Trial Attorney and Former Circuit Court Judge James Ferrara Joins Hinshaw as a Partner in Fort Lauderdale

The U.S. law firm of Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP today announced it has bolstered its Business Litigation practice by adding James Ferrara as a partner to the firm's Fort Lauderdale office. Ferrara is an experienced trial attorney and a former Circuit Court Judge who has tried more than 60 state and federal trials through both jury and non-jury verdicts.

"Jim is an excellent addition to our team who will contribute greatly to our ability to service the business litigation needs of our clients in Florida," said Steven Lehner, co-chair of the firm's Business Litigation practice group. "Jim has the unique perspective of having overseen the litigation process as a circuit court judge. We are excited to team up with Jim and his clients, who will also benefit from Hinshaw's national footprint and our highly capable bench of defense litigators."

Ferrara focuses his practice on business and commercial litigation, including construction, contracts, shareholder disputes and closely-held business litigation, insurance, real estate, debt, and judgment collection, as well as personal injury and property damage claims. In 2017, he had the honor of serving as a Circuit Court Judge in Florida's 15th Judicial Circuit for Palm Beach County. He has represented clients in matters before the U.S. District Courts, the U.S. Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, Florida's District Courts of Appeal, and its Supreme Court.

Active in the community, Ferrara has served on The Florida Bar's Rules of Civil Procedure Committee and Grievance Committee for Palm Beach County. He was on the Board of Directors for the South Palm Beach County Bar Association and has been a member of the Board of Directors for the YMCA, legal counsel to Habitat for Humanity, and a Trustee of the Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce.

Ferrara holds a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating and is admitted in the U.S. District Court for the Southern and Middle Districts of Florida. He received his J.D. from Cumberland School of Law, where he served as the Associate Editor of the Law Review, and his Bachelor of Arts degree from Furman University.

Media Coverage

• "APRIL 1, 2024 ON THE MOVE" was published by The Florida Bar on April 3, 2024.
• "Hinshaw Brings On Former Fla. Judge From Shapiro Blasi" was published by Law360 on March 21, 2024.
• "Wake Up Call: Arizona Nonlawyer Program Catching ‘Street’s Eye’" was published by Bloomberg Law on March 21, 2024.
• "Former Circuit Court Judge Joins Hinshaw & Culbertson as Partner" was published by Bloomberg Law on March 20, 2024.