Justin B. Shapiro is an award-winning trial attorney and lecturer in the areas of complex personal injury and wrongful death. He has acted as lead counsel in obtaining more than $200 million in jury verdicts and settlements throughout the State of Florida, including numerous record-breaking recoveries that have inspired the nation’s largest corporations to improve their safety practices. In 2017, he obtained a $36 million jury verdict for the family of a teenager who was struck and killed by a delivery driver, which was reported by as the largest pedestrian accident verdict of the year in Florida. Later, in 2022, he completed a $16 million settlement for the victim of a vicious sexual assault at a North Miami hotel, which remains the largest settlement in the history of Florida for negligent security at a hotel or resort. Justin’s commentary on his high-profile cases has been featured on ABC News, NBC News, New York Post, The Sun, The Independent, and Daily Mail.
As part of his diverse practice, Justin is an industry leader in the area of recreational watersports, and particularly, injuries involving jet skis, wave runners, and other personal watercraft (PWC). For over a decade, Justin has taken on the largest PWC manufacturers and rental excursion companies, achieving numerous multi-million dollar recoveries despite his clients executing pre-ride liability waivers. This includes a $3,000,000 settlement for the family of a woman who was struck and killed by an inexperienced jet ski rental customer in the course of a guided jet ski tour in 2017. His special focus on watersports cases extends beyond ensuring maximum compensation for his clients. He regularly provides insight and testimony regarding his cases to the Florida legislature to ensure each revision to laws governing watersports activities promotes the highest degree of safety.
Justin has a reputation for taking on especially challenging cases where other attorneys decline. He is a firm believer that those who cause grievous injuries should be held fully accountable regardless of any legal defense or technicality that undermines the concept of justice. To that end, in 2016, he represented a woman who came to Leesfield & Partners after multiple law firms declined to represent her. She was struck and run over by a vehicle while attempting to cross the street in Downtown Miami, resulting in traumatic brain injury and numerous orthopedic fractures. The driver of the vehicle had no insurance, prompting multiple law firms to withdraw from representing her. Justin took a more relentless approach and determined the driver’s employer should be held fully responsible for the collision. Justin argued that, even though the driver was not working on the day of the incident, and even though he was driving his own personal vehicle, his employer should nonetheless be held responsible because he was in Miami for an overnight work trip from Central Florida. After months of tireless work, Justin obtained a settlement of $6,000,000 where multiple other law firms failed. He and his team are routinely called upon by “big advertisers” and high-volume law firms to assert the quality and creativity required to achieve the greatest degree of success for their clients.
In addition to his success as a trial lawyer, Justin enjoys educating the legal community on his various areas of expertise. He is invited to speak to trial lawyers associations across the country on his proven techniques for maximizing the value of all severe injury and death cases. He is also called upon to lecture to national audiences on legal issues most commonly arising in Florida, including watersports injuries, maritime and boating accidents, and cruise ship litigation. He is a regular speaker at the American Association for Justice’s (AAJ) Annual Conventions, the largest trial lawyers association in the United States, with more than 50,000 members worldwide.
Mr. Shapiro earned his Juris Doctor degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Miami School of Law, where he graduated in the top 7% of his class. He received his Bachelor of Arts in psychology, cum laude, from the University of Central Florida.
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Practice Areas
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Chat withState: Florida
Acquired: 2011
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2350 S Dixie Hwy, Miami, FL, 33133
10 Client Reviews
Showing 1 - 4 of 4 reviews | Responsiveness
Posted by Juan | June 15, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Personal Injury
Review of Justin Shapiro of Leesfield Scolaro
After my wife suffered a serious accident in a motel (broken leg), I reached out to an attorney I trust who lives out of town. He spent some time looking around for an attorney in Miami who could help us. He eventually put us in touch with Justin, whom he knew only by reputation, and assured us we wo...
Posted by Nancy | May 22, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Personal Injury
The Best!!!
I was severely injured due to a fall on a cruise ship, and Justin was highly recommended. As this was my first experience of this sort, Justin patiently and caringly guided me through the entire process. He is extremely knowledgeable, professional and kind. Justin genuinely cares about his clients. ...
Posted by Marjorie-CT | February 15, 2017 | Hired Attorney | Personal Injury
My Cruise Vacation Nightmare
I contacted Leesfield Scolaro after deciding that I needed to take legal action against the cruise line after incurring a injury while on our cruise. Justin called to introduce himself after being assigned to my case by Mr. Leesfield. He was very caring and professional for the start. He immediately ...
Posted by William | February 08, 2017 | Hired Attorney | Admiralty & Maritime
All around excellence
I contacted Leesfield Scolaro (the firm where Justin works) following a jet ski accident in Miami felt positive and reassured with the initial consultation with Justin. This was the first time dealing with a lawyer and I had an immediate positive feeling towards working with Justin and his office to ...
"I endorse Justin without reservation. He has demonstrated an exceptional grasp of the law and is a superb litigator."
"I endorse this attorney as they are exceptional in their areas of expertise. I highly recommend this individual."
"an excellent litigator with impressive knowledge of his field and an ability to interact and connect with his clients, giving them not only great representation but helping them to understand and feel comfortable with what can be a very taxing and complex area of law"
"I endorse this lawyer. Mr. Shapiro is a skilled and respected member of the legal community. He is a zealous advocate for the rights and interests of his clients."
"Justin is a top notch personal injury lawyer in Florida and his law firm has an outstanding reputation of securing incredible results for accident victims. I highly endorse Justin and his firm."
"Justin possesses extensive knowledge in complex areas of personal injury. Such knowledge is consistently demonstrated in his thorough and insightful responses to questions on Avvo. He is a true advocate for his clients and I wholeheartedly endorse this fellow Florida attorney."
"As a close personal friend of many years, I can vouch for Justin's extraordinary personal character. As a newly admitted attorney also doing Personal Injury work, I can further vouch for Justin's incredible legal knowledge and skill. Whenever a case I'm working on calls for outside perspective, Justin is my first call."
"Mr. Shapiro is a knowledgeable and effective attorney. I would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a personal injury lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer. Mr. Shapiro is a very knowledgeable and dedicated legal advocate who consistently obtains outstanding results."
"Justin is a knowledgable personal injury attorney who has an ability to evaluate his clients' legal issues, no matter the complexity, and zealously represent their interests by articulating each case in a clear, concise, and convincing manner. His ability to advocate is natural and sincere."
"An extremely talented and well respected attorney in the legal community, I wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone looking for a lawyer who knows the law and truly cares about protecting the rights of his clients and getting them the most favorable result possible."
"Justin is highly intelligent and articulate. He's an excellent personal injury attorney who fights for his clients' rights. I endorse this lawyer."
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2020
Verdicts Hall of Fame, Daily Business Review
2020
ALM Top Ranked Lawyer, ALM
2020
Top Verdicts and Settlements, National Law Journal
2017
Rising Star, SuperLawyers
2017
Top 40 Lawyers Under 40, The National Trial Lawyers
2017
Florida's Top Pedestrian Accident Jury Verdict of 2017, TopVerdict.com
2016
AV Preeminent Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2011
Order of the Coif, University of Miami School of Law
2009 - 2010
Intern - Felony Intake Unit, Miami Dade Public Defender's Office
2006 - 2008
Intern, Office of U.S. Senator Bill Nelson
2011 - Present
Dade County Bar AssociationMember
2011
Juris Doctor - Magna Cum Laude
2007
Bachelor of Arts
2010
English
Spanish
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