Ellen C. Brotman

Attorney Ellen Brotman is the founder of BrotmanLaw PLLC with offices in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Washington, DC. Her practice includes attorney and law firm representation, attorney discipline defense, reinstatement, professional responsibility and ethics counseling. Ellen has represented lawyers before the Disciplinary Board of Pennsylvania for over 20 years.

Prior to starting BrotmanLaw PLLC, Ellen Brotman was a partner at Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads LLP where she defended criminal cases in federal courts, oversaw investigations, and represented professionals in state disciplinary proceedings. From 1995 to 1998, as an assistant federal defender with the Defender Association of Philadelphia, Ellen provided criminal defense for indigent clients in federal court at trial and appellate levels. Before coming to Philadelphia, she served as a law clerk to The Honorable Lee P. Gagliardi, United States District Court Judge, Southern District of New York.

Ellen is a frequent writer and speaker about attorney discipline, ethics and professional responsibility related matters. She has a quarterly “Professional Conduct” Column in the Legal Intelligencer and authors an “Ethics Corner” for the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers’ online Journal “For the Defense.” Ellen is a past board member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and currently sits on the board of the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, where she serves on the Publications Committee and the Lawyers’ Assistance Task Force. Ellen also serves on the Professional Guidance Committee of the Philadelphia Bar Association and the Professional Responsibility Committee of the Pennsylvania Bar Association.

Ellen Brotman’s recognitions include:

- American Bar Association Standing Committee for Ethics and Professional Responsibility, Special Advisor to the Committee, July 2024 – present

- Best Lawyers®, The Best Lawyers in America©, 2007-2026

- Best Lawyers® 2025 Edition: Tier 1, Philadelphia, Criminal Defense; Tier 2, Philadelphia, General Practice

- Best Law Firm (2019-2023) by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers®

- Super Lawyers® (2008-2025)

- Top 50 Women Pennsylvania Super Lawyers® (2023, 2025)

- The Charles P. Gelso President’s Award – Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Lawyers (2019)

- The Legal Intelligencer’s Women of the Year (2014)

Ellen is admitted in Pennsylvania, District of Columbia and New York State.