Ben Rottenborn practices in the Emerging Growth, Government Investigations & White Collar Criminal Defense, and Litigation practice groups at Woods Rogers.
J. Benjamin Rottenborn has extensive experience representing clients in complex civil litigation matters involving issues in fiduciary duty, general commercial law, private equity/venture capital, securities, intellectual property, and product liability.
Ben practices at both the trial and appellate levels in federal and state courts as a litigator. Before joining Woods Rogers in 2012, Ben was a partner in the Chicago office of the international law firm Kirkland & Ellis LLP.
His career highlights include representing venture capital directors in a breach of fiduciary duty lawsuit brought by former shareholders in a technology start-up company. He also defended a Fortune 50 company in a suit seeking specific performance of a $15 billion merger contract. Ben is ranked as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers Virginia.
The Waynesboro, Va., native graduated with the highest distinction from the University of Virginia and earned his law degree at Stanford Law School. He served as president of the Stanford Law and Policy Review.
After graduating, Ben served as a judicial clerk for the Honorable David G. Campbell, U.S. District Judge for Arizona.
Cost
Rate : $$$
Poor representation of client
I don’t wish to go into specifics, but the preparation was not sufficient. I was appalled by the quality of represenation, from the reputation I should’ve known better. Definitely would not recommend.
Compelled
I knew when watching the trial how sad and disappointed I felt when seeing the stark contrast in lawyers. I understood everyone was doing their job and that you were all defending the indefensible.
However, there is a way to do so with at least a modicum of respect. Which was clear and blaring on Johnny Depp’s side, so we know it can be done! However, I, as I generally do with movies or interviews that interest me, will re-watch them as you always miss something, so I re-watched the trial, and I was blown away at how much I was offended and genuinely shocked by Elaine and yourself.
There was some thought that perhaps you were the better lawyer, but now that I see again, you were a bully and outwardly rude; indeed, there is a better way to handle things.
It was so upsetting to watch then and equally more so now; it is cringeworthy, and I am sure you know very well how false it all was, how innocent and honest Johnny was, and that we, the world, are not blind.
I hope you use this as a tool to learn and perhaps take some points from Johnnys’ lawyers, who, regardless of what they never faced, never came off rude, angry bullish mean. So sad a man’s life was destroyed and again in court shamed and destroyed for a liar …
Regarding Amber Heard vs Johnny Depp
I hope you all know that it is necessary for every defendant to have a lawyer. Ben probably did it for the money, not because he believed Amber was innocent. Furthermore, based on previous court trials he is definitely a good lawyer he just decided to take this case because he knew he would make money off it. So let’s stop blaming him for even taking on Ambers case. and please stop leaving reviews saying he’s a terrible lawyer when i guarantee you’ve never even had him
Not likeable from a juror standpoint
Having a license to practice law can only get you so far, when you come across as unlikeable to a jury. Cutting off, or chastising a soft spoken witness, especially an elderly gentleman, can be very off putting to a jury who will be deciding a verdict on your client’s behalf. The number one quality a lawyer should possess is likability to a jury. There are ways to have a mutual respect for a witness testifying while maintaining control of the testimony of without appearing like a bully to a timid witness. The second most important thing a lawyer can possess to win your case is to have the appropriate knowledge of law. Rottenborn has only 50% of what it takes to win your case, and for me, 50% just isn’t enough. Thirdly, a lawyer should believe their client. And lastly, a lawyer should be a team player with their legal team. Rottenborn fails miserably at all but one of the top four things a lawyer should possess. I believe he has an adequate base of knowledge, but he fails miserably at any charisma. He doesn’t command respect of a gallery or a jury. Instead, he disrespects witnesses, making himself appear disrespectful. I am writing this review for Rottenborn to improve in those areas.
Exceptional to say the least, ignore the hate its due to the Heard v. Depp
Ben Rottenborn is amazing, I watched the case of Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard and he was making a strong case for a person with literally no case whatsoever. He is talented, gifted, and extremely smart. The lawyers of Depp won because of the weakness of Amber and her story. Ben Rottenborn got her 2 million dollars even though she was down by 10.35 million. Any other lawyer would fail to get her anything. He is a beast, all respect sir. Stop hating on this man!
he's a great lawyer
I think he did a great job representing an abuser like amber turd he managed to make a case with no evidence and no truth and idc what you think but I know for a fact that if any other lawyer took this they would’ve been able to do nothing more than he did .
You did great
I think you did an amazing job is given the circumstance I think people seem to forget that this is a job, and are being biased towards the law firm that represented Miss heard… I truly apologize on behalf of all these people writing negative ratings and comments due to the association of the current casework you’ve done, you truly do not deserve this hate. You did nothing wrong you did your job and did it well and that’s what counts in my eye that’s a win!
