Julie Fershtman is 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 in the areas of general insurance defense, insurance coverage, business litigation (plaintiff and defense), premises liability, sporting and recreational liability, sales and contract disputes, fraud litigation, and equine law.  Her expertise also includes handling matters in state and federal courts through trials and appeals as well as mediation and arbitration.

Our Valued Clients

She has nearly 23 years of experience representing businesses, insurers, and individuals nationwide.

Expertise on a National Level

She has successfully tried cases before juries in four states.  In addition, she has been approved by state and Federal courts in Michigan, Florida, Arizona, Georgia, Missouri, South Carolina, Illinois, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, and Connecticut to actively handle particular cases as pro hac vice (specially admitted out-of-state) counsel.  She also provides legal consulting services through which she assists lawyers and their clients behind the scenes to develop winning claims and defenses in litigation.

Publications and Speaking

Ms. Fershtman has written over 185 published articles and three books.  Her newest book, of which she was co-author and co-editor, was published by the American Bar Association in 2009.  In addition, she has co-authored four law journal articles for the ABA.

In high demand as a speaker, she has lectured in 27 states at industry expos, conventions, universities, law schools, and continuing legal education conferences.  Speaking engagements include the American Bar Association Annual Meeting, Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Insurance Skills Center, and the Property Loss Research Bureau/Liability Insurance Research Bureau (PLRB/LIRB) Claims Conference.  

Leadership - State and National

Ms. Fershtman is active in Bar Associations on a local, state, and national level. She is currently Secretary of the 40,000-member State Bar of Michigan (www.michbar.org) 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's Young Lawyers Section, which is its oldest and largest section. 

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 co-Chair of its sub-committee on Insurance Law.  She was Secretary of the Oakland County Bar Association (www.ocba.org), from 2007-2008.  She is also a Trustee of the Michigan State Bar Foundation (www.msbf.org).

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 "40 Outstanding Business Leaders Under 40" in the Metropolitan Detroit area in 1996.  She also received the Oakland County Bar Association’s prestigious “Professionalism Award” in 2000, making her among its youngest recipients.  She is among only 3% of lawyers nationwide to be named a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.

Background

Ms. Fershtman 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, brings tremendous skill, knowledge, and analytical ability to the practice.  Ms. Neihsl is a 2006 cum laude graduate of Wayne Law School, where she served as a member and editor of the Wayne Law Review and was a recipient of the Silver Key Certificate.  She is a 2003 graduate with High Honors from Michigan State University. 

Our Goal

Our clients expect and deserve results.  Although no lawyer can guarantee results for a client, we consistently strive to achieve results through the highest standards of advocacy, professionalism, communication, preparation, and ethics.  And we pride ourselves on many satisfied clients who entrust their legal matters to us year after year. 

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:  In September 2008, Julie was sworn in as Secretary of the State Bar of Michigan by the Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court.  In September 2008, Julie was also named a "Michigan Super Lawyer" by Law & Politics Magazine.

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