Sherrille D. Akin

Attorney Sherrille “Sherri” D. Bailey Akin often describes herself as a “fixer” and a “finder,” and she has used those skills in crafting results for her clients throughout her 35-year career as a practicing attorney. A DeLand native and graduate of DeLand High School, Stetson University, Stetson University College of Law and the University of Florida, Sherri represents clients in the areas of estate planning, probate, contested estates and guardianships, and family law cases.

The daughter of prominent Stetson professor and community leader T. Wayne Bailey, Sherri knew by the 5th grade that she wanted to be a lawyer. In fact, at the age of 14, while attending DeLand Junior High School, Sherri started working in the law office of Bill Sherman, a well-known local attorney. Her work with Sherman started with sorting mail, filing, running errands and eventually grew with her, as she worked as a paralegal in college and a clerk in law school. According to Sherri, "Bill was a wonderful mentor and demonstrated to me the proper way to practice law and regard clients."

After law school and graduate tax school, a job clerking in Washington, D.C., for the U.S. Tax Court and a marriage proposal from an Ohio native drew her away, but Sherri always continued to practice law in Florida. As the go-to Florida attorney for Ohio snowbirds and business owners, Sherri worked continually on Florida matters, with a focus on estate planning, guardianship, care planning and fiduciary litigation. She brought that experience back to Florida and uses it now to assist Florida residents with their Ohio property and family matters.

Sherri draws on years of experience to practice complex estate planning and tax law, with emphasis on high net worth individuals and businesses, including tax minimization strategies, asset protection planning, business transition planning and unique planning for impaired beneficiaries. Her Ohio expertise and licensure adds an additional level to the many services provided by the firm, offering the ability to assist Florida clients with matters 'back home' in the Buckeye State.

Sherri holds her J.D., cum laude, from Stetson University College of Law and an advanced tax degree, LL.M., from the University of Florida College of Law. She holds her B.A. in Political Science from Stetson University, where her father founded the Department of Political Science in 1963.