Joseph E. Richotte is an associate based in Butzel Long’s Detroit office. He practices in the areas of white collar criminal defense, SEC civil enforcement actions, corporate investigations, news media defense, and professional discipline matters for lawyers and judges. Before joining Butzel Long, Mr. Richotte interned for the Honorable Avern Cohn of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. He has also worked for the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan in the National Security Unit and for the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office.
White-Collar Defense Practice
Mr. Richotte has represented individuals and corporations under investigation for, or charged with, antitrust violations, securities fraud, misappropriating trade secrets, violations of federal international traffic-in-arms regulations, public corruption, healthcare fraud, drug prosecutions against doctors, environmental fraud, embezzlement, and professional ethical misconduct. He also counsels clients as to grand jury investigations, subpoenas, and search warrants. Mr. Richotte also handles related collateral actions, such as federal and state suspension and debarment actions that prevent clients from pursuing publicly funded projects.
Joseph E. Richotte is an associate based in Butzel Long’s Detroit office. He practices in the areas of white collar criminal defense, SEC civil enforcement actions, corporate investigations, news media defense, and professional discipline matters for lawyers and judges. Before joining Butzel Long, Mr. Richotte interned for the Honorable Avern Cohn of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. He has also worked for the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan in the National Security Unit and for the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office.
White-Collar Defense Practice
Mr. Richotte has represented individuals and corporations under investigation for, or charged with, antitrust violations, securities fraud, misappropriating trade secrets, violations of federal international traffic-in-arms regulations, public corruption, healthcare fraud, drug prosecutions against doctors, environmental fraud, embezzlement, and professional ethical misconduct. He also counsels clients as to grand jury investigations, subpoenas, and search warrants. Mr. Richotte also handles related collateral actions, such as federal and state suspension and debarment actions that prevent clients from pursuing publicly funded projects.
Mr. Richotte has significant trial experience. In 2008, he tried a three-week federal criminal jury trial involving charges of conspiracy, environmental crimes, and false statements. In 2010, he secured a dismissal of embezzlement charges brought against a sales executive accused of helping a customer’s employee steal almost $200,000 from the customer.
Media Practice
Mr. Richotte also represents media organizations, journalists, reporters, and others working in and for the media. He handles a broad array of media matters, including First Amendment cases, defamation actions, and open-government issues, such as Freedom of Information Act and Open Meetings Act matters.
In 2011, Mr. Richotte secured the dismissal of two defamation suits, one against a cable entertainment news company and the other against a Michigan newspaper, before either case proceeded to discovery. He has also helped news organizations protect their interests under press shield laws when responding to subpoenas for source records.
Professional Discipline Practice
Mr. Richotte also represents lawyers and judges facing professional discipline inquiries. He has successfully negotiated favorable dispositions for clients with the Attorney Grievance Commission, and has successfully tried disciplinary cases before the Attorney Discipline Board. In 2009, Mr. Richotte secured an acquittal for a lawyer accused of ethical misconduct for alleged conflicts of interest.
Appellate Practice
Mr. Richotte is also a member of the Firm’s appellate practice, concentrating on criminal, media, and professional disciplinary matters. In 2010, he handled a state habeas action challenging a client’s state court conviction. In 2011, Mr. Richotte defended a defamation appeal, and he co-authored an amicus brief filed in the United States Supreme Court on the question of federal preemption of asbestos-related state law claims involving the national railroad system.
Publications
Mr. Richotte has also written several articles. Most recently, the American Bar Association's White Collar Crime Section published an article that Mr. Richotte co-authored. The article analyzed the constitutional limitations on public-corruption investigations in the context of the FBI's first-ever raid on a congressional office. It traced the history and purpose of the Speech or Debate Clause and discussed the pivotal role that the clause plays in protecting Congress's independence and buttressing the separation of powers.
Education and Memberships
Mr. Richotte attended Wayne State University Law School, were he was a member of the National Moot Court Competition Team and the champion of the Arthur Neef Moot Court Competition. He received a Silver Key for academic excellence, and he was named a Frederica K. Lombard Fellow for service and scholastic distinction. Mr. Richotte is a member of the Order of the Coif and Phi Beta Kappa.
Mr. Richotte is admitted to practice in Michigan, the Supreme Court of the United States, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the American Bar Association, the Federal Bar Association, and the Lex Mundi Business Crimes Group, the Lex Mundi Media, Sports, and Entertainment Group, and the Media Law Resource Center.