News

March 8, 2024

American Bar Association White Collar Crime Conference Panelist

You can find my recent column from The Legal Intelligencer on the legal profession’s duties and opportunities to protect the Rule of Law: https://palegalethics.com/.

The column highlights various issues that will be discussed on Friday, March 8th at the American Bar Association White Collar Crime Conference on a panel entitled “Recent Challenges to the Rule of Law: Obligations of the Legal Community. I am honored to be participating on the panel with legal lions Joyce Vance, Neil Eggleston, Jon Sale, John Keker, Judge Bernice Donald (Ret.); Mark Pomerantz, and moderated by Morris “Sandy” Weinberg Jr. This is an important topic and if you are at the conference, I hope you can join us!

(P.S. I’ll be at the conference with my Chief Operating Officer (aka my husband) Dan Austin and we will also be celebrating the 7th anniversary of our solo firm!)

January 26, 2024

Misleading Social Media Posts Land Montco Attorney With Suspension

The Legal Intelligencer – Powered by LAW.COM – By Aleeza Furman

“There are two things that the board and the court hates the most: and that is lying and stealing,” Ellen Brotman said.

Ellen Brotman quoted.

You can find this article, as published, here.

November 17, 2023

Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (PACDL) White Collar Seminar

Ellen Brotman co-leads panel on the subject of “Smith Act Prosecutions During the Red Scare” with co-leader Robert E. Welsh, Welsh and Recker, P.C.

BrotmanLaw is a Patron Sponsor of this event.

August 28, 2023

Pa. Disciplinary Board Floats Rule Barring Lawyer-Client Sexting

The Legal Intelligencer – Powered by LAW.COM – By Aleeza Furman

According to the board’s explanatory report, Pennsylvania’s disciplinary system investigations into “sex with clients” claims have increasingly involved “sexual communications by way of ‘sexting’ or similar communications, as opposed to actual physical relationships.”

Ellen Brotman quoted.

You can find this article, as published, here.

August 26, 2023

Released Today – BrotmanLaw’s 2024 Best Lawyers Awards

We are pleased to announce that the milestone 30^th edition of The Best Lawyers in America® has been publicly released today and lawyers from BrotmanLaw are included in this year’s edition. Our awards are now available at www.bestlawyers.com and can be promoted and publicized with your clients, peers, families, and friends.

Who from our firm is included this year:

• Best Lawyers award recipients

Best Lawyers has been regarded by lawyers and the public for more than 40 years as the most credible measure of legal integrity and distinction in the United States. Thus, recognition by Best Lawyers signifies excellence in practice.

Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® is based on a comprehensive peer-review survey, which this year, comprised of more than 13.7 million confidential evaluations from your peers. This year alone, almost 25,000 voters responded to our survey. Our purely peer review methodology is at the core of our company’s credo, as we truly believe the best lawyers know who the best lawyers are.

March 21, 2023

‘If You Don’t Register, You’re Going to Get Suspended’: Pa. Suspensions for Unpaid Registration Fees Hit Record Low

The Legal Intelligencer – Powered by LAW.COM – By Aleeza Furman

Administrative suspensions for Pennsylvania lawyers who failed to pay their annual registration hit a record low in 2022.
Attorneys said the Disciplinary Board has been making a concerted push to alert lawyers when registration deadlines are approaching.
Disciplinary actions in Pennsylvania remained fairly consistent with previous years, according to the board’s annual report.

Disciplinary attorney Ellen Brotman, a solo practitioner, said she’s seen the effects of the board’s push. She said email notifications alerting lawyers about deadlines have proven more effective than snail mail, and more attorneys are seeing the board’s monthly newsletter reporting on recent suspensions and reinstatement.

“There’s just a more heightened awareness of the fact that if you don’t register, you’re going to get suspended,” she said.

Ellen Brotman quoted.

You can find this article, as published, here.

November 28, 2022

Ellen Brotman Recognized by 2023 Best Lawyers in America© – Sixth Consecutive Year Since Firm Inception

Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. The methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.

Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.

Read more here.

