diff --git a/src/components/app-shell.tsx b/src/components/app-shell.tsx
index e80f889..01efc34 100644
--- a/src/components/app-shell.tsx
+++ b/src/components/app-shell.tsx
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ import { QuickAddTime, QuickAddExpense } from "@/components/quick-add/quick-add"
 import { DateCalculator } from "@/components/date-calculator";
 import { NotificationBell } from "@/components/notifications/notification-bell";
 import { JusticeIcon } from "@/components/justice-icon";
+import { GlobalSearch } from "@/components/global-search";
 
 interface NavItem {
   to: string;
@@ -86,6 +87,8 @@ export function AppShell({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
           </div>
         </div>
 
+        <GlobalSearch />
+
         <nav className="flex-1 px-3 py-4 space-y-0.5">
           {NAV.filter((n) => !n.adminOnly || isAdmin).map((item) => {
             const active = item.to === "/" ? location.pathname === "/" : location.pathname.startsWith(item.to);
diff --git a/src/components/global-search.tsx b/src/components/global-search.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0f1915c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/global-search.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,211 @@
+import { useEffect, useRef, useState } from "react";
+import { useNavigate } from "@tanstack/react-router";
+import { Search, Briefcase, Users, UserPlus, FileText, Loader2 } from "lucide-react";
+import { supabase } from "@/integrations/supabase/client";
+import { cn } from "@/lib/utils";
+
+type SearchResult = {
+  id: string;
+  label: string;
+  sublabel?: string;
+  kind: "case" | "client" | "contact" | "document";
+  to: string;
+};
+
+const KIND_ICON = {
+  case: Briefcase,
+  client: Users,
+  contact: UserPlus,
+  document: FileText,
+} as const;
+
+const KIND_LABEL = {
+  case: "Case",
+  client: "Client",
+  contact: "Contact",
+  document: "Document",
+} as const;
+
+export function GlobalSearch() {
+  const navigate = useNavigate();
+  const [query, setQuery] = useState("");
+  const [results, setResults] = useState<SearchResult[]>([]);
+  const [loading, setLoading] = useState(false);
+  const [open, setOpen] = useState(false);
+  const [activeIdx, setActiveIdx] = useState(0);
+  const containerRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
+
+  // Close on outside click
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const onClick = (e: MouseEvent) => {
+      if (containerRef.current && !containerRef.current.contains(e.target as Node)) {
+        setOpen(false);
+      }
+    };
+    document.addEventListener("mousedown", onClick);
+    return () => document.removeEventListener("mousedown", onClick);
+  }, []);
+
+  // Debounced search
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const q = query.trim();
+    if (q.length < 2) {
+      setResults([]);
+      setLoading(false);
+      return;
+    }
+    setLoading(true);
+    const handle = setTimeout(async () => {
+      const like = `%${q}%`;
+      const [casesRes, clientsRes, contactsRes, docsRes] = await Promise.all([
+        supabase
+          .from("cases")
+          .select("id,title,case_number")
+          .or(`title.ilike.${like},case_number.ilike.${like}`)
+          .is("archived_at", null)
+          .limit(6),
+        supabase
+          .from("clients")
+          .select("id,name")
+          .ilike("name", like)
+          .is("archived_at", null)
+          .limit(6),
+        supabase
+          .from("contacts")
+          .select("id,name,company,email")
+          .or(`name.ilike.${like},company.ilike.${like},email.ilike.${like}`)
+          .is("archived_at", null)
+          .limit(6),
+        supabase
+          .from("documents")
+          .select("id,name,case_id")
+          .ilike("name", like)
+          .limit(6),
+      ]);
+
+      const out: SearchResult[] = [];
+      casesRes.data?.forEach((c) =>
+        out.push({
+          id: c.id,
+          label: c.title,
+          sublabel: c.case_number,
+          kind: "case",
+          to: `/cases/${c.id}`,
+        }),
+      );
+      clientsRes.data?.forEach((c) =>
