Julie Fershtman is an attorney with 38 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,
real estate litigation, premises liability, 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, won 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 them co-authored, and contributing writer to 4 other books published by the American Bar Association. The
ABA published her newest book in 2019,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 Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, 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 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, the ABA's policy-making body.
Recognition
- Named "Woman of the Year" in Michigan's legal profession (2016) and honored as a member of the Michigan
Lawyers "Hall of Fame" by Michigan Lawyers Weekly (2024).
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America ® 2013-2025 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" (2019-2024) and one of the "Top 50
Women Lawyers" in Michigan (2013-2024).
- 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 Detroit Business as a "Woman to Watch" (2010),
"40 Under 40" (1996), and one of its "Notable Women in Law" (2017 and 2024).
- Recognized among the list of "Top Lawyers" by DBusiness Magazine (2009-2010,
2015-2025).
- 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 honored by Michigan Lawyer's
Weekly as a member of its "Michigan Lawyers Hall of Fame" for 2024 and was named a 2025 "Top Lawyer"
by DBusiness Magazine in the category of Insurance Law.
