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
Recent SEC action against Luca Funds highlights perils of EB-5 deals for investors
July 8, 2015 | Blog | By Joel Rothman, Douglas Hauer
Motion to Sever Denied as Opt Out Alternative by Judge Swain of the Southern District of New York
May 14, 2015 | Blog | By Joel Rothman
Upcoming Supreme Court Securities Cases
October 1, 2014 | Blog | By Chip Phinney, Joel Rothman
A Quick Glance: The Two Central Holdings from the U.S. Supreme Court's Decision in Halliburton
June 24, 2014 | Blog | By Joel Rothman
Three Options for Institutional Investors Pursuing Claims Against Non-U.S. Issuers in the Wake of Morrison and City of Pontiac
May 21, 2014 | Blog | By Joel Rothman
Specific Steps Broker-Dealers and Investment Advisers Should Take in Response to the SEC’s Cybersecurity Initiative
April 25, 2014 | Blog | By Breton Leone-Quick, Joel Rothman
The Supreme Court Narrows SLUSA's Reach and Expands the Pool of Potential Defendants Subject to State Securities Law Class Actions
March 4, 2014 | Blog | By Joel Rothman
The Mintz Class Action Monitoring and Recovery Practice
July 25, 1998 | Alert
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