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Joel Matthew Leroy Huotari

Copyright infringement Attorney at Rockford, IL

5.0   5 reviews

also known as Joel Huotari

  • State Years
    Wisconsin - WI 9 years
    Illinois - IL 17 years
  • Licensed for 9 years
    State WI
    Acquired 2014
    Status
    Good Standing No misconduct found
  • Licensed for 17 years
    State IL
    Acquired 2006
    Status
    Active and Authorized to Practice Law No misconduct found

We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.

About Joel

Learn Joel’s areas of practice.

As a partner with WilliamsMcCarthy, I enjoy a diverse practice in the state and federal courts. My clients range from individuals to multinational corporations. In addition to being admitted to practice in the state courts throughout Illinois and Wisconsin, I am also admitted to practice in numerous federal district courts. I am a registered member of the Trial Bar of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and routinely hears cases as an arbitrator participating in the Illinois 17th Judicial Circuit’s Court Annexed Mandatory Arbitration Program. I frequently serve as local counsel for attorneys from other jurisdictions and welcome referrals of clients throughout the Midwestern United States and beyond.

 

Prior to attending law school, I graduated with high honors from Elmhurst College and studied abroad at the University of Oxford. I am an honors graduate of the Northern Illinois University College of Law where I was Editor-in-Chief of the NIU Law Review. While a law student at NIU, I also had the privilege of working for the United States Attorney’s Office in Chicago, the Appellate Defender’s Office in Ottawa, and various state and federal judges. Following law school, I served for two years as law clerk to the Honorable P. Michael Mahoney of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

 

My objectives include networking with others and building my practice.

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Contact Joel

Joel Matthew Leroy Huotari

Reviews

5.0 / 5.0
  5 customer reviews
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Posted by Paula | January 10, 2023
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Civil Litigation
I retained, Attorney Joel Huotari of WilliamsMcCarthy law firm, for what turned out to be a challenging and lengthy civil case. From our first meeting, he explained everything to me in terms I could easily understand and was always very responsive when I had questions. Joel is an exceptional attorney, who handled my legal matters with the professionalism, integrity, and responsiveness that attains results. He provided sound guidance and devised a strategy that ultimately ended in a positive outcome. He truly cared about my feelings and was very supportive during this emotional time. A kinder. more dedicated attorney will be hard to find, if not impossible. Joel is an attorney you can always depend on. I would highly recommend this firm, and more specifically, Attorney Joel M. Huotari, if you're looking for a superior litigation attorney who brings top-notch expertise to the table. My gratitude to him will last a lifetime!
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Posted by anonymous | September 18, 2018
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Defamation Case
Joel defended me in a defamation case which featured additional claims under the Illinois Right of Publicity Act, 765 ILCS 1075/1 and allegations of intentional infliction of emotional distress. He succeeded in getting the case dismissed, and won a ruling that the plaintiff committed which ruling was upheld on appeal.
Posted by Dan | March 23, 2018
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Awesome Experience
In the middle of a multi-year intellectual property dispute we were referred to Joel. His expertise and attention to detail were vital to getting our case resolved.
Posted by Greg | November 6, 2015
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Great Support for Unsuccessful Datamation Case Against Me
A Roscoe, IL heating and air conditioning contractor tried to unsuccessfully sue me for defamation after we won a small claims court case (breach of contract related) against him. Joel did a great job for us during the whole legal process that led to the dismissal with prejudice. It was our first time using the court system in this way and we appreciated the education that Joel provided at each step.
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Posted by Amy | October 21, 2015
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Joel Huotari successfully defended contract action for us
We retained Joel to defend a contract action filed against our company. Joel was everything you want in a lawyer: smart, responsive, concise. He understood that our company does not make money in litigation.

Cost

Rates
  • Hourly Rates $ 270-400 per hour
Payment methods
Cash, Check, Credit Card

Resume

AVVO RATING 9.6 (Superb)

Work Experience

  • Equity Partner
  • WilliamsMcCarthy LLP
  • 2008 - Present
  • Judicial Law Clerk
  • United States District Court, N.D. Illinois
  • 2006 - 2008
  • 711 licensed legal intern
  • United States Attorney's Office, Northern District Illinois
  • 2005 - 2005

Education

  • Northern Illinois University College of Law
  • JD - Juris Doctor
  • 2006
  • Elmhurst College
  • BA - Bachelor of Arts
  • 2002
  • Oxford University
  • Honors Program, Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies
  • 2002

Legal Cases

  • Breach of fiduciary duty case
  • Won a judgment for $3,482,007
  • Driveline v. Arctic Cat
  • Client won and was awarded its attorney’s fees as a prevailing party under the Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. § 505, after having defeated an $11 million dollar claim on summary judgment.
  • Williams v. Boone County
  • After trying a week-long wrongful death jury trial with his partner, Jim Devine, the jury exonerated the firm’s client of any wrongdoing, despite plaintiff’s request for a $12,500,000 award from the jury.
View all legal cases

Associations

  • Federal Bar Association, P. Michael Mahoney Chapter
  • Director
  • 2018 - Present
  • Wisc. Bar. Assoc. Intellectual Property and Technology Section Board
  • Chair of annual IP Academy in Door County
  • 2016 - Present
  • Winnebago County Bar Association
  • 2006 - Present

Languages Spoken

  • English

Honors and Awards

  • Leading Lawyer
  • Leading Lawyers
  • 2022
  • 40 Leaders Under 40 award
  • Rockford Chamber of Commerce
  • 2017

Speaking Engagements

  • Trial / Appellate CLE
  • Copyright litigation, including insurance coverage for copyright claims, defenses, burdens of proof and damages
  • 2016

Attorney endorsements

Received (3)
Given (4)
Endorse Joel
Litigation Attorney | Feb 17
Relationship: Co-worker
"I endorse this lawyer. Attorney Huotari is an experienced practitioner in both State and Federal courts. He is highly skilled in advising and representing both individuals and businesses facing compex legal matters."
Litigation Attorney | Jul 06
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
"I endorse this lawyer. Joel is a very professional and skilled attorney."
Litigation Attorney | Nov 11
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"Mr. Huotari is a very knowledgeable lawyer who gets results for his clients. He has a deep litigation skill set in both Federal and State Court. As a detail person, he leaves no legal stone unturned. I have had the pleasure of working with and against him multiple times. He has always proved and worthy ally and foe. Highly Recommended"
Rockford Copyright infringement Lawyer Joel Matthew Leroy Huotari
Joel Matthew Leroy Huotari
Copyright infringement Attorney
Rockford, IL
Licensed for 17 years