Mr. Gettleman is a 1976 graduate of Marquette University Law School and is licensed to practice in the States of Illinois and Wisconsin .  Upon graduation from college at the University of Illinois , Mr. Gettleman became a Certified Public Accountant.  Mr. Gettleman was formerly a staff attorney for the Division of Corporate Regulation, Branch of Reorganization, of the United States Securities & Exchange Commission, specializing in corporate reorganization.  Mr. Gettleman joined the S.E.C. in 1976, where he served until 1979.

In 1979, Mr. Gettleman became associated with the firm of Schwartz, Cooper, Kolb & Gaynor.  In 1981, Mr. Gettleman became associated with the firm of Richards & Ralph, Ltd. In 1983, Mr. Gettleman formed the law firm of Adelman & Gettleman, Ltd. with Howard L. Adelman, both of whom remain the sole shareholder-principals of the firm. Mr. Gettleman has been involved in major bankruptcy cases since 1976 and has confirmed numerous plans of  reorganization.  Mr. Gettleman has devoted his entire professional practice exclusively to the areas of commercial litigation, bankruptcy, insolvency and corporate reorganization since entering practice in 1976.

In 2004, Mr. Gettleman was chosen by his peers as a member of the Illinois Leading Lawyers Network for Bankruptcy and Workout Lawyers, and has also been listed in The Best Attorneys Network in the areas of bankruptcy and reorganization.  Most recently, in 2005, Mr. Gettleman was elected by his peers as an Illinois Super Lawyer in the area of bankruptcy and reorganization.