Julie I. Fershtman

Julie Fershtman is a highly experienced and accomplished litigator who has represented clients in a broad range of areas such as business, contracts, insurance coverage, agribusiness, product liability, personal injury defense, and equine law. She has litigated cases pertaining to several industries. Her clients range from major insurance companies and businesses to individuals. Her work includes trials, arbitrations/ADR, and appeals.

Julie’s extensive litigation experience includes areas such as contract disputes, fraud litigation, property damage cases, premises liability, business torts, fire and explosion cases, construction, and real estate litigation. Her expertise also includes agricultural matters, and she has represented insurance companies in crop loss litigation, insurance coverage disputes, as well as in insurance matters related to livestock, agribusiness, and farm insurance policies. An advisor to several insurance companies, she assists companies in reviewing and developing new policy forms.

Julie is widely considered one of the nation's leading practitioners in Equine Law. She has handled matters for a national clientele involving contract disputes, fraud, association liability, partnership disputes, and personal injury liability. Clients nationwide have retained her to draft a variety of contracts. In addition, she has helped draft and advocate for equine activity liability legislation with the goal of protecting and expanding the industry.

An experienced trial lawyer, Julie has achieved numerous courtroom victories and successfully tried cases before juries in four states. Her clients have retained her to serve as pro hac vice (specially admitted out-of-state) counsel in state and federal courts in Florida, Missouri, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Illinois, Arizona, Connecticut, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

With 38 years of experience, Julie has received extensive recognition for her professionalism, mentoring, and service to the profession. Michigan Lawyers Weekly singled her out as its “Woman of the Year” in Michigan’s legal profession in 2016.  More recently, Michigan Lawyers’ Weekly included her in its 2024 “Michigan Lawyers Hall of Fame.” She has been listed in every issue of Michigan Super Lawyers beginning in 2008. She is also ranked as one of Michigan’s “Top 100 Lawyers” and “Top 50 Women Lawyers” by Michigan Super Lawyers. The Best Lawyers in America has listed her in categories of Insurance Law and Commercial Litigation every year since 2013. Martindale rates her “AV” 5.0/5 (highest rating). She is listed as a “Top 100 High Stakes Litigator.” Crain’s Detroit Business named to its “40 Under 40″ based on her business accomplishments and twice recognized her as a “Notable Women in the Law.”

In addition to her law practice, Julie is active in multiple bar associations. She was the 77th President of the State Bar of Michigan, a 43,000-member mandatory bar, and was only the fifth woman in the State Bar’s history to be elected to this role. She is a past Chair of the State Bar Representative Assembly, the Michigan bar’s final policy-making body, and the State Bar’s Young Lawyers Section, its oldest and largest section.  The State Bar of Michigan awarded her its highest honor, the Roberts P. Hudson Award.  She also received the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan’s prestigious “Jean King Leadership Award.” She has served three terms on the ABA House of Delegates, representing Michigan. She is well-known to judges and lawyers across Michigan through her bar leadership and her co-chair work in 2015 and 2016 for the State Bar of Michigan’s 21^st Century Practice Task Force. She is Vice President of the Michigan State Bar Foundation, past Director of the Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society, and a fellow of the American, Michigan, Oakland County, and Detroit bar foundations. Fellow membership is typically reserved to approximately 1 percent of lawyers.

A frequent author on legal issues, she has written more than 425 published articles, eight ABA law journal articles (co-authored), two blogs, and four books. The ABA published her last two books. Her latest book, Equine Law and Horse Sense, received four national book awards since its publication in 2019, including a “First Place” in the NYC Big Book Awards, and a “Silver” Award from the Independent Book Publishers Association.

A highly sought-after and top-ranked speaker in 29 states, her topics cover law, liability, agribusiness, insurance, equine law, and risk management. Her speaking engagements include a law school commencement address, panels at three ABA Annual Meetings, conferences of the International Risk Management Institute, Property & Liability Resource Bureau National Claims Conferences in three states, as well as conferences of the State Bar of Michigan, New York State Bar Association, Kentucky Bar Association, and Washington State bar associations.

