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.

Joel Matthew Leroy Huotari

About
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Reviews
Cost
Resume

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!

Defamation Case

About Joel

Learn Joel’s areas of practice.

Practice areas

Copyright infringement

10%

17 years
Intellectual property

10%

17 years
Lawsuits and disputes

10%

17 years
Litigation

10%

17 years
Nursing home abuse and neglect

10%

17 years
Personal injury

10%

17 years
Trademark application

10%

17 years
Wrongful death

10%
Civil rights

5%

17 years
Constitutional

5%

17 years
Libel and slander

5%

17 years
Trademark infringement

5%

17 years

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.

Photos and videos

Contact Joel

Joel Matthew Leroy Huotari

(815) 332-0506 Office

(815) 968-0019 Fax

(815) 332-0506 Office

120 West State St. Suite 400

Rockford, IL, 61101-1159

wilmac.com

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Reviews

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5.0 / 5.0

5 customer reviews

5 Star

100%

4 Star

3 Star

2 Star

1 Star

Posted by Paula | January 10, 2023

Civil Litigation

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Posted by anonymous | September 18, 2018

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

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

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

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

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

Publications

wilmac.com
James Devine and Joel Huotari Defeat Claim for $12,500,000 After Week Long Jury Trial
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

Tyler Slack

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."

Rodney Kimes

Litigation Attorney | Jul 06
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"I endorse this lawyer. Joel is a very professional and skilled attorney."

Nathan Noble

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"