After a distinguished legal career spanning more than five decades, Rich Rothman retires from the firm he helped build into one of St. Louis’s most respected practices.
Blitz, Bardgett & Deutsch, L.C. announces with great pride — and with equal measures of gratitude — the retirement of Richard B. Rothman, a founding Member of the firm and a pillar of the St. Louis legal community. Mr. Rothman’s retirement marks the close of an extraordinary legal career defined by exceptional client service, distinguished professional leadership, and an enduring commitment to the highest standards of the legal profession.
Mr. Rothman co-founded the Clayton-based firm and served as its Managing Member for its first 19 years, helping to shape the culture, values, and reputation that carries forward today. Over the course of his career, he built a highly regarded practice spanning Business Law, Mergers and Acquisitions, Securities Compliance, Real Estate, and Estate and Tax Planning — serving businesses, entrepreneurs, families, and institutions throughout the region with sound counsel and steadfast dedication.
“Rich has been the cornerstone of this firm since its founding. His intellect, his integrity, and his genuine care for every client he has served are a standard we will always aspire to. We are deeply grateful for everything he has contributed, and we wish him a retirement as fulfilling as the career he leaves behind.”
— Robert D. Blitz, Founding Member, Blitz, Bardgett & Deutsch, L.C.
A sought-after lecturer and thought leader, Mr. Rothman has spoken on tax and estate planning matters for the Missouri Bar Association, the Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants, and the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis. He served as past chairman of the Probate and Trust Section of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis — a reflection of the respect and trust his peers have long placed in him.
Mr. Rothman’s path to the law was itself a testament to intellectual range and determination. After earning his undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering from Princeton University, cum laude, he chose to pursue the law — attending Georgetown University Law Center’s evening and Saturday program while simultaneously working as a Patent Agent for the Office of Naval Research in Washington, D.C., and as a Patent Examiner at the United States Patent Office. He graduated in 1974 and served as an editor of the Georgetown Law Journal. In the years that followed, he also demonstrated his entrepreneurial spirit as a principal owner and executive in real estate investment, development, and manufacturing companies from 1985 through 1995.
SELECTED HONORS & RECOGNITION
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating — 35+ consecutive years
- Best Lawyers in America — 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 & 2026
- Top-Rated Lawyer in Real Estate — American Lawyer Media & Corporate Counsel Magazine, 2013
- Past Chairman, Probate and Trust Section — Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
Beyond the law, Mr. Rothman is a devoted family man. He is the proud father of three grown children — including a son who performs off-Broadway — and the delighted grandfather of five. He is an avid reader with a wide-ranging appetite for non-fiction, history, biographies, science fiction, and detective fiction.
His colleagues at Blitz, Bardgett & Deutsch wish him well as he turns the page to this next chapter and express their deepest gratitude for his vision, leadership, and friendship, and extends its congratulations on a remarkable career well lived. His legacy at Blitz, Bardgett & Deutsch will be felt for generations to come.