Judd Zebersky The Attorney Who Chose the Toy Aisle

When Judd Zebersky passed the bar and launched his own law practice, a career in consumer products was not part of the plan. Yet within a few years of practicing law, a different calling took hold. Judd Zebersky left his firm in 1997, told his wife he wanted to make toys, and flew to China to figure out how.

He holds a JD from the University of Miami School of Law. He used that education to understand contracts and structure deals, but the operational knowledge that would define his career came from factory floors, not courtrooms. He studied injection molding, blow molding, rotocasting, and hair rooting by working inside Chinese manufacturing facilities for months at a stretch, visiting remote plants throughout southern China.

From Factories to Franchises

Jazwares built its initial catalog around licensed products. Partnerships with Minecraft, Fortnite, and Sonic the Hedgehog gave the company distribution and retail visibility. Judd Zebersky then expanded through acquisition, adding Wicked Cool Toys in 2019 and Kellytoy in 2020. The Kellytoy deal delivered two of the most commercially valuable toy lines on the market: Pokémon and Squishmallows.

Squishmallows became the company’s signature product. The plush toys, which carry individual names, birthdays, and backstories, went viral on TikTok and attracted fans including Lady Gaga and Kim Kardashian. Over 100 million units sold in one year alone, with prices ranging from $5 to $30.

Awards, Investors, and a Handoff

Alleghany Capital Corporation entered as an investor in 2014 and took a majority stake in 2016. Berkshire Hathaway inherited the investment through its 2022 purchase of Alleghany. Jazwares growth earned recognition from TIME, Fast Company, and Fortune, while Zebersky personally received the South Florida Business Journal’s Ultimate CEOs honor in 2024 and The Business Report’s Top 50 Entrepreneurs distinction in 2023.

He stepped down on March 20, 2026. Chief Operating Officer David Neustein moved into the CEO role on March 23. The company that Judd Zebersky built now spans more than 100 countries and employs around 1,400 people. Visit this page to learn more.

Find more information about Judd Zebersky on  https://news.miami.edu/law/stories/2024/10/judd-and-laura-zebersky-toymakers-extraordinaire.html