About
Joel S. Rothman is a distinguished estate planning and probate attorney with over 40 years of experience in wealth protection, trust administration, and family tax planning. He is a founding partner at Rothman Law Group in Chicago, where he works with entrepreneurs, professionals, retirees, executives, and closely held businesses to develop tailored estate and succession planning strategies that preserve wealth across generations.
Joel earned his Juris Doctor from Northwestern University School of Law, where he served on the Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology. His legal career is supported by a robust academic foundation and deep practical experience in personal and family tax planning, trust administration, and estate planning. He has built a reputation for providing sophisticated and highly personalized services to meet the diverse needs of his clients.
Joel is the past Chairman of the Trust Law Committee of the Chicago Bar Association. He is also an active member of several prestigious legal organizations, including the Chicago Estate Planning Council, the Illinois Bar Association’s Trusts and Estates Section, and the American Bar Association’s Section of Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law. His commitment to excellence is reflected in his longstanding membership in the Leading Lawyers Network and his AV rating by both Martindale-Hubbell and Lawyers.com.
Joel S. Rothman has been selected as a Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers magazine and as a Leading Lawyer by LeadingLawyers.com for numerous years. In addition to his legal practice, Joel is passionate about charitable work and has served as a director for national and local organizations. He has also served as the past Chairman of the Board and National President of the American Society for Technion.
Law Office Affiliations
- Founding Director, Rothman Law Group
- Member, Illinois State Bar Association
- Member, Chicago Estate Planning Council
- Member, American Bar Association
Licensed State
- Illinois
Education
- Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law
Juris Doctor (JD) - Northwestern University
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Awards & Badges



- Probate
- Tax
- Trusts