The Michigan State Bar Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2026 Foundation Awards. Julie I. Fershtman will receive the Founders Award that honors lawyers who exemplify professional excellence and outstanding contributions to their community. The Access to Justice Award will be presented to David M. Blanchard in recognition of his exceptional work advancing access to justice for low-income families in Michigan.
“We are proud to recognize Julie Fershtman and David Blanchard for their leadership within the legal community and their steadfast commitment to advancing access to justice in our state. Their contributions have made a meaningful impact, and we are grateful for the care, integrity, and dedication they bring to this work,” said Craig Lubben, MSBF Board President.
FOUNDERS AWARD
Julie Fershtman is a nationally recognized trial lawyer and respected leader in the legal profession, with 40 years of experience. As a shareholder with Foster Swift, her practice has included business, insurance, agribusiness, product liability, and equine-related matters while representing insurers, businesses and individuals in trials, arbitration and appeals. She is widely regarded as a leading voice in equine law.
Beyond her litigation practice, Ms. Fershtman is best known for her leadership and service in the legal community. She is a past President of the State Bar of Michigan and has long been recognized for her professionalism, mentoring and commitment to the rule of law. Her honors include induction into Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s Michigan Lawyers Hall of Fame (2024) and being named Woman of the Year (2016). Julie retired from the Michigan State Bar Foundation’s Board of Directors after more than 21 years of service, including her tenure as Vice President beginning in 2022, and she continues her involvement as a Fellow of the Foundation. A prolific author, she has published hundreds of articles and four books, two of which the ABA published. She regularly speaks around the country on liability and risk management.
ACCESS TO JUSTICE AWARD
David Blanchard is a respected employment law attorney whose career is centered on advancing access to justice and promoting fairness in the workplace. His work focuses on challenging unlawful employment practices and ensuring that working people can assert their rights with dignity and security. Through public impact
litigation and collective actions, he has helped recover significant compensation for workers while driving broader reforms that strengthen accountability across workplaces and industries. David’s leadership extends beyond individual representation to building durable legal protections and resources that support working people and the public good. He has litigated employment and business disputes in state and federal courts and is widely respected for his commitment to ethical advocacy and systemic change. In 2025, through class action settlements, his firm helped to establish the Unemployment Legal Assistance Relief Fund, administered by the Michigan State Bar Foundation, to expand access to legal support for unemployed workers.
The Foundation awards will be presented in September during the Michigan State Bar Foundation’s Fellows Reception.
The Michigan State Bar Foundation, established in 1947, provides leadership and grants to improve the administration of justice and increase access to justice for all in the civil legal system.