John Ertman
Profile Verified by The Marque
Last Updated: 22 Sep 2026
Founding Partner
New York, US
Profile Verified by The Marque
Last Updated: 22 Sep 2026
THE MARQUE
In Their Own Right
Biography
John Etman is a founding partner of Ertman Dulis & Helisek PLLC, a commercial litigation firm that focuses on the investment management industry. John and his fellow partners have decades of front-line litigation experience handling sensitive matters facing investment managers and their investors.
John has spent the majority of his respected legal career acting as lead litigation counsel on behalf of private equity, hedge fund, and mutual fund clients. He has represented numerous asset managers in the investment management industry in an extensive range of cases, including securities litigation, class actions, mortgage trust disputes, large contract disputes, internal investigations, government enforcement actions, and whistleblower matters.
Prior to founding Ertman Dulis & Helisek in 2020, John was an investment management litigation partner for sixteen years at Ropes & Gray LLP. There, in the words of Ropes’ Managing Partner, John was known “for his extraordinary commitment to clients and his laser focus on delivering great litigation outcomes." Before he joined Ropes & Gray, he was a partner at Reboul MacMurray Hewitt Maynard & Kristol, a New York-based firm known for its focus on private equity. John became one of Ropes' first litigators in New York in 2003 when Reboul MacMurray and Ropes merged.
John graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa from Harvard College in 1988, and earned a J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1991. After graduating from Harvard Law, John served as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Terrence W. Boyle, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, and was an antitrust litigation associate at Skadden Arps from 1992 to 1995 before moving to Reboul MacMurray.
The Record
Background
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2020 — Present
Founding Partner
Ertman Dulis & Helisek PLLC
The partners at Ertman Dulis & Helisek PLLC have decades of experience in leading-edge litigation and enforcement issues that investment managers and their investors face.
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2003 — 2020
Partner
Ropes & Gray LLP
With offices in major cities across the globe, Ropes & Gray serves many organizations, investors, and individuals at all stages of the business life cycle.
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1995 — 2003
Partner
Reboul MacMurray Hewitt Maynard & Kristol
Reboul MacMurray Hewitt Maynard & Kristol, now a part of Ropes & Gray, was a New York City-based firm focused on private equity.
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1991 — 1992
Law Clerk
United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina
John served as a law clerk for the Honorable Terrence W. Boyle, Chief Judge for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina from 1991 – 1992.
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1992 — 1995
Antitrust Litigation Associate
Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates is an international law firm based in New York City.
Formative Years
Education
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Harvard Law School
J.D.
1988 — 1991
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Harvard College
A.B., Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa
1984 — 1988
Areas Of Focus