Joel practices as Special Counsel at Mintz in the Litigation Section, with a particular focus on litigation that creates recovery opportunities for institutional investors, as well as real estate litigation and insurance matters. As a key member of the Institutional Class Action Recovery Practice, Joel advises institutional investors with respect to the monitoring and evaluation of both foreign and domestic securities and antitrust class actions, and has helped collect over $8 billion for institutional clients. He has represented various clients in evaluating whether to opt out of or object to class settlements throughout the world. Joel, along with the rest of the Institutional Class Action Recovery Practice, represents mutual funds, institutional investors, public pension funds, trusts, investment advisors, and individuals as claimants in thousands of cases, both foreign and domestic, handling approximately 350 cases concurrently, with up to several million dollars in recoveries per week.
A well-rounded attorney, in addition to his work with institutional investors, Joel has an active real estate litigation practice, representing developers, property owners, and financing agencies, particularly with respect to land use litigation and permitting disputes. Joel has expertise in real estate disputes involving municipal zoning board hearings and decisions, zoning appeals, and Chapter 40B affordable housing issues. A seasoned litigator, he advises clients at all stages of civil litigation, from pre-litigation counseling and investigation through discovery, alternative dispute resolution, trial, and the appeals process.
Joel also has extensive experience representing primary and excess insurers and reinsurers in complex coverage disputes arising under representations and warranties and commercial general liability policies.
Before joining the firm, Joel held a clerkship position with the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, serving under, the late Chief Justice Ralph D. Gants. He has also held internship positions in the litigation sections of law firms in Boston, and in the Insurance and Financial Services Division of the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office.
Experience
Institutional Investor Class Action Recovery
- Represented institutional investors in monitoring and/or participating in virtually all U.S. securities class actions, regulatory settlements, and other investor class actions.
- Represented institutional investors in monitoring and/or participating as opt-out claimants or parties in antitrust and securities class actions involving interest rate and currency manipulation claims.
- Represented mutual funds and other institutional investors in evaluating and participating in global recovery opportunities, including securities and antitrust cases in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, England, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, South Africa and Taiwan.
Real Estate
- Obtained dismissal of lawsuit brought by a municipality challenging a funding agency’s determination of eligibility for a Comprehensive Permit.
- Successfully appealed to the DHCD a municipality’s determination that it had achieved an affordable housing statutory minimum.
- Represented clients in front of local zoning boards in Massachusetts land zone proceedings.
Insurance
- Defended an insurer against claims that it converted subrogation claims, obtaining summary judgment from the US District Court for the District of Oregon.
- Represented clients in evaluating coverage disputes under representation and warranties and general commercial liability policies.
viewpoints
Canadian Court Limits Underwriters’ Liability and Susceptibility to Class Treatment
March 23, 2018 | Blog | By Joel Rothman
Petrobras Court’s Denial of Plaintiffs’ Request for Confidential Treatment of Opt-Out Provisions Could Undermine the Settlement Process
February 14, 2018 | Blog | By Kevin Mortimer, Joel Rothman
Recent Antitrust Settlements Are Providing New Recovery Opportunities, But Filing Claims Is Proving To Be Complicated
February 2, 2018 | Blog | By Joel Rothman
Massachusetts Appeals Court Holds that Restrictive Covenants Created as Part of a Common Scheme May Be Extended Beyond Thirty Years Only if Explicitly Allowed in the Original Instrument
December 7, 2017 | Advisory | By Joel Rothman, Rebecca Lee, Nicholas Cramb
Federal Court Grants Class Certification in the LendingClub Case Over Objections from State Court Plaintiffs, But Denies Federal Court Plaintiff's Motion to Enjoin the State Court Case
November 8, 2017 | Blog | By Joel Rothman
Treasury Wine Decision Confirms Shift in Class Action Closure Process
October 5, 2017 | Blog | By Joel Rothman
Upcoming Supreme Court Cases Worth Noting by Institutional Investors
September 13, 2017 | Blog | By Angela DiIenno, Joel Rothman
U.S. Supreme Court Holds that the Filing of a Class Action Does Not Toll the Securities Act's Statute of Repose
June 27, 2017 | Blog | By Joel Rothman
Lending Club Decision Provides Guidance For Bringing Section 11 Claims Based on Weaknesses in Internal Controls
June 22, 2017 | Blog | By James Taylor-Copeland, Joel Rothman
Federal Circuit Rules that Starr International Lacks Standing to Pursue Class Claims Stemming from the U.S. Government’s Acquisition of AIG Equity
May 23, 2017 | Blog | By Joel Rothman
News & Press
Mintz Recovers Over $400M for Institutional Investor Clients in 2024
November 14, 2024
Mintz's Institutional Investor Class Action Recovery Practice has recovered $400 million for institutional investor clients in 2024 and expects projects for recoveries exceeding $500 million by year end.
The Evolving Frontier Of Foreign Securities Litigation
January 7, 2019
Mintz Honored by JD Supra's 2018 Reader's Choice Awards
March 19, 2018
Business Torts in Massachusetts
August 8, 2017
Textualism Takes Center Stage In CalPERS V. ANZ Securities
April 20, 2017
Will Securities Antitrust Cases Invite More Objections Because of the Complexity of Their Distribution Plans?
June 23, 2016
Involvement
- Former Member, Board of Trustees & General Counsel, Infant Toddler Children’s Center in Acton, Massachusetts
- Former Member, Board of Trustees, Concord Children's Center in Concord, Massachusetts