I think people are forgetting he worked pro-bono for the protesting victims of the Unite the Right rally.
In this case he had an awful client and his job was to prove her innocence or cause enough doubt that that may at least be the default. The more Heard dug herself a hole by running her mouth combined with horrible acting, the more they had to change strategies, which they did. I disagree with his closing statements, but just as Waldman was the voice of Depp he is the voice of Heard.
For people saying he’s an awful person, he had no contempt in his face watching the largely pro-Depp crowd come in, rather appeared in awe, and when the team congregated before recess he professionally ignored all of Heard’s attention seeking behaviors. It was intriguing to watch the interactions between the team and her.
For the hand that he and Bredehoft were given, I think they did the best they could. Someone would have been her lawyer and through no fault except their association with her, they would have received the same vitriol.
An amazing lawyer
The hate that this lawyer and his team are receiving is unnecessary. They’re all great lawyers. They did the best they could with an impossible case/client. You guys are doing the exact same thing Amber did to Johnny by leaving negative reviews on someone you’ve never personally had a bad experience with. These people have families. Someone is going to end up hurting themselves. You can’t bully everyone that believed Amber and wanted to help her. These lawyers did the best they could with what little they had to work with. We’re all happy for Johnny, but it’s not okay to humiliate and bully others for doing their jobs.
Steer away
I WOULD NEVER EVER TRUST ROTTENBORN TO TAKE ANOTHER CASE. He is very rude and impolite to his clients but also to the plaintiff I understand you have to play the bad guy as a lawyer sometimes but that doesn’t give you the excuse to be a rude human being his favorite words are “objection heresay”
Do not hire unless you want to go to jail. This man committed perjury for weeks just like his client, this lawyer needs a lawyer!
Terrible human being. The true victim blamer is this man. Insulting the jury’s intelligence with brazen perjury for weeks. It’s a CRIME to knowingly commit perjury as an attorney. You better lawyer up yourself, Rottenborn. Do not hire unless you are a domestic abuser whom is trying to get away with blackmail, because this lawyer will make you lose like you deserve
Rottenborn knows what he is doing!
So as a former process server for nearly 20 years, I have read various complaints and motions filed by attorney. I can say this as to the Depp vs. Heard case, Mr. Rottenborn know what he is doing and is doing it very well. When questioning witnesses he is spot on and his closing argument was brilliant. Those that say it was boring must either be uneducated or have a mind of a child. Great work Mr. Rottenborn.
Rude and unprofessional. Would NEVER hire this “attorney “ even if it was my last act in my life.
I know, Mr. Rottenborn, and I do agree the courts and jury’s time wee wasted. However; I find the time waster was you. You ask the questions and get the same answer at least four times. Do you feel the jury is too stupid to understand simple questions and answers? Also you seem to not know your plan as you also wasted EVERYONE’S time having to review your notes or have to locate them as well as asking compounded questions you know you have no right to ask in the first place. You don’t know what page your on at least 50% of the time. And the last thing I am going to mention, but not the only issue is, I don’t know how you were raised but I know how I was taught , when you use the term “ with respect” you should mean it, and for those who are not so truthful with the statement, at least SOUND like you have some respect for people. If I go any further I will ruin my day which is what just hearing you speak does to me anyway! I hope others read this and know you are not worth the time or money to hire you. I know you won’t read this because you DO NOT CARE what any of us has to say. You will continue to make insane amounts of money for being a very rude individual.
Incompetent
Ben Rottenborn took Amber as a client not because he believes her story, but because he wants the money. Over and over again we have seen he and his team going out of their way to play the court, the jury, the opposing team, and the law and justice itself.
He is not only a representation of the incompetence of he himself but his firm as well.
As a lawyer, your goal is to defend your client with the justice system and the orders laid down by those before us. yet, he has proven to everyone throughout the course of the trial he will break the law to win a case no matter how low he stoops to. he wasn’t using credible evidence. he wasn’t using credible professional witnesses, more over, many of the professionals witnesses testified they have been withheld information from prior to testifying in court. His entire defense statement is built on lies and fraud.
He didn’t fight a fair battle, he brought a poison dagger to a fist fight and stabbed the back of anyone and everyone who stands in his way to get his cut on the 100 million dollars. No person in their right mind would have agreed to that counter suit except for one who is blinded by greed and lacks a conscience.
he even try to twist the jury instructions to play to his favor.
Objection him being an attorney
All this attorney can say during court is “objection”. Save some your money go find a real attorney, which obviously is NOT him. He objects his own questions. He cuts off people with objections all the time. We should object him being a human being not mentioning being a professional like an attorney. Rotton-born. Go back to be rotten. Bye!!!