Justin counsels and represents small and large financial institutions, as well as high-net-worth individuals, in the financial services industry on a variety of employment law matters. He has a national practice litigating complex issues that arise in the financial services industry before state and federal courts, as well as the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Justin navigates high-stakes disputes and regulatory scrutiny with practical strategies that reduce risk and protect the bottom line by providing candid risk assessments and efficient paths to resolution. Clients turn to Justin for clear, actionable guidance that aligns legal tactics with enterprise objectives based on his national experience with regard to:
- Advising employers and employees regarding compliance with—as well as breach and enforcement of—restrictive covenants, including covenants not to compete, customer non-solicitation, and confidentiality agreements
- Litigating to defend against or seek temporary restraining orders, emergency injunctive orders, and other related relief
- Strategic counseling and tailored planning in relation to employee transitions and protection of critical business assets
- Representing employees and employers in regulatory investigations and customer complaints
- Form U4 and U5 issues
- Corporate raiding
Justin has represented hundreds of financial advisors, has significant experience in all facets of their business and in the financial industry generally, and has advised on some of the largest employee transitions in financial industry history.
At the University of Florida Levin College of Law, Justin served as a Senior Articles Editor for the Florida Law Review and published novel scholarship in the Review's March 2017 issue.
Education
J.D., cum laude, University of Florida Levin College of Law, 2017
B.A., English, University of Central Florida, 2014
Professional and Community Affiliations
- Meals on Wheels Sarasota Board of Directors
- Leadership Sarasota, Class of 2022
Honors
- Leadership Sarasota, Class of 2022
Representative Matters
- Shumaker Defeats Merrill’s Attempt to Block Former Advisors’ $129 Billion Business
- 10.03.2025 Shumaker – Shumaker Defeats Merrill’s Attempt to Block Former Advisors’ $129 Billion Business
- 09.26.2025 AdvisorHub – $129-Bln Merrill Breakaways Fire Back in Raiding Lawsuit
- Holdout FAs in Ameriprise-LPL Spat Must Turn Over their Cell Phones
- 07.24.2025 Financial Advisor IQ
- Shumaker Wins Defamation Case for Financial Advisor Against Merrill Lynch
- 05.02.2018 AdvisorHub – Merrill to Pay $750,000 for Defaming Broker by Insinuating Insider Trading
- 05.02.2018 Citywire – Merrill to pay ex-offshore broker $750,000 in defamation case
- 05.02.2018 Financial Advisor IQ – Merrill Lynch to Fork Over Big Payout to Fired FA
- Shumaker Victory Recognized as One of Largest FINRA Awards Brokers Won from Their Firms
- 04.12.2018 InvestmentNews – Biggest Arb Awards Brokers Won from Their Firms
- Shumaker Attorneys Defeat Merrill Lynch's Attempt to Keep Litigants Out of FINRA Arbitration
- 04.03.2018 AdvisorHub – Merrill Retreats from Battle to Fight Former Executives in Court
- 04.03.2018 wealthmanagement.com – Merrill Lynch Gives Up fight Against Former Advisors’ Rights to Arbitrate
- 02.08.2018 AdvisorHub – Former Merrill Exec Wins Skirmish Over Losses in His Stock Plan
- Shumaker Attorneys Obtain TRO on Behalf of Morgan Stanley
- 02.06.2018 AdvisorHub – Judge Hands Morgan Stanley Another TRO Win, Hands Off to FINRA
- 01.31.2018 AdvisorHub – Whose Client Is It? Morgan Stanley Argues Both Sides, Former Broker Claims
- 01.24.2018 AdvisorHub – Morgan Stanley Wins Another Restraining Order Against Former Broker
- 01.23.2018 AdvisorHub – Morgan Stanley Disses Former Broker’s Career in New TRO Suit