Distinguished Alumnus, School of Law
Akhil Sheth, J.D. ’13, this year’s recipient of the UC Irvine School of Law Distinguished Alumni Award, is a litigator, educator, mentor and advocate for access to justice.
Akhil joined UC Irvine Law as a member of only its second graduating class. He was volunteering for a federal judge in Riverside, when he received a voicemail from Founding Dean Erwin Chemerinsky telling him he had been admitted. When Akhil mentioned the message, the judge insisted he return the call immediately – a memorable signal that something special was taking shape in Irvine.
What ultimately won Akhil over was the school’s culture. With two classes at the new law school, everyone was expected to participate and help build what came next. Akhil embraced that opportunity, serving on the UC Irvine Law Review and earning Best Brief honors in an American Bar Association moot court competition. He went on to build a litigation career focused on complex commercial and intellectual property disputes, clerking along the way for U.S. District Judge Andrew J. Guilford and Ninth Circuit Judge Consuelo M. Callahan. Today, as senior counsel at Keller Anderle Scolnick, he handles high-stakes litigation.
His commitment to UC Irvine Law has only deepened with time. Akhil serves on the Dean’s Circle Executive Committee, has returned as an adjunct professor teaching federal civil procedure in its International LL.M. program and remains active in mentoring and student programs. Beyond campus, Akhil is board president of Community Counsel and holds a position as an inaugural board member of the South Asian Bar Association of Orange County, reflecting his commitment to access to justice and a more inclusive profession.
For years after graduation, Akhil marked finals by posting a prepaid coffee card online for UC Irvine Law students, trusting them to use it and pass it along to others. The card was never abused or left empty. For Akhil, that tradition reflects the community he first encountered at UC Irvine: people looking out for one another and making sure the next person feels welcome, too.
“Akhil Sheth embodies the core values of UC Irvine School of Law – excellence, leadership and service. His professional achievements, combined with his sustained engagement and support of the law school, make him an outstanding candidate for this prestigious recognition.”
Join us as we honor this year’s distinguished recipients and celebrate the remarkable achievements of the Anteater community.
