Today we’d like to introduce you to Aisha Thomas.
Hi Aisha , we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I am a native Detroiter, and my career has always been rooted in real estate, community development and creating opportunities through property ownership. I began my real estate career in 2001 after earning my undergraduate degree from Wayne State University. At the time, I was also working in municipal government, but after being laid off in 2005, I transitioned into entrepreneurship and expanded The Thomas Agency, my real estate brokerage.
Building a business during the mortgage and housing crisis gave me a firsthand view of how foreclosures, title issues, contracts and development decisions could impact families and entire communities. Those experiences ultimately inspired me to attend the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, where I focused on commercial real estate and construction law and worked in the Mortgage Foreclosure Defense Clinic.
After law school, my career took me from Detroit to California and eventually to Atlanta, where I continued developing my commercial real estate experience. In 2020, I founded AJT Law, LLC, a boutique firm focused on commercial real estate transactions, land use and zoning, business matters and alternative dispute resolution. Today, I represent buyers, sellers, developers, lenders, nonprofits, governmental entities, landlords and tenants.
One of the most meaningful moments in my career came in 2025, when I became licensed to practice law in Michigan. It was a true full-circle moment. Detroit is where I was raised, where I earned my degrees and where I first developed my passion for real estate and community development. I am now licensed to practice law in both Michigan and Georgia and hold real estate licenses in Michigan, Georgia and California.
My path has not been linear, but every transition—from losing my job, to building a brokerage, attending law school, relocating and launching my firm—helped prepare me for the work I do today. I am grateful to now bring my experience back home while continuing to serve clients and communities in both Detroit and Atlanta.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road has not been smooth, but the challenges have shaped the attorney and business owner I am today.
It has definitely not been a smooth road. One of my earliest challenges came in 2005, when I was laid off from my municipal government position just two months after purchasing my first home. That experience pushed me into full-time entrepreneurship, but it also happened as the housing market was beginning to decline. I had to grow a real estate business while navigating the foreclosure crisis, economic uncertainty and the significant impact those conditions had on Detroit families and neighborhoods.
There were also challenges associated with entering commercial real estate and the legal profession as a Black woman. Access to opportunities, capital, mentorship and decision-making spaces was not always readily available. At times, I had to create opportunities for myself when traditional paths did not open. I also balanced building businesses, relocating to new markets, raising my sons and continuing my education and professional development.
Launching AJT Law in 2020 brought another set of challenges. I started the firm during a global pandemic and had to build its systems, client base and reputation while adapting to an uncertain business environment. Entrepreneurship requires resilience because you are responsible not only for providing excellent legal services, but also for managing operations, finances, marketing and long-term growth.
Even becoming licensed in Michigan was part of a longer journey than I originally anticipated. However, when it finally happened in 2025, it made the accomplishment even more meaningful. Each setback taught me how to adjust, advocate for myself and remain committed to my vision. My journey has shown me that the road does not have to be easy or linear for it to be successful.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
AJT Law, LLC is a boutique law firm focused on real estate, business and community development. I represent buyers, sellers, investors, developers, lenders, nonprofits, governmental entities, landlords and tenants in commercial real estate transactions, leasing, title and survey matters, land use, zoning and business matters.
I am also the principal broker of The Thomas Agency, which allows me to evaluate deals from both a legal and business perspective. What sets me apart is that I have served in many roles throughout the industry—as an attorney, broker, investor, former municipal employee and community development advocate. I often say that I have sat in nearly every seat at the real estate table.
AJT Law is known for providing strategic, practical and personalized counsel. I am licensed to practice law in Michigan and Georgia and hold real estate licenses in Michigan, Georgia and California. I am most proud that the brand reflects both expertise and authenticity while helping clients protect their interests, grow their businesses and build long-term legacies through real estate.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
One of my favorite childhood memories is taking car rides with my dad along Jefferson Avenue in Detroit and into Grosse Pointe, where we would admire the beautiful waterfront mansions. I also loved our family road trips to Alabama to visit my grandmother, often traveling in a caravan with several cars filled with relatives. Looking back, those memories probably explain my lifelong love of exploring new places and always being on the move.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ajtlawfirm.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajtlawfirm/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ajt-law-llc/
