Family Law

• Adoption

Criminal Law

• Criminal Defense
  Clients value our extensive experience in the financial industry when it comes to handling securities-related litigation, arbitrations, and regulatory actions. We represent clients from the time of first contact with authorities through the investigation and, if proceedings are initiated, through administrative or court proceedings. Our Securities team helps clients respond to and defend regulatory inquiries, examinations, and enforcement actions before the SEC (including Exchange Act accountant and attorney disciplinary proceedings), DOJ, FINRA, PCAOB, CFTC, and state agencies. In addition to representing clients in securities class actions, derivative suits, and M&A/takeover litigation, we have a team of litigators focused on corporate criminal defense, government investigations, and internal investigations.
• Sex Crimes
• White Collar Crimes
  Chambers USA in 2024, which states, the firm “has a robust group adept at handling an array of disputes, including antitrust, false advertising, construction, employment and product liability cases. The team is also recognized for its capabilities in class action suits and for its strengths in white-collar crime and government investigations. The firm is additionally noted for its skills in mediation and arbitration. It is frequently sought after for its intellectual property expertise.”
• Theft
• Money Laundering
  We advise our broker-dealer clients on formation and transfer, registration, licensing, and membership applications; compliance with applicable federal, state, and self-regulatory organization laws and regulations; and capital-raising transactions. Our proactive guidance on compliance and risk mitigation strategies covers issues such as securities registration requirements; due diligence procedures; and anti-manipulation, anti-fraud, and anti–money laundering (AML) measures.
• Internet Crimes
  Michael Best’s nationally recognized Intellectual Property practice provides comprehensive service to higher education clients. With more than 150 lawyers and technical professionals, our IP group has a deep talent pool. We practice in all areas of intellectual property, from trademark, brand protection, and internet law to trade secret, patent protection, litigation, and portfolio management.

Business and Corporate Law

• Corporate Law
  Michael Best has served as corporate counsel to thousands of clients, assisting with commercial contracts, corporate governance issues, and other legal aspects of running a business. We provide a customized mix of services, from periodic support to acting as outside general counsel.
• Mergers and Acquisitions
  Alec serves as primary outside counsel to national, regional, and community banks on interest rate swaps, foreign exchange, commodities, and other derivatives product lines, including documentation for customer transactions and Dodd-Frank Act compliance. In addition, he represents end-users on interest rate swaps, foreign exchange, commodities, and other derivatives transactions and compliance. Alec also practices in the areas of commercial lending, corporate finance, and mergers and acquisitions.
• Business Formation
  Adam represents clients in corporate and transactional matters including governance, business formation, financing (debt, equity, angel, and venture financing), mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property licenses and transactions, and commercial real estate. He also advises on issues pertaining to data privacy, employment, and national security reviews and process conducted by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). Additionally, Adam serves as outside general counsel to select companies in the U.S. and around the globe.
• Business Disputes
  While pursuing his law degree, James served as a Law Clerk for an Illinois business law firm where he drafted briefs and motions related to commercial and business litigation matters and conducted legal research on shareholder derivative litigation and dissolution of corporations and LLCs. James also gained experience as a Legal Extern for Gold Coast Bank in Chicago.
• Business Transactions
  Andy assists clients with transactional, regulatory, and operational matters. He has significant experience with healthcare matters including business transactions, acquisitions, the Anti-Kickback Statute, the Stark Law, HIPAA and privacy matters, contract drafting, and due diligence. He also has a robust practice counseling faith-based institutions and other nonprofit organizations on a range of legal, transactional, and strategic matters.Prior to joining Michael Best, Andy practiced at a...
• Trade Secrets
• Intellectual Property
  AI and machine learning—once the province of science fiction—are fast becoming an everyday reality. Many of our clients are working to either develop or implement these revolutionary technologies, and we assist them on both fronts. For providers as well as purchasers of AI, we advise on crucial issues such as data ownership, privacy and data security, intellectual property protection, and government relations. We have considerable experience with patents in this nascent area, and our team is doing a variety of work related to autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles.
• Unfair Competition
  Jeff counsels clients on a wide range of business and intellectual property matters, including trademark, copyright, advertising, and unfair competition. He assists clients in developing strategies to protect, exploit, and enforce their intellectual property rights and represents them against allegations of infringement.
• Antitrust

Employment Law

• Wrongful Termination
  Brian brings strategic business vision to his work representing companies engaged in employment-related disputes, both in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies. The focus of Brian’s practice is to deliver positive outcomes in litigation matters, including class action discrimination, wage and hour collective actions, harassment and discrimination claims, wrongful termination, disability accommodations, theft of trade secrets, and enforcement of restrictive covenants.
• Employment Discrimination
  Beth defends businesses in employment litigation matters involving discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, and retaliation under Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act (WFEA), National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), Wisconsin Worker’s Compensation Act, and other state and federal laws.
• Employment Contract
  In the role of board counsel, we often assist in handling highly sensitive employee, citizen, and student complaints; president evaluation processes; preparation of presidents’ employment contracts; the president search process; and handling personnel-related hearings before the board. We also provide training to boards in relevant legal issues.
• Employment Litigation
  Joe is a trial attorney practicing primarily in the areas of products liability, class action defense, wage and hour litigation, employee benefits litigation, regulatory compliance, and complex commercial litigation. In this capacity, he routinely helps clients deal with class actions suits across all subject matters and handles all aspects of complex employment litigation including wage and hour suits arising under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and applicable state laws, plus benefits litigation.
• Severance Agreement
  Emi represents management in a wide variety of employment litigation matters and assists management in a number employment law compliance matters. Emi frequently represents employers in administrative proceedings and state and federal courts, defending claims of discrimination, retaliation, harassment, wage and hour violations, and other alleged workplace violations. She also regularly assists employers develop and maintain compliant employment policies, including conducting employee handbook reviews for multi-state employers. Additional advising experience includes ADA accommodations, severance agreements, and WARN Act compliance and other reduction in force guidance.

