ABOUT JULIE I. FERSHTMAN, ATTORNEY AT LAW:
Julie I. Fershtman is one of the best known and most experienced Equine Law practitioners in the United States.
Crossing virtually all horse breeds and disciplines, her law practice serves a national clientele of stables, industry professionals, associations, businesses, show management, insurance companies, trainers, clinicians, and individual horse owners.
With extensive trial, appellate, and arbitration experience, she has achieved numerous courtroom victories on a national level. In 2004, alone, she won jury trials in three different states, two appeals, and a major Federal insurance case -- all on equine matters. Her personal website, with more information, can be found at www.fershtmanlaw.com.
A member of the Michigan Bar since 1986, she is rated “AV” [the highest possible rating a lawyer can receive for abilities and ethics] by Martindale-Hubbell, an independent lawyer rating service (online at www.martindale.com), and has been listed in Who's Who in American Law and The Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers.
She is a 1983 graduate of Emory College, earning two bachelors degrees, and a 1986 graduate of Emory Law School. In 1995, the American Bar Association’s Barrister Magazine named her one of “21 Young Lawyers Leading the Nation Into The 21st Century.” In 1996, Crain's Detroit Business selected her as one of "40 Best and Brightest Business Leaders Under 40" in the Metropolitan Detroit area. More recently, she was named one of Michigan's "100 Most Influential Business Women" by Crain's Detroit Business in 2007. She became the youngest recipient ever of the prestigious “Professionalism Award” from the Oakland County Bar Association (www.ocba.org), which is Michigan’s largest voluntary bar association.
For her service to the equine industry, Ms. Fershtman has received several distinctions. CHA (Certified Horsemanship Association) honored her with its prestigious national "Partner in Safety" Award in 1997. In 1998, the American Riding Instructors Association presented her with an “Outstanding Achievement” Award, and she received the organization's "Partner in Safety" Award in 2007. She received an “Associate Award” from the United Professional Horsemen's Association in 1998. In 2002, she was honored with the Michigan Horse Council’s “Catalyst Award.” She is one of a select group of lawyers nationwide profiled online by the American Bar Association (ABA) “Profiles in the Profession.”
Ms. Fershtman is the author of two books, Equine Law & Horse Sense (published in 1996) and MORE Equine Law & Horse Sense (published in 2000). With speaking engagements in 24 states, Ms. Fershtman is the nation’s most sought after speaker on Equine Law. Her articles have appeared in over 400 publications and web sites.
Extensively involved in Bar Associations (lawyer organizations), Ms. Fershtman is currently the Treasurer of the 38,000-member State Bar of Michigan (www.michbar.org). She also serves as Secretary of the Oakland County Bar Association (www.ocba.org), which is Michigan's largest voluntary bar association, and is a Trustee of the Michigan State Bar Foundation (www.msbf.org). Active in the American Bar Association (www.abanet.org), she is a Vice-Chair of the ABA's Animal Law Committee, which is part of the ABA's Tort, Trial & Insurance Law Practice Section, and is Chair of its subcommittee on Animal Insurance Law.
Joining Ms. Fershtman in her practice is April L. Neihsl. April is a 2006 cum laude graduate of Wayne Law School, where she was an editor of the Wayne Law Review. She was a 2003 graduate, with High Honors, from Michigan State University, with an Animal Science major. April's life-long involvement with horses brings tremendous depth and expertise to the many Equine Law matters on which she works.
ANOTHER EQUINE LAW TRIAL VICTORY: On April 2, 2008, Ms. Fershtman represented the plaintiffs in an equine sale fraud dispute in the Livingston County, Michigan, Circuit Court. The judge ordered that the defendants take back the horse and awarded the plaintiffs their damages. At a hearing on May 16, 2008, the Court awarded the defendants to pay the plaintiffs over $40,000 in attorney fees and court costs.
Visit the Firm Web Site
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Julie I. Fershtman, Esq.
Of Counsel to
Zausmer, Kaufman, August, Caldwell & Tayler, P.C.
31700 Middlebelt Rd.
Suite 150
Farmington Hills, MI 48334
Phone: (248) 851-4111, ext. 160
IMPORTANT NOTE:
We're busy, but we always welcome and value new clients! If you are interested in contacting Ms. Fershtman, please remember that we need to avoid ethical conflicts (since Ms. Fershtman is counsel for several individuals and entities). For this reason, we ask that you please do not e-mail, fax, or mail us the details of your potential legal case or matter. Instead, please call Ms. Fershtman or her associate during normal business hours at 248-851-4111. They will discuss your matter with you first. Sometimes, if we cannot assit you we will make every attempt to refer you to a lawyer in your area.
