Julie Fershtman is currently Of Counsel to the law firm of Zausmer, Kaufman, August, Caldwell & Tayler, P.C., with offices in Farmington Hills, Michigan, and Lansing, Michigan.  Together with her Associate, April L. Neihsl, Esq. (see below), they practice primarily insurance defense, insurance coverage, business litigation (plaintiff and defense), premises liability, sporting and recreational liability, and equine law.  Her expertise also includes handling matters in state and federal courts through trial and appeals, as well as mediation and arbitration.

Our Valued Clients

She has nearly 22 years of experience representing corporations, insurers, and individuals on cases and matters nationwide.  She has tried cases successfully before juries in Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois.  In addition, she has been approved by state and Federal courts in Michigan, Florida, Arizona, Georgia, Missouri, South Carolina, Massachusetts, Illinois, and Tennessee to actively handle cases as pro hac vice counsel.  She has also served as legal consultant on cases and matters throughout the United States where she works behind the scenes to help local counsel develop winning claims and defenses. 

National Publications/Speaking

She has written over 185 published articles on legal topics, has authored two law-related books, and has written three law journal articles for the American Bar Association.  She is now co-authoring a book on litigation for the ABA that is scheduled for publication internationally in 2009 or 2010.

She has lectured at conventions, expos, universities, and continuing legal education conferences in 24 states.

Leadership - State and National

Ms. Fershtman is active in bar associations on a local, state and national level.  For the State Bar of Michigan (www.michbar.org), she currently serves as Treasurer and is a past Chair of the Representative Assembly, the State Bar's 150-lawyer/judge final policy-making body.  She is also a past Chair of the State Bar of Michigan Young Lawyers Section, the State Bar’s oldest and largest section.  She is Secretary of the Oakland County Bar Association (www.ocba.org).  In addition, she serves on the Board of Trustees of the Michigan State Bar Foundation (www.msbf.org).

In the American Bar Association, (www.abanet.org), she is a Vice-Chair of the Tort, Trial & Insurance Practice Section's Animal Law Committee and serves as chair of its sub-committee on Insurance Law.

Recognition

In 2007 Crain's Detroit Business named her one of the "Most Influential Women" in the Metropolitan Detroit area.  The American Bar Association’s Barrister Magazine singled her out in 1995 as one of "21 Young Lawyers Leading Us into the 21st Century."  Crain's Detroit Business named her one of the "40 Outstanding Business Leaders Under 40" in the Metropolitan Detroit area in 1996.  She also received the Oakland County Bar Association’s “Professionalism Award” in 2000, making her the youngest recipient ever to receive this prestigious award.  She is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.

Background

She graduated from Emory College in 1983, earning two bachelor’s degrees, and Emory Law School in 1986.

Our Team

April L. Neihsl, Esq., her Associate, is a 2006 cum laude graduate of Wayne Law School, where she served as a member and editor of the Wayne Law Review.  She is a 2003 graduate with High Honors from Michigan State University. 

Our Goal

Our clients want, and deserve, results.  We consistently achieve results through the highest standards of advocacy, professionalism, communication, preparation, and ethics. 

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:  On September 27, 2007, Julie was sworn in as Treasurer of the State Bar of Michigan by Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Clifford Taylor.

Contact Us:

Julie I. Fershtman, Attorney at Law
Of Counsel to
ZAUSMER, KAUFMAN, AUGUST, CALDWELL & TAYLER, P.C.
31700 Middlebelt Rd., Ste. 150
Farmington Hills, MI 48334
Phone: (248) 851-4111, extension 160
E-mail: jfershtman@zkact.com
and fershtman@aol.com