Property Law

• Real Estate Litigation
  Michael Best was named a top Real Estate Law Firm in this guide, which ranks leading firms in the Midwest that practice commercial real estate law.
• Construction Litigation
  In an era marked by seismic shifts in regulatory, political, and social attitudes toward power generation, planning and building new power plants has never been more challenging. Nevertheless, in recent years our Energy team has helped bring a number of new power plants to life. They range from utility-scale solar, wind, and battery projects, to community solar. We have moved these projects from inception to permitting, and have assisted clients on multiple projects related to the negotiation of construction agreements in support of large energy infrastructure. We work with federal, state, and local regulators to address concerns like noise, visual interruption, and community health.
• Real Estate Transactions
  Our Real Estate team helps colleges, universities, and developers across the United States navigate the complexities of their real estate transactions and development projects. We work with clients to proactively identify opportunities, structure transactions and financing, negotiate agreements, and get projects completed.
• Easement
• Land Use and Zoning
  Thom brings deep knowledge and significant experience to his real estate and finance practice. His focus includes real estate development, urban redevelopment, municipal finance, land use and zoning, tax incremental financing, and general municipal law. Prior to joining Michael Best, Thom represented the City of Milwaukee as an Assistant City Attorney in the Office of the City Attorney.
• Condominium Law
  Nancy is a partner in the Real Estate group. Her more than 30 years of experience covers a broad range of real estate law, including assisting clients in purchases, sales and leases of property, and development and zoning work; representing borrowers and lenders in real estate loans; assisting in foreclosures and workouts; advising on questions of condominium law; negotiating construction and architects' contracts; and assisting in real estate litigation.

Immigration Law

• Citizenship and Naturalization
• Employment Immigration
  Julie provides business-related immigration services to clients with a particular focus on employment-based immigration, including nonimmigrant petitions, permanent residence applications, and naturalization.
• Green Cards
• Business Immigration
  Jamie provides a broad spectrum of business immigration services to firm clients.Jamie has more than 10 years of experience providing business immigration services. She has extensive experience with H-1B and TN applications, as well as the management of a J-1 Exchange Visitor program, facilitating the sponsorship of Research Scholars, Short Term Scholars, Student Interns and Alien Physicians.
• Work Visas
  We represent PRO-Equipment Inc., a manufacturer of wastewater treatment and waste disposal process equipment, in immigration and intellectual property matters. Our intellectual property representation has included brand management for membrane (filtration) technology, including trademark clearance and prosecution, as well as patent application drafting, prosecution, and related advice. In the area of immigration, our attorneys have assisted the company with issues including temporary work visa processing, green card filings, and international travel assistance.

Health Law

• Medical Malpractice
  When necessary, we represent healthcare clients in litigation, internal investigations, government enforcement actions, and crisis management. Michael Best’s Healthcare group has experience defending individual healthcare providers including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), insurers, and institutions in medical malpractice litigation, including jury and bench trials; administrative proceedings such as licensing board actions; investigations related to alleged fraudulent billing, and Medicaid audit and recoupment actions.

Trusts and Estates

• Estate Planning
  Jane brings a well-versed background of experience to her work as a banking & financial services paralegal. As the lead paralegal in the firm’s Derivatives group, she assists bank clients as a documentation specialist for interest rate swaps, foreign exchange, and other derivative products. Jane also has extensive experience in assisting with matters involving estate planning, probate, and registered investment company filings with both the SEC and FINRA.
• Trusts
  Rose brings the strategic insights and perspective gained from her experience as a certified public accountant and registered tax return preparer to her focus on estate planning matters. Her focus includes: estate and trust administration; preparation of fiduciary, individual, death, partnership, private foundations and gift tax returns; and financial analysis and tax planning.
• Power of Attorney
  Mark’s practice is focused on representing individuals in wealth planning and administration, including the preparation of trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and charitable planning. Mark also collaborates with the firm’s corporate attorneys to advise business owners and executives on business succession planning, and other matters related to the protection of their assets. He works closely with each client to understand their goals and needs on an individual level and develops tailored solutions that achieve those objectives. Mark’s clients rely on his ability to successfully navigate complex family and financial situations and reach practical and effective solutions.

Finance Law

• Bankruptcy
• Foreclosure
  Our commercial litigation attorneys have a proven track record representing lenders and other financial service providers in matters ranging from commercial foreclosures and collateral replevin, to FDIC receiverships, complex Chapter 11 bankruptcies, and insurance company insolvencies and rehabilitations. We have also successfully defended banks and their officers against allegations of fraud and non-conforming lending practices.
• Tax Law
  We provide strategic counsel covering the business life cycle, from organization, financing, and operation through mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. We advise on corporate and tax planning to help clients understand how water assets and liabilities may affect their bottom line, now and into the future.