General Litigation
Business and Commercial Litigation
When disputes arise in business, we protect our clients’ interests in and out of the courtroom. Our experienced litigators obtain successful results for business clients in disputes with employees, customers, suppliers, government, and others. We provide swift responses to client needs and cost-effective solutions that never compromise case strategy.
ERIsa and insurance litigation
We represent clients in ERISA benefit disputes and insurance coverage litigation. Our work includes representing parties in health, life, and disability insurance matters. We also represent individuals and businesses in ERISA retirement benefit disputes and matters involving fiduciary duties under ERISA.
Insurance and Regulatory Work
We represent regulated entities and licensed individuals involved in administrative actions before state and federal regulators including the Wisconsin Commissioner of Insurance, Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, and the U.S. Department of Labor.
Consumer Financial Services
Our firm has specialized expertise in consumer finance law, having provided counsel and representation in consumer financial services compliance and litigation matters for over two decades. Consumer finance clients include finance companies, loan companies, banks, credit unions, merchants, automobile dealers, mortgage lenders, online consumer financial service providers, collectors, and related businesses.
Employee benefits
We help individuals and medical providers appeal denied ERISA health and disability benefit claims in pre-litigation consulting. We also counsel clients involving ERISA fiduciary duties, ESOP valuation disputes, COBRA rights and penalties, and severance and retirement payment disputes.
Employment Law
Businesses face increasing complexity in nearly every aspect of employment relations. Non-compliance can be very costly. The most effective way to avoid these costs is through appropriate action. We help employers navigate issues with employee benefit plans, severance agreements, employment agreements, employee discipline, and independent contractor agreements, among others. We also help employers draft effective and legally compliant employee handbooks and policies, establish programs to ensure compliance with laws governing equal employment opportunity and reasonable accommodations, evaluate family and medical leave issues, and identify and prevent workplace harassment.
Contract DRAFTING AND NEGOTIATION
Written contracts help ensure parties to an agreement are on the same page. We negotiate and draft contracts so they are clearly written, fully protect our clients’ interests, and are legally enforceable. We also help clients resolve disputes over existing contracts, which disputes often arise because the contract was unclear. Nearly every aspect of our specialized areas of experience involves complicated contracts, including employee benefit plans, consumer finance contracts, and banking and account agreements. We help clients make sense of their contracts and, if necessary, use the courts or the arbitration process to enforce rights and obtain remedies.
Business Purchases and Sales
Buying or selling a business is likely one of the largest transactions you’ll ever make, not only because of the significant financial commitment, but also the personal investment of time, effort, and expectations. We help business owners and entrepreneurs with all aspects of creating, buying, or selling a business. In addition to representing purchasers and sellers of existing businesses, we provide legal counsel to entrepreneurs who are creating new businesses.
corporate law
Creating a solid legal entity is one of the first steps to getting your business off on the right foot. The decision to form a corporation, a Limited Liability Company, or some other legal entity is an important consideration for any business owner. Because of our involvement with start-up companies and entrepreneurs, among others, our attorneys can help you select the proper entity for your business enterprise and prepare appropriate governing documents and internal agreements.