See Ellen’s Best Lawyers in America© profile here.

November 8, 2022

Pa. CLE Board Says Legal Profession Would Benefit From Mandatory Diversity and Harassment Training

The Legal Intelligencer – Powered by LAW.COM – By Aleeza Furman

“In a very important way, what it’s saying is that diversity and inclusion is important to our judicial system and our justice system, and it’s also saying that it’s not something that comes naturally to people. It’s something that can be taught.”

Brotman, too, said she was disappointed to see that the rule would only create a one-time requirement, but she said the board likely did so out of consideration of attorneys who may resist the change.

“It’s a quantum leap forward,” she said, “but there are further quantum leaps forward that need to be made.”

Ellen Brotman quoted.

You can find this article, as published, here.

November 2, 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BrotmanLaw Included in U.S. News and Best Lawyers^® Release of 2023 “Best Law Firms” Awards

BrotmanLaw has been named a “Best Law Firm” for 2023 by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers^®. The firm was recognized in the Regional Rankings for Metro Philadelphia, Tier 2 in Criminal Defense: General Practice and Tier 3 in Criminal Defense: White-Collar.

Firms included in the 2023 Edition of U.S. News – Best Lawyers^® “Best Law Firms” are recognized for professional excellence with consistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. To be eligible for a ranking, a firm must first have a lawyer recognized in The Best Lawyers in America©, which recognizes the top 5% of private practicing lawyers in the United States. Achieving a tiered ranking signals a unique combination of quality law practice and breadth of legal expertise.

For the 13th consecutive year, “Best Law Firms” has awarded the most elite and talented law firms across the country through a thorough and trusted data review process. Read about the celebration of thirteen years of excellence here.

October 24, 2022

BrotmanLaw granted Women’s Business Enterprise and Women-Owned Small Business Certifications – Sixth Consecutive Year

WBENC certification validates that a business is at least 51 percent owned, controlled, operated and managed by a woman or women. Our world-class certification standard is accepted by more than 1,000 corporations representing America’s most prestigious brands, in addition to many states, cities and government entities. WBENC is the largest certifier of women-owned businesses in the U.S. and a leading advocate for women business owners and entrepreneurs.

BrotmanLaw is certified as a Women’s Business Enterprise by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the nation’s largest third-party certifier of the businesses owned and operated by women in the U.S. We recognize the commitment to supplier diversity that is embraced by corporations and government agencies today and we can add diversity to your supply chain.

July 25, 2022

Counseling Clients After ‘Dobbs’: Is It Legal Advice or Aiding and Abetting?

The Legal Intelligencer – Powered by LAW.COM – Commentary By Ellen Brotman & Ellen Yaroshefsky 

As attorneys, what advice can we give without crossing the line into illegal aiding and abetting? In our discussion, we do not provide definitive answers. At this inflection point in our history, we only have possibilities and questions.

You can find this article, as published, here.

July 6, 2022

With Rules Change On Ice, Pa. Disciplinary Board Still Flexes Muscles On Discrimination, Harassment

The Legal Intelligencer – Powered by LAW.COM – By Justin Henry

“I think they are far more punitive in their approach than they used to be. I’ve also seen a real toughening up, seeking severe discipline for cases with some sort of sexual context,” said one attorney who represents clients before the Board.

Ellen Brotman quoted.

You can find this article, as published, here.

June 14, 2022

New Webinar Series: Attorney Discipline in Pennsylvania Updates and Hot Takes

Event: Tuesday, June 14, 2022 at 1:00-2:00 PM (ET)

PBI launches a new lunch-and-learn series that focuses on attorney discipline — 1 ethics credit!

Hosts Ellen Brotman and Amy J. Coco — both experienced ethics attorneys — introduce you to a monthly “mystery” guest in this exciting new series beginning next month.

