Damali Sahu concentrates her practice in representing financial institutions in commercial loan transactions, including real estate transactions, and domestic and cross-border loan transactions.

She has more than two decades of experience structuring, negotiating, and documenting secured and unsecured commercial loans to borrowers in all stages of growth, from early-stage to established late-stage companies. She has particular expertise in transactions involving growth and acquisition financing for venture capital-backed emerging and established companies in the technology, energy, life sciences, and health care industries.

Damali has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America since 2013 in the field of Banking and Finance, was listed in Michigan Rising Stars 2008-2012 under Banking, and is listed as a 2025 “Top Lawyer” for Banking and Financial Service Law by DBusiness Magazine.

Crain’s Detroit Business honored her as a member of its 2023 “Notable Leaders in DEI” and its 2021 class of “Notable Women in Law.” In 2022, Lawyers of Color named Damali to its inaugural “Law Firm Leaders” list of top leading law firm decision makers and in 2018, Michigan Lawyers Weekly named her to its annual class of “Women in Law.” In 2008, she received Michigan Lawyers Weekly‘s “Up & Coming Lawyers” award, which recognizes practitioners whose accomplishments set them apart from their peers in the first ten years in practice.

She is a member of Bodman’s Executive Committee, which manages the firm’s day-to-day business affairs. She is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and the State Bar of California and serves on the Michigan State Bar Foundation’s Community Investment Committee.

Damali is Chair of the Board of Directors for Gleaners Community Food Bank. She also serves as President of the Board of Directors of New Paradigm College Prep School and formerly served as the Vice Chair of the board and as Chair of Development. She is a current member of the Board of Directors of the Michigan Roundtable for Just Communities.

Before joining Bodman, Damali worked as a corporate financial analyst for NationsBank (now Bank of America) in Charlotte, North Carolina. In law school, she was the co-article selection coordinator for the Michigan Journal of Gender and Law.

Honors, Awards, and Recognition

• The Best Lawyers in America® 2013-2026, Banking and Finance Law
• DBusiness Magazine “Top Lawyers” 2014, 2015, 2019-2025, Banking & Financial Service Law
• Crain’s Detroit Business “Notable Leaders in DEI” 2023
• Lawyers of Color “Law Firm Leaders” 2022
• Crain’s Detroit Business “Notable Women in Law” 2021
• Lawyers of Color “Nation’s Best” List, 2019
• Michigan Lawyers Weekly “Women in Law” 2018
• Michigan Rising Stars 2008-2012, Banking
• Michigan Lawyers Weekly “Up & Coming Lawyers” 2008

Civic, Cultural, and Community Activities

• Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan, Member, Board of Directors and Chair, Development
• New Paradigm College Prep, President and Treasurer, Board of Directors
  • Former Vice President, Board of Directors
  • Former Chair of Development
• Michigan Roundtable for Just Communities, Member, Board of Directors

Professional Affiliations

• Michigan State Bar Foundation Fellow and Member of Community Investment Committee

Related News

• 08/21/2025 76 Bodman PLC Attorneys Listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2026
• 11/04/202478 Bodman Attorneys Included in DBusiness Top Lawyers 2025
• 08/15/202472 Bodman PLC Attorneys Listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2025
• 06/03/2024Bodman Receives 2024 Empowering Women Award from Michigan Lawyers Weekly
• 11/14/2023Damali Sahu Named Crain’s 2023 Notable Leader in DEI