AV® Preeminent™ (5.0/5) Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory

Best Lawyers in America® - Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, 2013-2025

Michigan Super Lawyers, ® Civil Litigation Defense, 2008-2024

“Top 50 Women Lawyers,” Michigan Super Lawyers, ® 2013-2024

"Top 100 Michigan Lawyers," Michigan Super Lawyers, ® 2019-2024

Michigan Leading Lawyer by the Leading Lawyers Network, 2014-2025

"10.0/10 - Superb" (highest rating) by avvo.com

"Top Lawyer," in Insurance Law, DBusiness Magazine, 2009, 2010, 2015-2018, 2020-2025

Senior Fellow and Member, Trial Law Institute, Litigation Counsel of America, 2014 - Present

America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators®, 2023, 2024, 2025

Recognitions:

Michigan Lawyers’ "Hall of Fame,” Michigan Lawyers Weekly, 2024

“Notable Women Lawyers in Michigan,” Crain's Detroit Business, 2024

"Woman of the Year" Award in the Michigan Legal Profession, Michigan Lawyers Weekly, 2016

"Roberts P. Hudson" Award (the State Bar’s highest honor), State Bar of Michigan, 2018

"Jean L. King Leadership Award," Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, 2018

"Notable Women Lawyers in Michigan," Crain's Detroit Business, 2017

"Excellence in the Advancement of Animal Law Award," American Bar Association: TIPS Section, 2017

Michael Franck Award - State Bar of Michigan, 2014

"Respect for Law Award," Bloomfield Hills Optimist Club, 2012

"Michigan Top Lawyer (Insurance Law)", Dbusiness Magazine, 2009-2010, 2015-2018, 2021-2025

"Top 15 Women to Watch," Crain's Detroit Business, 2010

"Leader in the Law," Michigan Lawyers Weekly, 2010

"Woman in the Law," Michigan Lawyers Weekly, 2016

Inforum “Inner Circle” Award, 2010

"Metro Detroit's Most Influential Women," Crain's Detroit Business, 2007

"Professionalism Award," Oakland County Bar Association, 2000

"40 [Outstanding Business Leaders] Under 40," Crain's Detroit Business, 1996

"21 Young Lawyers Leading Us into the 21st Century," ABA Barrister Magazine, 1995

Industry Honors:

First Place, 2020 NYC Big Book Awards, Reference Book Category

First Place, American Horse Publications 2020 Equine Media Awards, Non-Fiction Book Category

Silver Award, 2020 Independent Book Publishers Association Book Awards, Pet Category

Finalist Medal, 2021 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, Animal/Pet Category

"Distinguished Service Award," American Youth Horse Council, 2013

"Equine Industry Service Award," Michigan Equine Partnership, 2013

"Partner in Safety" Award," American Riding Instructors Association, 2007

"Catalyst Award," Michigan Horse Council, 2002

"Outstanding Achievement Award," American Riding Instructors Association, 1998

"Associate Service Award," United Professional Horseman's Association, 1998

"National Partnership in Safety Award," Certified Horsemanship Association, 1997

Business Litigation and Commercial Matters

• Secured judgment for the defense in product liability case involving complex issues of expert witness qualification, striking opposing experts. Won appeal of trial court’s ruling in the Michigan Court of Appeals.
• Representing a plaintiff in the trial of a sales fraud/Uniform Commercial Code/Deceptive Trade Practice case, won on all counts and won 100% attorney fee award for clients.
• Conducted an intensive internal review and investigation for a Fortune 300 company to evaluate threatened claims of employment discrimination.

General Liability

• Won summary judgment on behalf of transportation and delivery contractors who were sued for wrongful death after explosion at a delivery site, dismissing all claims against them.
• Defended a foster care placement agency in a wrongful death case, securing dismissal of all claims against it in State court as well as subsequent Federal court proceedings.
• Won bench trial and secured dismissal of lawsuit against night club and its security staff involving claims of serious injuries to patron.
• Extensive experience in drafting waiver/release contracts and service contracts for a wide variety of sporting and recreational businesses.

