
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
The Last Remaining FX Defendant Prevails at Trial
April 5, 2023 | Blog | By Elizabeth M. Platonova, Joel Rothman
Court Finds Proposed Opt Out Provisions to Be Too Burdensome
October 13, 2021 | Blog | By Joel Rothman, Sofia Nuño
Second Circuit Revives Antitrust Class Action Brought by Two Non-Existent Entities
April 5, 2021 | Blog | By Aaron Fenton
Two Isn’t Always Better Than One: SDNY Denies Class Certification Where Lead Plaintiff Hired Two Firms
October 21, 2020 | Blog | By Ellen Shapiro
How a Prior DOJ Settlement Doomed a SEC Enforcement Action: A Volkswagen Case Study
September 10, 2020 | Blog | By Ellen Shapiro
Ninth Circuit to Determine Whether Direct Listing Purchasers Have Standing Under Sections 11 and 12 of 1933 Act
August 25, 2020 | Blog | By Alain Mathieu, Joel Rothman
News & Press
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