About Ellen Brotman

Attorney Ellen Brotman is the founder of BrotmanLaw PLLC with offices in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Washington, DC. Her practice includes attorney and law firm representation, attorney discipline defense, reinstatement, professional responsibility and ethics counseling. Ellen has represented lawyers before the Disciplinary Board of Pennsylvania for over 20 years.

Prior to starting BrotmanLaw PLLC, Ellen Brotman was a partner at Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads LLP where she defended criminal cases in federal courts, oversaw investigations, and represented professionals in state disciplinary proceedings. From 1995 to 1998, as an assistant federal defender with the Defender Association of Philadelphia, Ellen provided criminal defense for indigent clients in federal court at trial and appellate levels. Before coming to Philadelphia, she served as a law clerk to The Honorable Lee P. Gagliardi, United States District Court Judge, Southern District of New York.

Ellen is a frequent writer and speaker about attorney discipline, ethics and professional responsibility related matters. For over ten years, she authored the “Professional Conduct” column in the Legal Intelligencer and authors an “Ethics Corner” for the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers’ online journal “For the Defense.” Ellen is a past board member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the board of the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, where currently serves on the Publications Committee and the Lawyers’ Assistance Task Force. Ellen also serves on the Professional Guidance Committee of the Philadelphia Bar Association and the Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility Committee of the Pennsylvania Bar Association.

Bar Admissions

• Pennsylvania | District of Columbia | New York
• United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
• United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
• United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
• United States Supreme Court

Recognition & Awards

• Best Lawyers® — The Best Lawyers in America©, 2007–2026 (Criminal Defense: General Practice)
• Best Lawyers® 2026: Tier 1 Philadelphia Criminal Defense; Tier 2 Philadelphia General Practice
• Best Law Firms® — U.S. News & World Report, 2019–2023
• Super Lawyers®, 2008–2026
• Top 50 Women Pennsylvania Super Lawyers®, 2023 & 2025
• The Charles P. Gelso President’s Award — PACDL, 2019
• The Legal Intelligencer Women of the Year, 2014

Committee & Leadership

• ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility — Special Advisor, July 2024–present
• Philadelphia Bar Association — Professional Guidance Committee
• Pennsylvania Bar Association — Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility Committee
• National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers — Board of Directors, 2012–2015; White Collar Crime Committee; Editorial Advisory Board, The Champion
• Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers — Board of Directors; Publications Committee; Lawyers Assistance Committee
• American Bar Association — Criminal Justice Section; Center for Professional Responsibility

Publications & Speaking

• Regular columnist, The Legal Intelligencer — Legal Ethics & Professional Responsibility
• Frequent speaker at ABA, NACDL, PBI, and PACDL programs nationally

Community

• People’s Emergency Center — Board of Directors, 2005–2017
• People’s Emergency Center Foundation — Chair, 2017–2024