On Wednesday, March 5, 2025, the Supreme Court of Wisconsin revoked the law license of Attorney Vladimir M. Gorokhovsky following a disciplinary proceeding initiated by the Office of Lawyer Regulation (OLR). The decision upheld a referee’s recommendation to terminate Gorokhovsky’s ability to practice law in the state, along with orders to pay restitution to two former clients and cover the full costs of the proceeding, totaling $14,358.12 as of February 17, 2025.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Vladimir M. Gorokhovsky,” with case no. 2022AP183-D.
Gorokhovsky’s disciplinary record includes a private reprimand in 2009 for issues involving fees and trust account mismanagement, a public reprimand in 2012 for inadequate client representation and misrepresentation to the OLR, a 60-day suspension in 2013 for criminal conduct and false statements to a court, and another private reprimand in 2020 for misleading a judge during a plea hearing. The latest case, filed by the OLR in March 2022, accused him of 18 counts of misconduct stemming from personal litigation and client representation issues.
The court found that Gorokhovsky engaged in repeated violations during lawsuits where he acted as a pro se litigant or represented himself and others. In a 2019 federal case in the Eastern District of Wisconsin against a former client, E.S., he filed privileged documents and misrepresented facts, leading to dismissal and sanctions from the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, including a $5,000 fine for dishonest practices. Similar patterns emerged in a Southern District of New York case against E.S., a tax lien enforcement action in the Eastern District of Wisconsin, a Northern District of Illinois case involving a condominium, and a suit against the City of Chicago, all marked by delays, rule violations, and sanctions.
Additionally, Gorokhovsky’s representation of two clients, Inna K. and D.M., contributed to the revocation. In 2020, he agreed to assist Inna K. with her Illinois divorce for a $3,000 retainer, despite not being licensed there. He drafted flawed legal documents, pursued questionable strategies, and withdrew her payment from his trust account prematurely. The relationship deteriorated after he made unwanted romantic advances, including an incident where he attempted physical contact, which she rejected. He later demanded over $13,000 more in fees. For D.M., Gorokhovsky took a $2,500 payment in 2020 to handle criminal cases in Waukesha County but failed to deposit it into his trust account, charged for clerical tasks, and withdrew after minimal work, billing over $5,000.
The OLR presented evidence at a May 2023 hearing before Referee James D. Friedman, who concluded that Gorokhovsky’s actions warranted revocation. The referee highlighted his history of discipline, lack of remorse, and pattern of misrepresentation, including exaggerating a heart procedure to delay court proceedings. Gorokhovsky appealed, arguing that his pro se actions should not be disciplined and challenging the hearing process, but the Supreme Court rejected his claims.
The court ordered Gorokhovsky to pay $3,000 in restitution to Inna K. and $2,850 to D.M. within 60 days and the proceeding costs within six months, with restitution prioritized. His license revocation takes effect on April 16, 2025, and he must comply with the rules for attorneys whose licenses are revoked.
The Disposition states:
“IT IS ORDERED that the license of Vladimir M. Gorokhovsky to practice law in Wisconsin is revoked, effective April 16, 2025.”
According to avvo.com, Mr. Gorokhovsky was an aviation attorney in Glendale, Wisconsin. He attended the John Marshall Law School, Chicago, graduating in 2001. He acquired his law license in Wisconsin in 2002.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