Topics will focus on different aspects of the disciplinary system, including initial complaint to reinstatement, private discipline to retirement to administrative suspensions, and the three intersecting sets of rules and administrative regulations that govern the practice of law in Pennsylvania

November 4, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BrotmanLaw Included in U.S. News and Best Lawyers^® Release of 2022 “Best Law Firms” Awards

BrotmanLaw has been named a “Best Law Firm” for 2022 by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers^®. The firm was recognized in the Regional Rankings for Metro Philadelphia, Tier 3 in the two practice categories of Criminal Defense,  White-Collar and Criminal Defense,  General Practice.

Firms included in the 2022 Edition of U.S. News – Best Lawyers^® “Best Law Firms” are recognized for professional excellence with consistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. To be eligible for a ranking, a firm must first have a lawyer recognized in The Best Lawyers in America©, which recognizes the top 5% of private practicing lawyers in the United States. Achieving a tiered ranking signals a unique combination of quality law practice and breadth of legal expertise.

October 22, 2021

BrotmanLaw granted Women’s Business Enterprise and Women-Owned Small Business Certifications – Fifth Consecutive Year

WBENC certification validates that a business is at least 51 percent owned, controlled, operated and managed by a woman or women. Our world-class certification standard is accepted by more than 1,000 corporations representing America’s most prestigious brands, in addition to many states, cities and government entities. WBENC is the largest certifier of women-owned businesses in the U.S. and a leading advocate for women business owners and entrepreneurs.

BrotmanLaw is certified as a Women’s Business Enterprise by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the nation’s largest third-party certifier of the businesses owned and operated by women in the U.S. We recognize the commitment to supplier diversity that is embraced by corporations and government agencies today and we can add diversity to your supply chain.

August 19, 2021

Ellen Brotman Recognized by 2022 Best Lawyers in America© – Fifth Consecutive Year Since Firm Inception

Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. The methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.

Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.

Read more here.

See Ellen’s Best Lawyers in America© profile here.

July 23, 2021

McSwain ‘Partisan Disgrace’ Letter Puts Firm in Awkward Spot?

Law360 – By Matt Fair

While Duane Morris LLP has sought to distance itself from comments made by firm partner and former U.S. attorney William McSwain calling Pennsylvania’s presidential election a “partisan disgrace,” the firm’s ongoing work fighting claims of election irregularities in the state raises questions about possible conflicts, experts say.

Ellen Brotman quoted.

You can find this article, as published, here.

March 5, 2021

Are You Committing the Unauthorized Practice of Law in Your Kitchen?

The Legal Intelligencer – Powered by LAW.COM – By Ellen C. Brotman and Lynn Marietta Nichols

While we may still be representing Pennsylvania clients in Pennsylvania matters, does it matter if we are not doing it in Pennsylvania?

Co-authors Ellen Brotman and Lynn Marietta Nichols

You can find this article, as published, here.

February 1, 2021

Pennsylvania Litigators Say Castor Is ‘Perfect for the Job’ of Trump Impeachment Defense Counsel

The Legal Intelligencer – Powered by LAW.COM – By Max Mitchell

Bruce L. Castor Jr., who is well known for not shying away from controversial clients, is a sharp litigator, unafraid to buck the establishment and no stranger to the spotlight, said attorneys who know him. Trump won’t be able to “boss around” the veteran litigator, one said.

Ellen Brotman quoted.

You can find this article, as published, here.

January 13, 2021

BrotmanLaw granted Women’s Business Enterprise and Women-Owned Small Business Certifications – Fourth Consecutive Year

WBENC certification validates that a business is at least 51 percent owned, controlled, operated and managed by a woman or women. Our world-class certification standard is accepted by more than 1,000 corporations representing America’s most prestigious brands, in addition to many states, cities and government entities. WBENC is the largest certifier of women-owned businesses in the U.S. and a leading advocate for women business owners and entrepreneurs.

BrotmanLaw is certified as a Women’s Business Enterprise by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the nation’s largest third-party certifier of the businesses owned and operated by women in the U.S. We recognize the commitment to supplier diversity that is embraced by corporations and government agencies today and we can add diversity to your supply chain.

