Hinshaw Partner Barbara Fernandez Recognized as a 2021 Influential Business Woman by South Florida Business Journal

The national law firm of Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP is pleased to announce that Miami Partner-in-Charge Barbara Fernandez has been selected as one of South Florida Business Journal's 2021 Influential Business Women. Honorees were recognized for their strong record of leadership, performance, and innovation in their industry, plus meaningful community involvement.

Fernandez has developed a unique practice niche in consumer and class action litigation. She has extensive experience in the defense of individual and class action claims involving the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act, Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), and the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. In December 2020, Fernandez successfully argued a major case before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in a Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) matter on behalf of client Navient, after having secured summary judgment at the District Court level. She also represents mortgage servicers and mortgage holders in contested foreclosures, including claims relating to servicer compliance and loss mitigation efforts. She currently serves as co-editor of Consumer Crossroads, Hinshaw's national Consumer Financial Services blog.

In April of 2019, Fernandez was named Hinshaw Miami's partner-in-charge, the first woman to hold the position for that office. She supervises a total of 60 attorneys and staff. Barbara joined the Hinshaw Miami office as an associate in 2002 and has been with the firm for 19 years. She was promoted to partner in 2007.

Fernandez is a member of Hinshaw's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee. In the second half of 2020, she and the Committee were actively involved in the firm's proactive response to equity issues raised by the events surrounding the death of George Floyd. Fernandez helped to develop Hinshaw's Black Attorneys Matter Referendum which provides a roadmap for the firm to advance opportunities for Black and other minority attorneys.

At her alma mater, Florida International University (FIU), Fernandez served as a supervising attorney at FIU's College of Law's Medical-Legal Partnership Clinic, teaching consumer protection law and supervising student-lawyers handling consumer claims. She also served as an adjunct professor at FIU's College of Law, where she taught Legal Skills and Values III.

Fernandez is admitted before the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and U.S. District Court for the Middle, Northern, and Southern Districts of Florida. She holds a J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law and a B.S., cum laude, from Florida International University. Fernandez is married and lives in Coral Gables with her two sons. She is active with her son's school, Coral Gables Preparatory Academy by raising money and participating in school events.