Real Estate Litigation

• Successfully litigated a complex, multi-issue appeal in the Michigan Court of Appeals involving allegations of negligence, nuisance, trespass, and other issues related to real estate allegedly damaged by neighboring property owner.
• Co-counsel at trial on adverse possession/quiet title lawsuit, resulting in a ruling in clients' favor.
• Counsel for historic building owner in adverse possession and acquiescence lawsuit.

Agribusiness and Equine Industries

• Representing a national crop insurer, won arbitration proceedings on a disputed crop loss claim.
• Won a unanimous defense (no cause) verdict after four-day jury trial in equine liability case in Illinois on behalf of a public trail ride operator.
• Won a directed verdict at trial in favor of defendant farm owner in defense of a personal injury case arising out of serious injuries sustained from a runaway horse on the property.
• Successfully represented plaintiff in a nine-day trial for breach of contract against non-paying buyer and defeating buyer’s counterclaim asserting defamation.
• Obtained multiple summary judgment rulings in favor of equestrian facilities, horse rental stables, and equine professionals and won subsequent appeals of cases in the Michigan Court of Appeals.
• Defending sporting and recreational business operators, stables, equine industry professionals, and stables, secured numerous summary judgment rulings, which resulted in dismissal of all claims against the clients.
• Successfully represented horse buyer in litigation against sales agent involving allegations of fraud, secret commissions, conversion, and breaches of fiduciary duty.

Agribusiness and Equine Industry Transactional Work

• Drafted hundreds of contracts for individuals and businesses in the equine industry involving transactions such as sales, leases, boarding, training, and waivers/releases.
• Drafted a seven-figure sale contract involving the sale of a major champion stallion with retained breeding rights to seller.
• Drafted breeding contracts involving champion show horses addressing a variety of modern reproduction technologies.
• Served as counsel for the Michigan HBPA and for Michigan’s largest equine breed association.

Insurance

• Secured summary judgment rulings for insurers in defense of complex first-party property insurance and animal mortality insurance coverage cases in State and Federal courts in Illinois, Arizona, and Michigan.
• Won directed verdict for insurer at jury trial in defense of first-party insurance coverage case in Ohio.
• Drafted dozens of coverage opinions for insurers involving commercial general liability, environmental, property, animal mortality and specialty insurance coverages and endorsements. Also, conducted examinations under oath around the country to assist insurers in the investigation of claims.

Appellate

• Briefed and argued numerous successful appeals in the Michigan Court of Appeals and briefed two cases in the Michigan Supreme Court.

• American Bar Association
  • Michigan Delegate, ABA House of Delegates, 2010-2012; 2019-2023
  • Vice-Chair, ABA-TIPS Animal Law Committee, 2005-2014
• American Bar Foundation
  • Life Fellow
• State Bar of Michigan
  • President, 2011-2012
  • 21st Century Practice Task Force, Co-Chair, 2015-2016
  • Task Force on State Bar Scope of Operation, Structure, and Governance (2019-2020)
  • Chair, Representative Assembly (final policy-making body), 2001-2002
  • Chair, Young Lawyers Section, 1995-1996
  • Board of Commissioners, 1994-1997, 1999-2002, 2003-2012
• Michigan State Bar Foundation
  • Board of Trustees 2003-2025
    • Vice President, 2022-2025
    • Secretary, 2021-2022
  • Fellow
  • Chair, Projects Grant Committee
• Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society, Board of Directors, 2015-2024
• Oakland County Bar Association
  • Co-Ombudsperson, 2020-2023
  • 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 Foundation, Life Fellow
• Detroit Bar Foundation, Life Fellow

Community Activities:

• American Riding Instructors Association
  • Advisory Board, 1998-present
• Equine Land Conservation Resource,
  • Advisory Board, 2008 – present
• American Youth Horse Council,
  • Director, 2003-2007
• Equine Land Conservation Resource,
  • Director, 2004-2007
• Franklin Village Planning Commission,
  • Commissioner, 1993-1995
• Franklin Village Charter Committee,
  • Appointee, 1993-1994