January 7, 2021

‘Used Lawyer’s Services to Perpetrate a Crime’: Trump Lawyer in Pa. Seeks Removal From Election Dispute

The Legal Intelligencer – Powered by LAW.COM – By Max Mitchell

The filing comes the day after a mob of Trump supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol building in a fury widely seen as having been incited by the president.

Ellen Brotman quoted.

You can find this article, as published, here.

December 22, 2020

People in the News

The Legal Intelligencer – Powered by LAW.COM – By Aleeza Furman

Ellen Brotman of BrotmanLaw moderated a panel of three white-collar lawyers on the issue of “Ethical Internal Investigations: Protecting the Company, the Individual and Yourself.”

Brotman’s co-panelists were Susan Bozorgi, founder of the white-collar boutique Bozorgi Law in Miami; Nicole A. Phillips, former assistant U.S. attorney and partner in the white-collar department at Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads; and Preston Pugh, former assistant U.S. attorney and in-house counsel of a Fortune Ten company and a partner at Crowell & Moring’s Washington, D.C., office.

The panel was presented by LawLine and explored ethics issues that arise in conducting internal investigations, including the determination and resolution of conflicts, preserving privilege and the importance of joint defense agreements.

Brotman focuses her practice on professional responsibility and ethics, criminal defense and appellate advocacy.

You can find this article, as published, here.

November 5, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BrotmanLaw Included in U.S. News and Best Lawyers^® Release of 2021 “Best Law Firms” Awards

BrotmanLaw has been named a “Best Law Firm” for 2021 by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers^®. The firm was recognized in the Regional Rankings for Metro Philadelphia, Tier 3 in the two practice categories of Criminal Defense,  White-Collar and Criminal Defense,  General Practice.

Firms included in the 2021 Edition of U.S. News – Best Lawyers^® “Best Law Firms” are recognized for professional excellence with consistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. To be eligible for a ranking, a firm must first have a lawyer recognized in The Best Lawyers in America©, which recognizes the top 5% of private practicing lawyers in the United States. Achieving a tiered ranking signals a unique combination of quality law practice and breadth of legal expertise.

October 23, 2020

Calm Is Overrated:  We Need to Take a Stand Now 

The Legal Intelligencer – Powered by LAW.COM – By Ellen Brotman

At the time I wrote that article, I did not know that the science that could protect us and guide our decisions would be attacked by the very people that should be promoting it, that sensible public health measures that could prevent the spread of disease and save lives would be politicized to divide us and distract us from the greed and corruption in our government.

You can find this article, as published, here.

September 3, 2020

It Doesn’t Break Ethical Obligations. So Why Is Reddit Still Scaring Off Attorneys?

The Legal Intelligencer – Powered by LAW.COM – By Victoria Hudgins

Ethical obligations won’t stand in the way of lawyers looking to leveraging Reddit for business development. But lawyers might struggle to get over the social media “bad rap” and a possible threat to attorney-client privilege.

Ellen Brotman quoted.

You can find this article, as published, here.

August 21. 2020

Ellen Brotman named to 2021 Best Lawyers^® list

August 21, 2020 — BrotmanLaw is pleased to announce that Ellen Brotman has been included in the 2021 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence.

This is the FIFTEENTH year in a row that Ellen Brotman has been included in The Best Lawyers in America^© .

Best Lawyers has published their list for over three decades, earning the respect of the profession, the media, and the public as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals. Its first international list was published in 2006 and since then has grown to provide lists in over 75 countries.

“Best Lawyers was founded in 1981 with the purpose of highlighting the extraordinary accomplishments of those in the legal profession. After three decades, we are proud to continue to serve as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals worldwide,” says CEO Phillip Greer.

Lawyers on The Best Lawyers in America list are divided by geographic region and practice areas. They are reviewed by their peers on the basis of professional expertise, and undergo an authentication process to make sure they are in current practice and in good standing.

