Herrnstein, John M.

Practice Areas

Complex Marital and Family Law, Litigation, Appeals

Practice Focus

Ms. Hernandez's practice focuses on complex marital and family law cases, as well as litigation and appellate law.

Practice Description

Ms. Hernandez represents high net worth individuals in complex marital and family law cases. Her practice includes international child abduction actions pursuant to the Hague Convention, pre- and post-nuptial agreements, equitable distribution, alimony, paternity, child support, and parenting issues.

Representative Clients, Cases or Matters

Ms. Hernandez's recent experience includes:

• Represented the wife in a high profile divorce trial where there were allegations that marital assets were obtained through fraudulent activities. The case was further complicated by criminal investigations, a Securities and Exchange Commission investigation, and numerous related civil lawsuits.
• Following a three-day trial before the Honorable James I. Cohn in the Southern District of Florida, successfully secured the return of three children, who were abducted by their mother, to their habitual place of residence.
• Represented the wife of a prominent doctor in the drafting and negotiation of a marital settlement agreement, awarding the wife $30,000 per month of permanent alimony.
• Represented the wife of a local businessman in the drafting and negotiation of a marital settlement agreement, awarding the wife $23,000 per month of permanent alimony and successfully froze $3 million in liquid assets during the pendency of the proceeding.
• Represented a mother pre-suit to a paternity action against the father, an NFL player.

Education and Bar Admittance

Ms. Hernandez earned a JD from the University of Miami School of Law (2001), where she was the recipient of both the Dean’s Honor Scholarship and Florida's Minority Participation in Legal Education (MPLE) Scholarship, as well as a member of the International Moot Court Board. Ms. Hernandez also earned a bachelor’s degree cum laude from the University of Miami (1998), where she majored in finance, was awarded the James A. Sawyer Memorial Scholarship, a departmental finance scholarship, and was the assistant news editor for The Miami Hurricane.

Pro Bono and Community Involvement

Ms. Hernandez was named a Rising Star in Florida Super Lawyers 2010 and 2011. In addition, Ms. Hernandez was recognized by the American Bar Association at the annual Section of Litigation Meeting in 2011 as an Outstanding Subcommittee Chair. Ms. Hernandez believes in giving back to the community and was appointed by the Eleventh Judicial Circuit as a volunteer guardian ad litem. Ms. Hernandez also works on behalf of Lawyers for Children America as an attorney ad litem. Further, she assisted in the preparation of an amicus curiae brief on jurisdiction to the US Supreme Court. Recently, Ms. Hernandez was involved in the representation of a Petitioner seeking the return of a minor child abducted by their father, to their habitual place of residence.

Languages

Ms. Hernandez is fluent in Spanish.