Saleem K. Erakat is a partner and a highly skilled litigator at Rashtian Law with almost 20 years of experience representing individuals in employment, personal injury, and business cases. His clients often seek him out when they're facing challenging circumstances and he takes pride in being able to help them turn negative experiences into positive outcomes so they can move forward with their lives.
Saleem has dedicated himself to advocating for his clients and achieving favorable outcomes for them. He has successfully litigated and resolved cases for his clients, including high-stakes disputes involving millions of dollars. He has also been an integral part of successful trial teams, earning him a reputation as a tenacious advocate for his clients.
As an employment law attorney, Saleem represents employees in workplace disputes, including wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination, wage and hour disputes, and more. He is committed to fighting for the rights of employees, regardless of the size or complexity of the case. In his personal injury practice, Saleem helps people who have suffered injuries due to the negligence of others, including car accidents, dog bites, slip and fall accidents, catastrophic injuries, and more. When working on behalf of clients who have been injured, he works directly with medical providers as well as conducts extensive research about the details of the case so he can fully understand the extent of the injuries and the long-term impact on the client’s life and therefore effectively fight for them to receive the compensation they deserves to cover their medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages resulting from the accident.
Saleem is known for his straightforward approach to practicing law, combined with his compassion for his clients. He believes in giving clients an honest assessment up front, so they can make informed decisions about their case. His ability to analyze information and provide a clear strategy for moving forward has helped him earn the trust and respect of his clients. This helps clients understand what their claim entails and what they can expect as they move forward with litigation.
At past firms, Saleem gained experience working on both the plaintiff and defense side of multi-million dollar cases. This unique perspective representing both plaintiffs and defendants has given him valuable insight and allows him to foresee potential pitfalls and problems that may arise in a case. With this knowledge, he is able to provide his clients with a more comprehensive and accurate assessment of their situation from the outset.
Saleem is a dedicated family man who enjoys spending time with his wife and three children. He loves participating in Adventure Guides with his kids and regularly takes them camping twice a month. He also shares his son’s passion for Marvel movies and enjoys watching them with him. In addition to his commitment to his family, Saleem also prioritizes his health and regularly works out in the gym. He is also a self-proclaimed foodie and enjoys exploring different restaurants with his wife, with whom he has been happily married to for 13 years.
Saleem and his family love to travel and have explored many parts of the world together, including Mexico, the UK, France, and Spain. He is passionate about his community and their rights and currently serves as the Orange County Chapter President the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, where he works to promote civil rights and cultural heritage awareness in the Arab American community. Saleem's dedication to his family and community is evident in all aspects of his life, both personal and professional.
Saleem K. Erakat has been a litigator since passing the California Bar exam in 2004. He earned his undergraduate degree in History and Economics from U.C. Davis, and his J.D. from U.C. Hastings, where he served as the Managing Editor of the Hastings International and Comparative Law Review. He received the Rising Stars SuperLawyers award in 2019.