Best Lawyers^® lists are compiled based on an exhaustive peer-review evaluation. Almost 108,000 industry leading lawyers are eligible to vote (from around the world), and Best Lawyers^® has received over 13 million evaluations on the legal abilities of other lawyers based on their specific practice areas around the world. For the 2021 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America^©, 9.4 million votes were analyzed, which resulted in more than 67,000 leading lawyers being included in the new edition. Lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed; therefore inclusion in Best Lawyers^® is considered a singular honor.

BrotmanLaw would like to congratulate the following lawyer named to 2021 The Best Lawyers in America list:

Ellen Brotman – Criminal Defense: General Practice and Criminal Defense: White-Collar

See Ellen Brotman’s profile here.

May 2020

Ethical Succession Planning for Solo Firms: Exit Stage Right

For The Defense Vol.5, Issue 2 – By Ellen Brotman

First published by the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, For The Defense, Vol. 5 Issue 2 (May 2020)

You can also find this article, as published, here.

And also on my LawBlog, here.

May 28, 2020 – CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Ellen Brotman of BrotmanLaw to speak on the “Professional Responsibility Lawyers in the Spotlight Panel – Lawyering in the Washington, DC Spotlight” at the 46th ABA National Conference on Professional Responsibility in New Orleans, LA

The 46th ABA National Conference on Professional Responsibility will be held this year at the New Orleans Marriott May 27-29, 2020. Ellen Brotman (BrotmanLaw, Philadelphia, PA) will be joined by Bruce Green (Louis Stein Chair of Law; Director, Stein Center at Fordham University School of Law) and Kathleen Clark (Attorney – Ethics Consultant – Expert, Washington, DC) for a Professional Responsibility Lawyers in the Spotlight panel on Wednesday, May 28^th at 3:20pm. This conference is preeminent educational and networking opportunity in the field of ethics and professional responsibility. Leading experts, scholars and practitioners from across the country will address trends and developments in legal ethics, professional discipline, professionalism and practice issues.

February 21, 2020

PSU Ethics Case Brings Conduct Rules’ Clarity Into Question

Law360 (Analysis) – By Matt Fair

Ellen Brotman quoted.

You can find this article, as published, here.

January 2, 2020

Lancaster President Judge Gets ‘Letter of Counsel’ for Allegedly Invoking His Office During Traffic Stop

The Legal Intelligencer – Powered by LAW.COM – By Max Mitchell

Ellen Brotman quoted.

You can find this article, as published, here.

December 17, 2019

A. Nicole Tate-Phillips and Ellen C Brotman Present at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute

Nicole Tate-Phillips and Ellen Brotman of BrotmanLaw had a great time presenting “There’s a Rule for That: Ethical Issues in Criminal Defense” for Pennsylvania Bar Institute‘s Criminal Law Update — thanks to course planner Troy Wilson for the invite! (One big takeaway: PA lawyers — if you are putting your flat fees directly into operating — read RPC 1.15(i) to make sure you are doing it right! @The Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has all the rules right on their website here.)

November 29, 2019

‘Tis the Season – To Extend a Hand to Your Fellow Professional

The Legal Intelligencer – Powered by LAW.COM – By Ellen Brotman

Whether an impaired attorney is in your firm, beside you as co-counsel on a case, or even opposing you in a matter, your awareness of that impairment implicates several of the Rules of Professional Conduct.

Reprinted with permission from the November 29, 2019 issue of The Legal Intelligencer. © 2019 ALM Media Properties, LLC. Further duplication without permission is prohibited.  All rights reserved.

You can also find this article, as published, here.

And also on my LawBlog, here.

November 22, 2019

Ellen Brotman Moderates Ethics Panel for the PBI Business Law Institute, Philadelphia, PA

On November, 22, Ellen Brotman of BrotmanLaw moderated an ethics panel for the PBI Business Law Institute with co-panelists Abe Reich, Partner and Chair Emeritus of Fox Rothschild, and Tom Wilkinson, Partner at Cozen O’Connor and past president of the Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA). The panel discussed various ethics issues faced by in-house counsel and commercial litigators including new precedents from the Pennsylvania courts on attorney-client privilege and work-product issues. All three presenters practice extensively in the area of professional responsibility and ethics and Brotman also represents white-collar defendants in federal and state courts.

