebration.
Help Us Get It Right
This coverage is a community project.
Spot something outdated? Know a person, business, or organization this story should connect to? A story we should tell next? It goes straight to our editors — privately.