Lawyer fired over dual role in Family Court deal

The Philadelphia attorney accused of a conflict of interest in the construction of a new Family Court building has lost his job.

The Philadelphia attorney accused of a conflict of interest in the construction of a new Family Court building has lost his job.

The management committee of Obermayer, Rebman, Maxwell and Hippel L.L.P. unanimously voted to terminate Jeffrey Rotwitt’s partnership in the law firm. A statement from the firm says they did not know of Rotwitt’s involvement as a developer of the new Family Court building. Rotwitt had been hired by the courts to help find a site for the building.

Kevin Feeley is Rotwitt’s spokesman. He says Rotwitt has always disclosed both roles.

“The documents that are all part of the record in this matter, pretty clearly spell out his two different roles in this project,” says Feeley. “They are not two different roles he held at the same time. He was originally a tenant representative, that work was completed. After having served as tenant representative and after that work was done he also agreed to serve as co-developer in the project.”

The law firm and Feeley say that they will cooperate in any official investigation of the case. The state has stepped in and is putting the project out for bid.