November 1, 2019

BrotmanLaw Included in U.S. News and Best Lawyers Release of 2020 “Best Law Firms” Awards

BrotmanLaw has been named a “Best Law Firm” for 2020 by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers. The firm was recognized in the Regional Rankings for Metro Philadelphia, Tier 3 in the two practice categories of Criminal Defense,  White-Collar and Criminal Defense,  General Practice.

Firms included in the 2020 Edition of U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” are recognized for professional excellence with consistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. To be eligible for a ranking, a firm must first have a lawyer recognized in The Best Lawyers in America©, which recognizes the top 5% of private practicing lawyers in the United States. Achieving a tiered ranking signals a unique combination of quality law practice and breadth of legal expertise.

November 1, 2019

BrotmanLaw granted Women’s Business Enterprise and Women-Owned Small Business Certifications – Third Consecutive Year

WBENC certification validates that a business is at least 51 percent owned, controlled, operated and managed by a woman or women. Our world-class certification standard is accepted by more than 1,000 corporations representing America’s most prestigious brands, in addition to many states, cities and government entities. WBENC is the largest certifier of women-owned businesses in the U.S. and a leading advocate for women business owners and entrepreneurs.

BrotmanLaw is certified as a Women’s Business Enterprise by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the nation’s largest third-party certifier of the businesses owned and operated by women in the U.S. We recognize the commitment to supplier diversity that is embraced by corporations and government agencies today and we can add diversity to your supply chain.

October 25, 2019

Ellen Brotman Participates on Panel at NACDL Annual White Collar Crime Conference, Washington, D.C.

On October 25th, Ellen C. Brotman of BrotmanLaw participated in a panel entitled Let’s Be Careful Out There: Changing Ethics for Criminal Defense Lawyers  at the NACDL Annual White Collar Crime Conference in Washington, D.C. The panel discussed ethics issues in the Varsity Blues prosecutions and other recent cases. The panel was moderated by William (Bill) W. Taylor, III, Zuckerman Spaeder LLP (Washington, DC) and also included  Kathleen Clark, Washington University in St. Louis School of Law (St. Louis, MO); Michael Frisch, Georgetown University Law Center (Washington, DC); Michael Heiskell, Johnson, Vaughn & Heiskell (Fort Worth, TX). Ms. Brotman practices in the fields of professional responsibility and ethics and white collar criminal defense.

October 23, 2019

Philly Chapter of the Women’s White Collar Defense Association (WWCDA) hosted the Delaware Attorney General, Kathleen Jennings and the Pennsylvania Attorney General, Joshua Shapiro

This meeting featured a conversation on leadership, enforcement trends, and taking on the big fights, moderated by Laurel Gift of Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP, Jessica Natali introduced her friend Josh Shapiro and Ellen Brotman was honored to introduce her friend Kathy Jennings. Ms. Jennings and Mr. Shapiro also discussed the challenge of criminal justice reform and the growing role of state AGs in protecting civil and economic rights.

The Women’s White Collar Defense Association is a coalition of women attorneys and other professionals with relevant expertise who specialize in white collar criminal defense and government investigations. Our practices focus on a range of issues including antitrust actions, complex commercial litigation, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act issues, government contracting, healthcare fraud and abuse, insider trading, securities litigation, qui tam and whistleblower cases, and more.

September 24, 2019

BrotmanLaw hosts Women’s White Collar Defense Association (WWCDA) Philly Chapter for post-Summer “Back to Business” breakfast.

The Women’s White Collar Defense Association is a coalition of women attorneys and other professionals with relevant expertise who specialize in white collar criminal defense and government investigations. Our practices focus on a range of issues including antitrust actions, complex commercial litigation, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act issues, government contracting, healthcare fraud and abuse, insider trading, securities litigation, qui tam and whistleblower cases, and more.

This event featured great networking, great fun and great food!

August 22, 2019

What led to Ponzi schemer’s 22-year prison sentence

Philadelphia Business Journal – By Jeff Blumenthal

Ellen Brotman quoted.

