Most lawyers who leave their practice do so for a familiar industry. Judd Zebersky left for something entirely different: he wanted to build toys. Armed with a JD from the University of Miami School of Law and the experience of running his own firm, Zebersky pivoted to consumer products in 1997 and never looked back.

His entry into manufacturing was anything but conventional. Zebersky flew to southern China and spent months on factory floors, traveling to remote facilities on dirt roads, studying production techniques, and absorbing every aspect of the industry from the ground up.

Learning the Trade

“I went to remote places in China on dirt roads where entire families get around on a single motorcycle,” Zebersky told Miami Law in 2014. “I visited toy factories throughout the south of China and immersed myself in the manufacturing, design, and engineering of toys.”

That immersive approach gave Judd Zebersky a technical fluency that most toy executives never develop. He understood injection molding, blow molding, rotocasting, and hair rooting firsthand. When it came time to hire engineers and designers, he knew exactly what to look for. The operational depth he gained on those factory floors informed how Jazwares evaluated suppliers and built its product teams for years afterward.

A Company Built to Last



Jazwares built its reputation through licensed products tied to franchises like Fortnite, Minecraft, and Sonic the Hedgehog before expanding through targeted acquisitions. Wicked Cool Toys in 2019 added Pokémon, while the Kellytoy purchase in 2020 brought Squishmallows into the fold. The plush line exploded on social media, selling over 100 million units in a single year, with celebrity fans including Lady Gaga and Kim Kardashian amplifying the brand. Individual toys were priced between $5 and $30.

Alleghany Capital Corporation invested in Jazwares in 2014 and took a majority stake in 2016. Berkshire Hathaway later inherited the connection through its 2022 acquisition of Alleghany. When Zebersky stepped down as CEO on March 20, 2026, Jazwares distributed products across more than 100 countries and employed approximately 1,400 people. His legal training sharpened his judgment; the factory floors shaped everything else. See related link for additional information.

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