Leslie B. Rothenberg - Miami, FL

The Honorable Leslie Rothenberg serves as a partner at Ferraro Law, bringing an exceptional depth of experience both at the trial court level and the appellate level. Judge Rothenberg is a highly experienced litigator and trial attorney with over 100 jury trials as lead counsel. She has also developed keen insight and exceptional written and oral skills as an appellate lawyer based on her fourteen years of experience as a Judge on the Third District Court of Appeal and her appellate practice for six years after retiring from the Court. Judge Rothenberg’s practice includes high-stakes product liability, wrongful death, and catastrophic personal injury matters, commercial and probate litigation, trial support, arbitration, and mediation.

Judge Rothenberg’s service for twenty-five years on the bench, including eleven years as a Circuit Court Judge in Miami-Dade County’s Eleventh Judicial Circuit and fourteen years as a Judge on Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal, has earned her the respect of her peers and the legal community. She is known for her dedication to the law and her clients, work ethic, and skill.

For example, during her tenure on the appellate court, Judge Rothenberg was elected Chief Judge by her peers and later served as President of the District Court of Appeal Judges Conference, where she oversaw judicial education initiatives and represented the appellate judiciary statewide. Over the course of her judicial career, she authored nearly 1,000 published opinions, many of which addressed complex issues in tobacco and asbestos litigation, wrongful death, constitutional law, corporate liability, and attorney conduct.

Before joining the bench, Judge Rothenberg served as a prosecutor with the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, where she prosecuted serious felony cases including homicides and capital sexual battery, and supervised an entire felony division. She later worked as a commercial and corporate litigator for a prominent Miami-based law firm.

Judge Rothenberg has tried more than 100 jury trials as a litigator and presided over 300 jury trials as a judge, making her one of the most experienced legal practitioners in the state. Her ability to see issues from multiple legal perspectives—having served as both trial lawyer and neutral decision-maker—makes her a valuable resource to clients, colleagues, and the broader legal community. She continues to serve as a mediator, arbitrator, and expert witness, with a focus on personal injury, appellate matters, and commercial litigation.

In 2021, she was elected to the Florida Bar Board of Governors for the 11th Circuit, and was re-elected in 2023 and 2025. As one of 52 governors representing over 111,000 attorneys, she plays an essential role in shaping policy and regulation within the Florida legal profession.

Judge Rothenberg is also a frequent speaker and panelist at legal education seminars and conferences. She has presented on a wide array of topics, including human trafficking, public corruption, sexual predators, constitutional law, closing argument strategy, appellate advocacy, professionalism, preservation of error, and the evolving role of technology in law.

Known for her rigorous work ethic and impartial perspective, Judge Rothenberg continues to bring a unique combination of experience, clarity, and leadership to Ferraro Law’s litigation and appellate teams.

Practice Areas:

Product Liability

Wrongful Death

Catastrophic Personal Injury

Education

• J.D., 1986 Nova Southeastern University - Shepard Broad College of Law
• B.A., Florida Atlantic University as a Communications Major

Bar Admissions

• Florida 1986

Judicial Service

• Circuit Court Judge, Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Miami-Dade County (11 years)
• Appellate Judge, Third District Court of Appeal (14 years)

— Chief Judge

— President, District Court of Appeal Judges Conference

Career Highlights

• Over 100 jury trials tried as a litigator
• Over 300 jury trials presided over as a judge
• Nearly 1,000 published appellate opinions
• Expertise in product liability, wrongful death, constitutional law, and complex civil appeals

Professional Leadership & Appointments

• Member, Florida Bar Board of Governors, 11th Circuit (2021–Present)
• President, District Court of Appeal Judges Conference
• Chief Judge, Florida Third District Court of Appeal
• Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee-Appointed by the Florida Supreme Court
• Capital Crimes Commission-Appointed by Governor Jeb Bush
• Instructor: Florida Bar Career Prosecutor/Public Defender Program
• Served on Board of Directors: Kristi House (providing services for abused children)
• Served on the Board of Directors: The Manhood Development Council (sponsored by the Urban League and created to identify and work with “at-risk” inner-city children)

Speaking Engagements

Lecturer on topics including:

• Human trafficking
• Public corruption
• Sexual predator litigation
• Constitutional and statutory interpretation
• Effective appellate advocacy
• Error preservation and closing arguments
• Ethics and professionalism
• Legal technology and modernization
• Proper use of extraordinary writs

Honors and Awards

● Received Leadership Award, Daily Business Review (2022)

● Featured in Attorneys at Law Magazine, Women in Law issue (2020)

● Honored by the Dade County Trial Lawyers for Dedicated Public Service

● Honored by Israeli government for service as a volunteer on an Israeli military

base during Operation Desert Storm

● Honored by The Florida Bar for my “Contribution to Operation Desert Storm”

● Honored by the Florida Association for Women Lawyers for “Outstanding Service”

● Honored by the Community Coalition For Women’s History

● Honored for “Outstanding Support and Leadership to the Police Explorers of

homestead”

● Honored by the Miami Police Department Crime Suppression Team