Barbara Fernandez Honored as One of Ten Women of Distinction by MDFAWL in 2025

The law firm of Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP today announced that Miami partner-in-charge Barbara Fernandez has been honored as one of ten Women of Distinction in the 2025 Inaugural Miami-Dade Florida Association of Women Lawyers (FAWL) Impact Awards.

Fernandez was selected for making strides in advancing women in the legal profession. She and her fellow nine honorees have demonstrated their pioneering efforts, breaking down barriers, creating new opportunities for women in the legal profession, and championing issues to better the professional lives of women lawyers in Miami-Dade County.

Each nominee has been evaluated on the basis of their work, contributions to the legal profession, and status in the community. The Miami-Dade FAWL will recognize Fernandez and the women on an honorary virtual wall featured on their website. A total of 26 nominations were received for this award category, and 10 honorees were selected.

Other Impact Award categories include: Litigator of the Year; Dealmaker of the Year; Women Making History; Rookie of the Year; Government Lawyer of the Year; General Counsel of the Year; Managing Partner of the Year; and Women to Watch Under Age 35.

A dinner event honoring all award recipients will be held on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. at the Miami Beach Women's Club, 2401 Pine Tree Drive, Miami Beach, FL. 33140. For more information, visit https://www.mdfawl.org/. 

Fernandez is the Partner-in-Charge of Hinshaw's Miami office and a member of the firm's Executive Committee. She is also a member of Hinshaw's Diversity Committee and serves as the Miami office's Office Mentor Coordinator (OMC). As the OMC, she oversees the office's mentor program and advises young attorneys. Fernandez is also a former Co-Chair of Hinshaw's Hispanic/Latino Attorney Network and was a member of the Evaluation Committee for Hinshaw's Attorney Life Committee.

Fernandez has developed a niche practice in consumer and class action litigation, where relatively few women practice law. She has extensive experience in defending individual and class action claims involving the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), and the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

She is also co-editor of Consumer Crossroads, Hinshaw's blog publication. This publication is focused on the consumer financial services industry and offers insights on judicial, regulatory, and legislative developments that directly impact industry professionals.

Additionally, Fernandez has received numerous awards and recognitions from colleagues and the community, including:

• • Named one of Florida Legal Elite's Most Notable Women Leaders in Law by Florida Trend Magazine for two consecutive years in 2024 and 2023.
  • Included Among the 2024 Florida 500™ Florida's Most Influential Business Leaders from Florida Trend Magazine;
  • Named as the 2021 Business Woman of the Year (Corporate Leader) by the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce;
  • Recognized as an "Influential Business Woman" by South Florida Business Journal, 2021;
  • Named to the "40 Under 40 Outstanding Lawyers of South Florida Award," Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, August 2014;
  • Named one of Diversity MBA Magazine's Top 100 Under 50 Diverse Executive & Emerging Leaders, 2013;
  • Selected as one of the Daily Business Review's "Rising Stars," 2013; and
  • Selected as one of South Florida Business Journal's "40 Under 40," 2012.

Active in the community, Fernandez is a member of the American Bar Association, American Collectors Association, Members Attorney Program, Cuban American Bar Association, and Hispanic National Bar Association. She was also a former Co-Chair of the National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL) Next Level Affinity Group and was the former Dade County Defense Bar Association Board Trustee and past president, which she served for three terms.