Tireless, Highly Experienced Lawyer Representing Businesses
and Individuals Locally and Nationally** Equity Shareholder at Foster Swift Collins & Smith, PC
Julie Fershtman is a lawyer with 39 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). She handles trials, appeals, and arbitrations/ADR.
Valued Clients
Serving businesses and individuals nationwide on a wide variety of legal matters. **
Representative Matters
Examples of legal matters handled:
Won
a contentious and complex appeal in the Michigan Court of Appeals in 2025 involving real property rights of neighboring landowners,
defeating a claim for hundreds of thousands of dollars in alleged damages.
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 a 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 million+ breeding stallion/national champion in the 1990s.
Representing horse buyers, drafted documentation involving the purchase of a $500,000 elite show hunter gelding
in 2017.
Representing sellers of a $400,000 national champion
stallion, successfully dismissed a lawsuit against them involving claims of breach of warranty and fraud.
Defended equestrian/equine injury lawsuits in multiple states representing horse owners
and businesses.
National Litigation
Work **
Jury trials in 4 states.** Approved by state and federal
courts in 21 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 co-authored. Contributing
writer to 4 other books published by the American Bar Association. In 2019, the ABA published her newest book,which received 4 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 (IRMI), Property Loss Research Bureau (PLRB) National Claims Conference, National Association of
Mutual Insurance Companies, National Business Institute, MyLaw CLE, and numerous others.
Leadership - Local, State, and National
Past President of the 46,000-member State Bar of Michigan (2011-12) and only the 5th woman in 80 years to
be elected to this position. Please visit www.sbmpres2012.com for more information. 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
Singled out as the "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 ® 2013-2026 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" (2019-2025)
and one of the "Top 50 Women Lawyers" in Michigan (2013-2025).
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, 2024).
Honored by Crain's Detroit Business as
a "Woman to Watch" (2010), "40 Under 40" (1996).
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.
Proud to be included in the 2025 issue of Michigan Super Lawyers® including its top lists of "Top 100 Michigan Super Lawyers"
and "Top 50 Women Super Lawyers." Also listed in the 2026 issue of The Best Lawyers in America® in the categories of Commercial Litigation and Insurance Law. Grateful
for "super" clients who make this possible year after year.
Results delivered. In 2020, Julie won a product liability
case for her client in the Michigan Court of Appeals involving complex issues of expert witness qualification; she also won
the case at the trial court level. In a sales dispute, Julie represented buyers, and won
a trial on their behalf involving issues of sales fraud/Breach of Warranty/Consumer Protection Act/breach of contract; in
that case, the Court ordered the sellers, who lost the case, to reimburse Julie's clients' monetary losses and awarded them
reimbursement of 100% of their legal fees and costs. She has won heavily contested commercial and personal injury cases at
trial and appellate court levels.
Consistent Results.
In one year, she won jury trials in 3 states (Illinois, Ohio, and Michigan), 2 appeals, and a major Federal
insurance coverage case in Illinois.
Named a Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, a distinction given to less than 1/3 of 1% of all
lawyers.
2020 Speaking Engagements. University of Kentucky Journal of Natural Resources and Equine Law Symposium (Lexington,
Kentucky); National Conference on Equine Law (Lexington, Kentucky) - Postponed due to COVID-19; "AgriCon" / IRMI
Agribusiness Conference; Legal Talk Network; Cornell Cooperative Extension, Equitana USA (Postponed).
2021 Speaking Engagements. National Conference on Equine Law (Virtual); American
Youth Horse Council (Virtual); Cornell Cooperative Extension (Virtual); Agricultural Claims Conference (Virtual); United Professional
Horsemans Association webinar (Virtual); "Agri Con" / IRMI Agribusiness Conference (Virtual); Ag Law Today
podcast; Georgia Bar Association Equine Law Section (virtual); Insurance Alliance of Michigan.
2022 Speaking Engagements. "AgriCon" / IRMI Agribusiness Conference (Sacramento, California);
National Conference on Equine Law (Lexington, Kentucky); New York State Bar Association (virtual), American Horse Council
Annual Conference, (Washington, DC), and 2 others.
2023 Speaking Engagements.
National Conference on Equine Law (Lexington, Kentucky - in person); "AgriCon" /IRMI Agribusiness Conference (Sacramento,
California - in person).
2024 Speaking Engagements. Six states.
"AgriCon" / IRMI Agribusiness Conference (San Mateo, California and Des Moines, Iowa - in person); Agricultural
Claims Conference (Nashville, Tennessee - in person); National Conference on Equine Law (Lexington, Kentucky - in person);
PATH International Region 4 Conference (Holland, Michigan - in person); National Association for Mutual Insurance Companies
Agricultural Risk School (Columbus, Ohio - in person).
2025 Speaking
Engagements. Four states (so far). "AgriCon"/IRMI Agribusiness Conference (Sacramento, California
and DesMoines, Iowa); National Conference on Equine Law (Lexington, Kentucky); Federal Bar Association - Detroit Chapter (Detroit,
Michigan); Women Lawyers Association of Michigan (virtual); MyLawCLE (virtual).
2026
Speaking Engagements. National Conference on Equine Law (unofficial).
** What State(s) Does Your Legal Matter Involve?
Why we must
know the state(s) involved in your legal matter. Regulations involving the practice of law prevent lawyers from practicing all alone in states where they are not
licensed. Julie is licensed in Michigan but clients have retained her to handle cases,
with court approval, in 21 State and Federal jurisdictions nationwide as lead counsel or co-counsel.For out-of-state clients who seek contracts,local counsel must approve the drafts.For out-of-state clients seeking representation with lawsuits,
local counsel will likely be needed in some capacity.
Respected and Highly Experienced National Lawyer, Litigator, Speaker, Legal Consultant,
and Author