You can find this article, as published, here.

May 20, 2019

People in the News

The Legal Intelligencer – Powered by LAW.COM – By Aleeza Furman

The Charles P. Gelso President’s Award Presented to Ellen Brotman

On April 26^th, 2019 Philadelphia attorney, Ellen C. Brotman was honored to receive The Charles P. Gelso President’s Award from the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. The President’s Award is presented to a PACDL member in special appreciation of outstanding contributions to the Association. The award recipient is chosen by the President. Ms. Brotman is a board member of PACDL and serves on the Publications, Amicus, and Lawyers’ Assistance Committee. She is also co-chair of PACDL’s CLE Committee. This past year, Ms. Brotman drafted two resolutions for the Board: one condemning the treatment of immigrants at our southern border, and one reaffirming the Board’s commitment to the Association’s core value of diversity in membership, programming and advocacy. She also co-authored PACDL’s amicus brief to the Supreme Court in the death penalty case of Commonwealth v. Parrish with Philadelphia lawyer and Common Pleas Court candidate, Henry J. Sias. Ms. Brotman is the Founder and owner of BrotmanLaw; her practice focuses on professional responsibility, ethics and criminal defense.

You can find this article, as published, here 

May 2, 2019

Law360’s Weekly Verdict: Legal Lions & Lambs

The Third Circuit in a precedential opinion Friday ruled that a Pennsylvania federal judge overstepped her bounds in voiding all cash advance agreements between class members in the NFL’s landmark 2015 concussion suit and litigation funding companies, handing a victory to the funding companies’ attorneys at Fox Rothschild LLP, Boies Schiller Flexner LLP, BrotmanLaw and Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young. RD Legal is represented by David K. Willingham, Michael D. Roth and Jeffrey M. Hammer of Boies Schiller Flexner LLP and Ellen Brotman of BrotmanLaw.

You can find this article, as published, here.

April 26, 2019

3rd Circ. Partially Revives NFL Concussion Funding Dispute

BrotmanLaw was proud to participate in a recent win in the Third Circuit with Boies Schiller Flexner LLP in a fascinating case relating to the authority of district court judges in class action suits.

You can find this article, as published, here 

March 5-6, 2019

2019 WWCDA Annual Attorney Meeting, New Orleans, LA

Ellen Brotman of BrotmanLaw attended the 2019 WWCDA Annual Attorney Meeting which was a big success! More than 200 members from the U.S. and multiple other countries attended the day and a half event. The Windsor Court Hotel provided a beautiful backdrop to the meeting and the Mardi Gras festivities were an extra bonus.

The plenary session kicked off with members of the WWCDA leadership describing the organization’s accomplishments over the past year as well as previewing the exciting upcoming events for 2019, such as the First Annual Awards Gala Dinner scheduled for December 3, 2019 in the Washington, DC area.

Following the business meeting, the members learned business development and networking tips from Debra Baker, Managing Director of GrowthPlay. The day ended with the always-popular networking cocktail reception and dinner. Deborah Harris, Chief of the Environmental  Crimes Division at the Department of Justice was the dinner speaker. She provided an informative update on the initiatives and current policies of the department.

The meeting concluded on  Wednesday morning with a lively and thought-provoking panel discussion with U.S. District Court Judge Jane Margaret Triche Milazzo of the Eastern District of Louisiana, Madeleine Landrieu, Dean of the Loyola School of New Orleans School of Law, P.K. Scheerle, CEO/Chair of the Board of GIFTED Healthcare, and Lisa Diaz, Associate General Counsel of Litigation, Investigations and Regulatory Enforcement at Northern Trust.

The attendees left with new skills, new friends, and goals for the upcoming year. The next Annual Meeting will be in San Diego, CA  on March 10-11, 2020.

February 22, 2019

Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers DUI and Motor Vehicle Law Summit, Hershey, PA

Ellen Brotman of BrotmanLaw co-presented with Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young partner Michael J. Engle at the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers’ DUI and Motor Vehicle Law Summit in Hershey.