+        out.push({ id: c.id, label: c.name, kind: "client", to: `/clients/${c.id}` }),
+      );
+      contactsRes.data?.forEach((c) =>
+        out.push({
+          id: c.id,
+          label: c.name,
+          sublabel: c.company || c.email || undefined,
+          kind: "contact",
+          to: `/contacts/${c.id}`,
+        }),
+      );
+      docsRes.data?.forEach((d) =>
+        out.push({
+          id: d.id,
+          label: d.name,
+          sublabel: "Document",
+          kind: "document",
+          to: d.case_id ? `/cases/${d.case_id}` : `/files`,
+        }),
+      );
+
+      setResults(out);
+      setActiveIdx(0);
+      setLoading(false);
+    }, 250);
+    return () => clearTimeout(handle);
+  }, [query]);
+
+  const select = (r: SearchResult) => {
+    setOpen(false);
+    setQuery("");
+    setResults([]);
+    navigate({ to: r.to });
+  };
+
+  const onKeyDown = (e: React.KeyboardEvent<HTMLInputElement>) => {
+    if (e.key === "ArrowDown") {
+      e.preventDefault();
+      setActiveIdx((i) => Math.min(i + 1, results.length - 1));
+    } else if (e.key === "ArrowUp") {
+      e.preventDefault();
+      setActiveIdx((i) => Math.max(i - 1, 0));
+    } else if (e.key === "Enter" && results[activeIdx]) {
+      e.preventDefault();
+      select(results[activeIdx]);
+    } else if (e.key === "Escape") {
+      setOpen(false);
+    }
+  };
+
+  return (
+    <div ref={containerRef} className="relative px-3 pt-3">
+      <div className="relative">
+        <Search className="absolute left-2.5 top-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 h-3.5 w-3.5 text-sidebar-foreground/50" />
+        <input
+          type="text"
+          value={query}
+          onChange={(e) => {
+            setQuery(e.target.value);
+            setOpen(true);
+          }}
+          onFocus={() => setOpen(true)}
+          onKeyDown={onKeyDown}
+          placeholder="Search…"
+          className="w-full h-8 pl-8 pr-2 text-sm rounded-md bg-sidebar-accent/40 text-sidebar-foreground placeholder:text-sidebar-foreground/50 border border-sidebar-border focus:outline-none focus:ring-1 focus:ring-sidebar-primary"
+        />
+        {loading && (
+          <Loader2 className="absolute right-2 top-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 h-3.5 w-3.5 animate-spin text-sidebar-foreground/50" />
+        )}
+      </div>
+
+      {open && query.trim().length >= 2 && (
+        <div className="absolute left-3 right-3 top-full mt-1 z-50 max-h-96 overflow-y-auto rounded-md border bg-popover text-popover-foreground shadow-lg">
+          {results.length === 0 && !loading ? (
+            <div className="px-3 py-4 text-xs text-muted-foreground text-center">
+              No results
+            </div>
+          ) : (
+            <ul className="py-1">
+              {results.map((r, idx) => {
+                const Icon = KIND_ICON[r.kind];
+                return (
+                  <li key={`${r.kind}-${r.id}`}>
+                    <button
+                      type="button"
+                      onMouseEnter={() => setActiveIdx(idx)}
+                      onClick={() => select(r)}
+                      className={cn(
+                        "w-full flex items-center gap-2 px-3 py-1.5 text-left text-sm",
+                        idx === activeIdx ? "bg-accent text-accent-foreground" : "",
+                      )}
+                    >
+                      <Icon className="h-3.5 w-3.5 shrink-0 text-muted-foreground" />
+                      <div className="min-w-0 flex-1">
+                        <div className="truncate">{r.label}</div>
+                        {r.sublabel && (
+                          <div className="truncate text-[11px] text-muted-foreground">
+                            {r.sublabel}
+                          </div>
+                        )}
+                      </div>
+                      <span className="text-[10px] uppercase tracking-wider text-muted-foreground">
+                        {KIND_LABEL[r.kind]}
+                      </span>
+                    </button>
+                  </li>
+                );
+              })}
+            </ul>
+          )}
+        </div>
+      )}
+    </div>
+  );
+}