Hinshaw Partner Barbara Fernandez Recognized as Businesswoman of the Year by Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce

The U.S. law firm Hinshaw & Culbertson today announced that partner Barbara Fernandez was recently named the recipient of the 2021 Businesswomen of the Year Award in the Outstanding Corporate Leader category by the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce.

The AXA Advisors Businesswomen of the Year Awards recognize outstanding women in business, as well as their commitment to being role models for other women. Awards were also given in the Entrepreneur, Philanthropy, and Public Servant / Non-Profit, Restaurateur / Retailer, Health Care Professional, Global Business Leader, and Real Estate Professional & Hospitality categories.

Fernandez was selected for numerous professional achievements, her support and mentorship of women in business, her overall involvement in the community, and the advancement of societal issues.

Fernandez was the first woman to be named partner-in-charge of the Miami office since Hinshaw established a presence there in 1988. Last year, she was actively involved in Hinshaw’s response to race issues raised by the death of George Floyd. She helped to develop Hinshaw's Black Attorneys Matter Referendum which represents the firm's commitment to further the interests of racial justice by the development of initiatives that will focus on Black and other diverse attorneys.

Fernandez serves as the Miami Office Mentor Coordinator (OMC) where she handles the partner and associate pairing where associates learn from and are mentored by partners. The OMC is responsible for administering the mentor program and serving as an advisor for young attorneys in challenging situations.

In her practice, Fernandez has developed a niche in consumer and class action litigation where relatively few women practice law. 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. She is also Co-editor of Consumer Crossroads, Hinshaw’s national Consumer Financial Services blog which is focused on the consumer financial services industry and offers analysis of judicial, regulatory and legislative developments that directly impact industry participants.

Active in the community, Barbara is a member of the American Bar Association, American Collector's Association, Members Attorney Program, Cuban American Bar Association, The Florida Bar and the Hispanic National Bar Association. She is the former Dade County Defense Bar Association Board Trustee and Past President (three terms).