Attorneys

Russell J. Ferraro, Jr. has been practicing law on the Treasure Coast for over thirty-five (35) years. He was born in Buffalo, New York, and attended Canisius College, where he received his B.A. in 1970. He attended Stetson University College of Law in St. Petersburg, Florida, where he received his J.D. in 1974. Russell was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1974, and has been Board Certified in Marital and Family Law since that distinction was first offered in 1985.

Russell has gained extensive trial experience over the last thirty-five (35) years first as the Chief-Assistant Public Defender where he was charged with defending clients charged with capital crimes and later as a private attorney where he been awarded an AV rating by Martindale-Hubbell and has been recognized by his peers as a “Leading American Attorney” and a “Florida Super Lawyer”.

Russell routinely litigates and tries cases related to complex financial and family disputes including those associated with dissolution of marriage, equitable distribution, child-custody and the valuation of closely held businesses.
In addition to his membership in the Florida bar, Russell is also admitted to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits, and the United States Supreme Court. Read more here.

RJ Ferraro, III has been practicing law since 2001, focusing on both Criminal and Family law. He was born in Stuart, Florida and graduated from Florida State University in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science. RJ received his Juris Doctor from Stetson University College of Law in St. Petersburg, Florida, and was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2001.

After graduating from Stetson, R.J. worked for the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit’s Public Defender where he had the opportunity to defend parties accused of crimes ranging from DUI to murder. The experience and reputation that he earned in this position allowed R.J. to successfully transition into his current role as a private criminal defense attorney charged with preserving his client’s rights in both state and federal court.

In addition to maintaining an active trial practice, R.J. is an elected representative for the Florida Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Board of Governors for the 19th Judicial Circuit. He is also a member of the Martin County Bar Association, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and is on the Board of Directors for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County, Palm City Branch. RJ founded and chaired the Michael Shields Memorial Inshore Fishing Tournament, raising over $50,000 for Martin County charities providing services to the community’s children.  Read more here…

James P. Ferraro has been practicing law in the Treasure Coast and Palm Beach County since 2010. He attended the University of Florida, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science. Following graduation, James studied law at Stetson University College of Law, where he excelled in his legal studies. James was a member of the Stetson Law Review, Moot Court Advocacy Board, and Phillip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Team.  He earned the highest grades in his first and second year legal research and writing classes, and served as a teaching fellow in Stetson’s prestigious Legal Research and Writing Department.  James was a Summer Associate at Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley PA, West Palm Beach, where he assisted with a wide range of personal injury and general litigation matters; he also held a summer judicial clerkship at the Fourth District Court of Appeal, working directly for Judges Martha Warner and Larry Klein.

James practices primarily in the areas of marital and family law, as well as civil, real estate, and financial services litigation. He regularly handles high net‑worth divorce cases, and has extensive trial experience as a result of having handled hundreds of trials throughout Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast in the financial services industry.  James has earned the highest possible rating of AV-Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, which includes both peer and client ratings, as well as ratings by members of the judiciary before whom he practices. Read more here…

* CV, BV and AV are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies.

The “AV” rating is Martindale-Hubbell’s preeminent rating, granted only to the top 3% of lawyers for legal expertise and overall professional excellence.  Martindale-Hubbell is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and the Judiciary, including both those who are rated and those who are not.