Howard Z. Gopman, Esq. is a skilled arbitrator and mediator with over twenty-five years experience as a neutral. Mr. Gopman has extensive experience resolving complex, multi-party, business/commercial, securities, real estate, trust & estate, and labor issues.

Experience and Qualifications 

Mr. Gopman has successfully resolved numerous complex litigated matters.  

42 year legal career with an emphasis in securities, general corporate, business, commercial real estate, estate planning, asset protection, venture capital investments, franchise law, and oil and gas. Principal Shareholder in private practice with Howard Z. Gopman & Associates, Ltd.  Mr. Gopman has continuously practiced law in the Chicago Area since 1969.

2 + years employed as Trial Attorney with the Federal Trade Commission in Washington D.C.

Successful resolution of the following types of cases:

• Securities

• Business / Commercial

• Real Estate

• Franchise

Professional Licenses

Admitted to the bars of Wisconsin (1965) and Illinois (1969), including federal courts.

Representative Matters

Mr. Gopman has acted as counsel and arbitrator in numerous cases before the Circuit Courts of Illinois, the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., the Federal District Courts in Illinois, the American Arbitration Association, the National Arbitration Forum and the National Futures Association.  He has also been a Hearing Officer for the Illinois Office of Education for approximately twenty years.  These matters include but are not limited to:

• Cases in securities fraud under both federal and state statutory and common law.

• Cases for breach of employment agreements and covenants not to compete.

• Cases for specific performance of real estate contracts and ancillary damages.

• Cases for breach of contract and ancillary matters.

• Class actions for securities fraud and ancillary matters.

• Class actions for consumer fraud and ancillary matters.

• Cases involving the termination of tenured teachers.

• Controversies involving buy-sell agreements.

• Controversies involving franchise agreements and ancillary matters.

Honors, Memberships and Professional Activities

• Adjunct faculty, Roosevelt University, Chicago, IL: Corporation Law

• Adjunct faculty, George Washington University, Washington D.C. Real Estate Law

• Instructor: Person-Wolinsky C.P.A. review course, Chicago, IL Business Law

• Instructor: Real Estate Education Corporation, Chicago, IL Real Estate Law

• Instructor: “Estate Planning and Living Trust Seminar” and “How to Make Money in Real Estate Syndication After Tax Reform Seminar”

• Law Columnist for Metro Chicago Real Estate, largest circulation real estate newsweekly in the United States

• Publications: Mr. Gopman has authored many published articles. Some of those topics include: Offshore trusts, joint ventures, Illinois Small Company Offering (SCOR), RICO, Attorney's right to sue for retaliatory discharge, environmental issues, real estate contracts, Franchise Disclosure Act of 1987, syndication, New Tax Reform Act of 1984, federal securities laws and the oil business, etc.  For a complete list of Mr. Gopman's publications, call our office and a copy will be mailed or faxed to you.

• Member: American Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association (Corporation and Securities Law Section Council) Real Estate and Education Law Sections;

• National Futures Association

• Hearing Officer: Illinois Office of Education

• Licensed Real Estate Broker: Illinois

• Admitted to Practice: Illinois and Wisconsin

Background and Education

• University of Wisconsin, B.S. Economics; Recipient of Non-resident tuition scholarships; top 15% of class
• University of Wisconsin, MBA Finance, Banking and Investments; Non-resident tuition scholarships; top 10% of class
• University of Wisconsin, J.D. Honors and Tuition scholarships

References

On request

Travel

Reimbursement of reasonable expenses outside Chicago.