Their presentation, titled “Stay in Your Lane: Ethics Hypos for the Criminal Defense Lawyer,” focused on a variety of timely hypothetical situations implicating several key professional conduct issues including the duty of confidentiality, third party payment arrangements and advice on how to effectively handle issues arising from joint defense agreements.

February 15, 2019

Women’s White Collar Defense Association,Philadelphia, PA

The Philadelphia chapter of the #WWCDA kicked off the year with a great lunch attended by Ellen Brotman at Post & Schell, P.C. hosted by Carolyn Kendall and chaired by our chapter leader Meredith Auten! We had a great turnout and discussion and also welcomed Jennifer Beidel and Jessica Natali back to the defense side of the white collar bar.

December 13, 2018

Criminal Law Update at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute,  Philadelphia, PA

Ellen Brotman and Michael J. Engle, Esq. presented at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute. Their presentation was titled “Criminal Defense and Ethics – There’s A Rule For That”.

Michael J. Engle is Chair, White-Collar Defense, Internal Investigations & Corporate Compliance at Stradley Ronon.

December 12, 2018

People in the News

The Legal Intelligencer – Powered by LAW.COM – By Alexa Woronowicz

Ellen Brotman and Margaret Cassidy presented at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute Business Law Institute. Their topic was “Managing Government and Internal Investigations.”

Brotman is founder and owner of BrotmanLaw. Her practice focuses on the areas of professional responsibility and ethics, criminal defense, and appellate advocacy.

She has defended a variety of high-profile criminal cases, including political and public corruption, securities fraud, tax fraud, money laundering, currency structuring and other white-collar crimes involving complex trial, sentencing and appellate issues.

Cassidy is the founder and owner of Cassidy Law. Cassidy advises businesses on ethics and compliance requirements and represents businesses and individuals facing civil or criminal investigations or audits when working with the federal government or doing business internationally.

Reprinted with permission from the December 12, 2018 issue of The Legal Inteligencer. © 2018 ALM Media Properties, LLC. Further duplication without permission is prohibited.  All rights reserved.

You can find this article, as published, here.

December 10, 2018

The Trump-Manafort Joint Defense Agreement: Urban Legend or Reality?

The Legal Intelligencer – Powered by LAW.COM – By Ellen Brotman

What is a JDA? What protections does it provide to its members? What Rules of Professional Conduct govern it? How is the JDA affected by the subsequent cooperation of one of its members?

Reprinted with permission from the December 10, 2018 issue of The Legal Intelligencer. © 2018 ALM Media Properties, LLC. Further duplication without permission is prohibited.  All rights reserved.

You can also find this article, as published, here.

And also on my LawBlog, here.

December 5, 2018

Judge: Attorney representing grandmother charged in fatal crash disqualified due to conflict

The Morning Call – By Pamela Lehman

Ellen Brotman quoted.

You can find this article, as published, here.

November 7, 2018

Perils of Joint Representation: Takeaways From the Cynthia Baldwin Matter

The Legal Intelligencer – Powered by LAW.COM – By Ellen Brotman

Reprinted with permission from the November 7, 2018 issue of The Legal Intelligencer. © 2018 ALM Media Properties, LLC. Further duplication without permission is prohibited.  All rights reserved.

You can find this article, as published, here.

And also on my LawBlog, here.

June 18, 2018

People in the News – BrotmanLaw

The Legal Intelligencer – Powered by LAW.COM – By Victoria Hudgins

Ellen Brotman of BrotmanLaw participated in a panel at a Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board training for hearing committee members on June 7. Brotman and her co-panelist, Raymond Wierciszewski, chief counsel for District II of the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, presented on the topic of “Aggravation and Mitigation in Attorney Discipline.” Brotman’s practice focuses on the areas of criminal defense, appellate advocacy and professional responsibility and ethics.

Reprinted with permission from the June 18, 2018 issue of The Legal Inteligencer. © 2018 ALM Media Properties, LLC. Further duplication without permission is prohibited.  All rights reserved.

You can find this article, as published, here.