Meet Justin Cernitz, Esq. of Cernitz Law

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10 Jul 2025

Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Cernitz, Esq..

Hi Justin, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I went to law school largely because of my father. He’s a lawyer who’s spent his career representing insurance companies, and growing up, I looked up to him immensely. But he always made one thing clear—he wanted more for me. He encouraged me to chart a different course and stand on the side of plaintiffs, to fight for individuals rather than institutions.

Landing my first job out of law school felt like a dream. I was fortunate to work under a highly respected plaintiff’s attorney specializing in medical malpractice. He became not just a boss, but a mentor and a champion. He believed in me, and that belief helped shape my early career. When he was disbarred due to personal struggles with substance abuse, it was a gut punch. My entire world was upended, and I had to pivot fast.

That pivot led me to a large insurance defense firm. I knew going in that it wasn’t my long-term path, but it was necessary. And in hindsight, it turned out to be the most meaningful detour I could’ve taken because that’s where I met my wife. Six months later, I left to start work at another law firm representing plaintiffs, and then in 2010, I opened the doors to what would become Cernitz Law.

From the beginning, the firm took off faster than I could’ve imagined. The work poured in, and I found myself overwhelmed—but in the best possible way. That’s when I turned to my wife. She was working at a plaintiff’s firm at the time, and I asked her to join me. At first, she said no—she wanted one of us to have a steady paycheck while the other took the leap. I understood, but I didn’t give up. Eventually, she said yes, and in 2012, our professional partnership began.

Aside from raising our incredible son and being married to my beautiful wife, Cernitz Law is the most meaningful thing we’ve built together. What started as a “little engine that could” has grown into something beyond anything we envisioned. We now have offices in Florida, Texas, and New York—and we’re still expanding.

We don’t take any of this for granted. We push ourselves constantly—to serve our clients better, to grow smarter, and to stay sharp. I’m proud of what we’ve built, and I’m grateful every day for the journey we’re on.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Running a business, much like life, is a roller coaster. We’ve had our fair share of challenges. Beyond the usual hurdles—figuring out the business side of the law, building the right team, establishing effective systems, and putting the right structure in place—my wife and I faced an added layer of complexity that only those who’ve built something with their spouse can truly understand.

Balancing the dynamic between being partners in life and partners in business wasn’t easy. It forced us to confront each other’s strengths and weaknesses in ways most couples never have to. Learning to stay in our own lanes, respect each other’s roles, and separate the personal from the professional was a constant challenge—and at times, it created real tension between us.

But we pushed through. We communicated, adapted, and kept showing up for the business and for each other. And because of that, we came out stronger. What could’ve broken us became the very thing that deepened our bond and strengthened both our relationship and our business.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Cernitz Law, our primary focus is property insurance law. We represent policyholders in claims involving damage to homes, commercial buildings, and other types of property caused by a wide range of perils. These include hurricanes, hail, tornadoes and other types of windstorms, fire/lightning, plumbing failures, water damage, vandalism and theft, structural collapse, and more.

We also handle claims related to business losses, such as lost income or rental revenue as well as damage to equipment and disputes involving coverage under various insurance policies. In short, if a property or business suffers a loss and the insurance company isn’t holding up its end of the bargain, whether it be a denied claim or a claim where the insurance company did not fully pay for all of the damages, we step in to make things right.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
One of the biggest keys to running a successful business is knowing your strengths and being honest about your weaknesses. You can’t do it all on your own, and you shouldn’t try to. Surround yourself with smart, capable people—ideally those who know more than you in certain areas. That’s how you build something sustainable.

Getting organized early and putting the right systems and processes in place from day one will save you a lot of pain down the road. Don’t wait until things break to fix them.

And don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. No one’s going to market or promote you better than you can. Visibility matters. So do relationships. At the end of the day, relationships are the foundation of any business. Nurture them. Stay connected to your community. Your network is more valuable than any advertisement.

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