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One of Florida’s most prominent Hispanic attorneys, Jany Martinez-Ward, is still in a jubilant mood after recently celebrating ten years of serving the Spanish- speaking community. She and her firm marked this momentous milestone with a big bash at the Temple House in Miami Beach, featuring Latin Grammy winner Farruko as the night’s main entertainment.
Martinez-Ward is the Co-founder of the Ward Law Group, one of Florida’s largest Personal Injury law firms. The firm focuses almost exclusively on representing Spanish-speaking victims who suffer injuries in car wrecks because of the negligence and wrongful action of others.
Originally from Cuba, Martinez-Ward has first-hand experience with the barriers many Hispanics encounter as non-native English speakers. When her family emigrated to the US over 20 years ago seeking asylum, her mother was arrested as soon as they crossed the border and she and her brother were placed in foster care. She describes it as the most traumatic experience of her life that left an indelible mark on her. Over the years, she continued to witness the challenges that Hispanics face with the US legal system because of the language barrier. Moreover, many of these people come from countries where the legal system is not as advanced as the United States or, worse; the system is corrupt. These reasons were her prime motivators for pursuing a career in law. Her mission in life: to help the vulnerable and poor and give Spanish-speaking clients a voice.
The journey to becoming an attorney was not without struggle. In addition to adapting to the American culture, Martinez-Ward had to master the English language if she was ever going to represent her community. She often recalls a time years earlier when her first English teacher told her that she could not become an attorney because she couldn’t speak the language. Fueled by her passion for representing her community and proving her teacher wrong, Martinez-Ward won a full scholarship and attended the University of Florida, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Spanish Literature. She then went on to Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center, where she earned her law degree. After receiving her license to practice, Martinez-Ward co-founded the Ward Law Group with her husband, Gregory Ward. At the Ward Law Group, she is a Partner and Head of the Pre-litigation and Marketing departments.
She said: “I hope my story will inspire others, especially younger generations of immigrant children. Regardless of the challenges they may face or the people who might discourage them because of their background, anything is possible if you have faith in yourself and God.”
As an attorney, Martinez-Ward has been a tireless advocate for the Hispanic community. In addition to representing her clients, she also creates awareness of changing local, state, and federal laws and regulations relating to driver safety. Her sincerity, passion and drive are unrivaled. As a result, she has risen to become a trusted household name in the Hispanic community. She has appeared on a number of television programs, including Telemundo’s Acceso Total, Univision’s Despierta America, Mega TV’s – Bayly and Mega Noticiero and America TV’s A Fondo and TN3, offering expert advice on issues of driver safety, insurance and medical issues.
Over the last decade, Martinez-Ward has established a reputation for excellence. She has also played a crucial role in expanding the client base from a handful of clients to over 18,000 families. Since launching in 2012, her firm has recovered over $485 million in settlements for its clients. Nineteen of those settlements are above one million dollars. Last year, the firm achieved one of the largest settlements of its kind in the country exceeding $100 million.
But it doesn’t end there. Martinez-Ward wants to do even more for her community. When asked about her future ambitions, she said, “I want to be an advocate for displaced people around the world who are unable to defend themselves. As someone who has also been displaced from my country, this impacts me on a very personal level. Ultimately, I hope to create a non-profit that will assist displaced immigrants and especially orphans to provide them with the resources to live a dignified life.”
This dedication and excellence have been recognized by numerous groups and organizations. Martinez-Ward was listed among National Trial Lawyers’ top 40 under 40 for 2018 and 2019. She was also recognized as a Top Lawyer in 2019 by South Florida Legal Guide. In 2018, The American Institute of Personal Injury Lawyers named one of their ten best attorneys. Most recently, Best Lawyers named her one of their “Lawyers of the Year for 2022.” Moreover, her firm has been awarded Best Places to Work for the last two years by local newspapers.
Throughout her career, Martinez-Ward has gained a mastery of the field of personal injury law. As a result of this, the Florida Bar has asked her to be an author of the chapter in its Handbook for lawyers entitled “Practice and Procedure in the Handling of Automobile Cases.”
When asked about the secret to her success, the 2022 Lawyer of the Year explained: “I believe my faith in God, my passion, and my commitment to serve the Hispanic community fuelled my success. When clients see that you really care about them, it makes a huge difference. I know what it is like to be intimidated and overwhelmed facing a language barrier and so I represent my clients hoping to help them turn their tragedy into a better future for themselves and their families.”
For further information about Jany Martinez-Ward and the Ward Law Group, visit: https://www.855dolor55.com/en
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