Farmington Hills

32300 Northwestern Highway

,

Suite 230

Farmington Hills, MI 48334

T: 248.785.4731

F: 248.851.7504

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Julie I. Fershtman

Julie Fershtman concentrates her law practice in the areas of general insurance defense, insurance coverage, business litigation, premises liability, and sporting and recreational liability. Her clients range from major insurance companies and businesses to individuals. In addition, she is considered to be one of the nation's leading practitioners in equine law.

She has achieved numerous courtroom victories in a variety of legal matters, has successfully tried cases before juries in four states, and has been admitted to practice as pro hac vice counsel in state and federal courts in twelve jurisdictions. 

Presently, Julie is President of the 41,500-member State Bar of Michigan.  In the American Bar Association she is a Vice-Chair of a committee of the Tort, Trial and Insurance Practice Section. Additionally, she is a Trustee of the Michigan State Bar Foundation and a Fellow of the American, Michigan, and Oakland County Bar Foundations.

A frequent author and speaker on legal issues, she has written over 200 published articles, three books, and has lectured at seminars, conventions, and conferences in 27 states on issues involving law, liability, risk management, and insurance. 

Books and Websites Authored:

• Julie's personal website: http://www.fershtmanlaw.com
• Julie's State Bar President blog: http://www.sbmpres2012.com  
• Co-author, co-editor, Litigating Animal Law Disputes: A Complete Guide for Lawyers, ABA Publishing.  ISBN 978-1-60442-001-02. 2009.
• Author, Equine Law & Horse Sense, ISBN 0-964-8430-0-5. 1996
• Author, MORE Equine Law & Horse Sense, ISBN 0-9648430-1-3. 2000.
• Contributor, The Road to Independence, ABA Commission on Women in the Profession, ABA Publishing.  ISBN 978-1-61632-084-3. 2011.
• Contributor, Marketing Success Stories, ABA Law Practice Management Section.  ABA Publishing. ISBN 1-57073-399-6. 1997.
• Contributor, Marketing Success Stories, Second Edition.  ABA Law Practice Management Section.  ABA Publishing. ISBN 1-59031-251-1. 2004.

Highlights & Recognitions

Representative Matters

• Representing plaintiff in sales fraud/Uniform Commercial Code/Deceptive Trade Practice trial. Won on all counts and won 100% attorney fee award for clients.
• Won directed verdict for insured defendant at jury trial in defense of personal injury case in Michigan.
• Won directed verdict for insurer at jury trial in defense of first-party insurance coverage case in Ohio.
• Won a unanimous defense (no cause) verdict in equine liability case in Illinois after 4-day jury trial.
• Secured summary judgment for insurer in defense of complex first-party insurance coverage case in Chicago, Illinois.
• Secured summary judgments for equine business operators in personal injury cases; Won appeals of both rulings in the Michigan Court of Appeals.
• Won defense ruling at bench trial for premises owner/night club defending premises liability/intentioned tort case.  

News

• Julie I. Fershtman Sworn in as State Bar of Michigan President, September 15, 2011
• Foster Swift Attorney and Nationally Known Equine Lawyer Julie Fershtman Authors Equine Law Blog, Equine Law Blog, August 2, 2011
• Fershtman and Neihsl speak at National Conference on Equine Law, May 5, 2011
• Julie I. Fershtman Speaks at National Insurance Conference, April 5, 2011
• State Bar President-Elect Julie I. Fershtman Joins Foster Swift, October 25, 2010

Speaking Engagements

• Fershtman to Deliver Cooley Commencement Address, Thomas M. Cooley Law School, May 20, 2012
• Liability Issues with Julie Fersthman, May 2, 2012
• Law Day 2012 Public Service Announcement, April 30, 2012
• Gender and the Legal Profession’s Pipeline to Power, Michigan State University Law Review, April 13, 2012
• Fershtman will be the keynote speaker at the Women Lawyers Association Awards Reception, Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, March 28, 2012
• Fershtman spoke at Agribusiness Conference, Agribusiness Conference, March 21, 2012

For more, click here

Publications

• Release of Liability Defeats Claim by Injured Animal Shelter Volunteer, Foster Swift Equine Liability & Insurance Update, November 2011
• Texas and Iowa Equine Activity Liability Acts Amended - Time for New Signs and Contracts, Foster Swift Equine Liability & Insurance Update, November 2011
• “Mental Anguish” Damages Recoverable for Damage to or Loss of Real Property, Foster Swift Equine Liability & Insurance Update, November 2011
• Livestock Insurance Policy Notice Requirements, Foster Swift Agricultural Law Update, September 2011
• Beware of the “Business Pursuits” Exclusion, Insurance Community University, January 3, 2011
• Liabilities Caused By Loose Horses, Insurance Community University, December 2010

For more, click here

Memberships & Affiliations

Legal Affiliations:

• State Bar of Michigan
  • President, 2011-2012
  • President-Elect, 2010-2011
  • Vice President, 2009-2010
  • Secretary, 2008-2009
  • Treasurer, 2007-2008
  • Board of Commissioners, 1994-1997, 1999-2002, 2003-present
• American Bar Association
  • House of Delegates, 2010-present
  • Vice-Chair, TIPS Animal Law Committee, 2005-present
• Oakland County Bar Association
  • Board of Directors, 2001-2008
  • Secretary, 2007-2008
  • Professionalism Committee 1995-2002, Chair, 1998-1999
  • Inns of Court Committee, Secretary/Barrister, 1995-1999
  • Oakland County Bar Leadership Conference, 1995, 2002
  • Oakland County Circuit Court Bench-Bar Conference, Co-chair, 2003
• Board of Trustees, Michigan State Bar Foundation, 2003-present 
• Fellow, American College of Equine Attorneys
• Fellow, Oakland County Bar Foundation
• Fellow, Michigan State Bar Foundation
• Fellow, American Bar Foundation

Community Activities:

• Commissioner, Franklin Village Planning Commission, 1993-1995
• Chair, Franklin Municipal/Police Facility Development Committee, 1995-1996
• Appointee, Franklin Village Charter Committee, 1993-1994
• Secretary, Franklin Community Association, 1991-1992
• Director, Franklin Community Association, 1989-1991