Julie Fershtman is an attorney with more than 37 years
of experience in the practice of law. An Equity Shareholder with the full-service law firm of Foster Swift Collins &
Smith, PC, her practice primarily focuses on business litigation (plaintiff and defense), general insurance defense, insurance
coverage, premises liability, construction/construction defect, sales disputes, fraud litigation, sporting and recreational
liability, contract disputes, and equine (horse-related) law (www.equinelaw.net).
Valued Clients
Serving businesses and individuals nationwide on a wide variety of legal matters. **
Representative Matters
Examples
of legal matters handled:
- Won a product liability/negligence/UCC
case for a client, resulting in dismissal of all claims against the client. Won appeal of the case.
- Won a 9-day Bench trial of an equine sale dispute and secured dismissal of defamation
claims against client.
- Won a bench trial of the land use/quiet
title dispute.
- Won dismissals of multiple, complex wrongful death
cases against clients.
- Representing premises owners, won
cases through the trial court and appellate court levels.
- Won
insurance coverage lawsuits in four states, including a jury trial on coverage issues.
- Representing horse sellers, drafted documentation involving the sale of a $1.2 million breeding stallion/national
champion.
- Representing horse buyers, drafted documentation
involving the purchase of a $500,000 elite show hunter.
- Representing
sellers of a $400,000 national champion show horse, defended a lawsuit involving claims of breach of warranty and fraud.
- In one year, alone, won summary judgment for the defense of three different personal
injury lawsuits in three different counties.
National Litigation Work **
Jury trials in 4 states.**
Approved by state and federal courts in 20 jurisdictions around the country to actively handle particular cases on a pro
hac vice (specially admitted out-of-state counsel) basis.
Publications and Speaking
Author of
4 books, one of the books co-authored, and contributing writer to 4 other books published by the American Bar Association.
In 2019, the ABA published her newest book, which received four national book awards (more information at www.equinelaw.info).
In addition, author of more than 425 published articles, including 7 law journal articles for the ABA Tort Trial &
Insurance Practice Law Section Journal.
Speaking
engagements in 29 states, including the American Bar Association Annual Meeting, Institute for Continuing Legal Education,
International Risk Management Institute, Property Loss Research Bureau (PLRB) National Claims Conference, National Business
Institute, and numerous others.
Leadership - Local, State,
and National
Past President of the 46,000-member State
Bar of Michigan (2011-12). For more information and to follow her presidential travels, please visit the presidential
blog (www.sbmpres2012.com). Served as a Vice-Chair of a committee of the ABA Tort, Trial & Insurance Practice Law Section.
Past member of the ABA House of Delegates, which is the ABA's policy-making body.
Recognition
- Named
"Woman of the Year" in Michigan's legal profession by Michigan Lawyers Weekly (2016).
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America ® 2013-2024 in the categories
of Business Litigation and Insurance Law.
- Listed in Michigan
Super Lawyers ® every year since 2008 and named one of the "Top 100 Lawyers in Michigan" (2019-2023)
and one of the "Top 50 Women Lawyers" in Michigan (2013-2023).
- Recipient of Women Lawyers Association of Michigan 2018 Jean L. King Leadership Award.
- Recipient of State Bar of Michigan's Roberts P. Hudson Award and Michael Franck Award.
- Named by Crain's Detroit Business as a "Notable Woman Lawyer in Michigan"
(2017).
- Honored by Crain's Deroit Business as a "Woman
to Watch" (2010) and among its "40 Under 40" (2016).
- Recognized
among the list of "Top Lawyers" by DBusiness Magazine (2009-2010, 2015-2024).
- Recipient of Oakland County Bar Association's Professionalism Award (2000).
- Fellow by invitation of American, Michigan, Detroit, and Oakland County Bar Foundations.
- Trustee and current Vice President of the Michigan State Bar Foundation.
- Rated "AV" (5.0/5) by Martindale-Hubbell and 10.0/10 by Avvo.com.
- Senior Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, a national trial lawyer honorary
society.
Educational Background
Graduate of Emory
College and Emory Law School.
Our
Assurance to You
Clients deserve results.
While no lawyer can guarantee results, we consistently work hard to achieve them through the highest standards of advocacy,
professionalism, communication, preparation, and ethics. Numerous clients, ranging from some of the world's largest insurers
to small businesses and individuals in a variety of industries, seek Ms. Fershtman's guidance and entrust their legal matters
to her year after year.
Contact Information:
Julie I. Fershtman, Attorney at Law
Foster Swift Collins & Smith, PC
28411 Northwestern Hwy., Ste. 500
Southfield,
Michigan 48034
Phone (Direct Line): 248-785-4731
E-mail: jfershtman@fosterswift.com
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Happy to share that Julie Fershtman was just named a 2024 "Notable Woman
in Law" by Crain's Detroit Business and is featured with a group of other women lawyers in its latest issue.