Justia Legal Services & Lawyers Directory

Founder and CEO of MicroLaw, Inc., a 24 year old legal technology and law practice management consultancy serving law practices worldwide. Developed the "Paper LESS Office(tm)" process in 1994. In addition to consulting with law firm and legal department clients, I delivery over 40 CLE programs per year worldwide on a variety of legal technology topics. I write for a number of publications including Law Technology News and Technolawyer. I blog at the ABA award-winning blawg, Ross Ipsa Loquitur (rossipsa.com).

I am a founding and managing partner of Flynn Fleming LLP, a boutique law firm combining the best aspects of a small firm with big firm experience. I represent businesses and professional individuals in resolving disputes, both in and out of court.

I have represented individuals and businesses for ten years in a variety of litigation and pre-litigation matters in the areas of intellectual property, contract disputes, franchise and distribution, real estate, fiduciary duty, stock appraisal, insurance coverage and domestic relations.

Corporate/business attorney with over 15 years business experience both as a business manager and in-house attorney before moving to private practice. My primary focus is on technology, intellectual property, renewable energy and entertainment law.

The practice of family law has been the perfect opportunity to use the skills I have nurtured throughout my life.

Divorce cases are complex. The issues range from creating a placement schedule to permit your children to thrive, to assessing the values of businesses or pensions. My mathematical and analytical background, along with over fifteen years of experience, allow me to fully and effectively counsel our divorce clients about family and financial issues in an effort to obtain a resolution that is fair and well-reasoned.

I believe that children's needs and interests are paramount. I have three young children and understand the importance of maintaining stability in the midst of change. Since parents put their children's needs before their own during marriage, I encourage clients to keep their children's needs and interests at the forefront as a part of the divorce process as well. Since the parents are divorcing and not the children, I urge clients to isolate the children from the conflict to the greatest extent possible.

My peers have named me a "Wisconsin Super Lawyer" in the area of Family Law. I have also been elected to the Board of Directors for the State Bar Family Law Section. I am a fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, the preeminent organization of Family Law lawyers in the nation. My dedication to law extends beyond my practice. I have presented seminars to fellow lawyers and judges, written proposed legislation, and testified before legislative committees on family law matters. I also offer mediation services.

I look forward to using my experience to help you during your time of need.

Jason R. Oldenburg is an attorney with Previant, Goldberg, Uelmen, Gratz, Miller & Brueggeman, S.C. in Milwaukee. He graduated summa cum laude from Winona State University in 2001 and earned his law degree from Marquette University in 2004, graduating cum laude.

Mr. Oldenburg practices in the areas of personal injury, worker's compensation and social security disability. He maintains a statewide practice and exclusively represents injured individuals. He is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Young Lawyers Association, American Association for Justice and the Wisconsin Association for Justice. He is admitted to practice before the State of Wisconsin and the United States District Court for the Eastern District. He was named as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers in 2008. He is a frequent lecturer to labor unions throughout the State of Wisconsin on the topic of Worker's Compensation.

I am a 1983 graduate of Indiana University, at Bloomington, School of Law, and have been practicing personal injury law in Milwaukee for more than two decades. I have helped thousands of individuals to receive cash and benefits to compensate them for losses sustained due to injuries, including vehicle accidents, wrongful death cases, slip and falls, product defect/ failure cases, medical malpractice, work-related injuries, animal bite cases, civil rights cases, and food contamination cases.

I have helped clients throughout Wisconsin and many other states recover damages for medical expenses, out-of-pocket expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. I work hard to make each client well informed and comfortable asking questions or discussing their case. Well over 95% of the cases that I have handled have settled without the need to file a lawsuit, however, where cases need to be decided by a judge or jury, I actively pursue cases throughout the court systems and through alternative methods of dispute resolution.

JANE E. PROBST presently specializes in the areas of family law, divorce, paternity, grandparent rights, custody, child support, juvenile law, termination of parental rights, adoptions and guardianships. Another specialty area is Equine Law, exclusively dealing with businesses, contracts and litigation related to horses. She not only has extensive experience as a trial lawyer, but is also a member of the Collaborative Divorce Council of Wisconsin with an objective of resolving divorces without the cost and acrimony of the standard litigation process. She was certified by University of Wisconsin as a Divorce Mediator in November, 2006.

For more than 19 years, she has had a variety of experience in other areas of law such as criminal defense, real estate and probate. She has successfully litigated family, civil, juvenile and criminal cases throughout Southeastern Wisconsin in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Jefferson, Washington, Racine, Kenosha, Walworth and Ozaukee counties. She has been successful in appeals before the Wisconsin Court of Appeals and has argued before the Wisconsin Court of Appeals. She has also represented clients in appeals before the United States Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit. In the summer of 1990, Jane was also published in the American Journal of Family Law.

Jody L. Usow was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, obtained her bachelors degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1983, and is a 1986 graduate of the Marquette University Law School in Wisconsin. She was admitted to the Wisconsin State Bar in 1986.

Jody has extensive experience in civil and criminal law and is an experienced litigator having tried hundreds of cases in Wisconsin Circuit Courts since 1986. Although the focus of her practice is increasingly devoted to aspects of family law, she continues to litigate in several areas.

-- Family Law and Litigation, including divorce, child custody, child support, paternity and domestic violence. In addition to representing private clients, Ms. Usow is regularly appointed as a Guardian ad Litem in the interest of minor children by local Circuit and Childrens Courts and is a member of the Collaborative Law Council.

-- Criminal Law and Litigation, including felony and misdemeanor defense, municipal and criminal traffic defense. While Ms. Usow tries a large variety of criminal cases, she has significant experience in the areas of domestic violence and sexual assault including both adults and minors.

-- Civil and Corporate Law and Litigation, including contract enforcement and disputes, insurance claims and defenses, general civil litigation, large and small claims actions and collections.

Attorney Jody L. Usow has broad experience trying cases before both juries and courts throughout Wisconsin, with a primary focus in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee, Racine and Kenosha Counties. Jody has been a partner with Hickey, Turim and Usow, S.C., since 1996.

Since 1995, I have used my experience as the chief executive officer of a trade association and an elected official to assist corporations and public entities avoid litigation and prevail in complex disputes. I assist my clients by managing their risk and terminating commercial disputes through negotiation, mediation, arbitration or, if necessary, litigation. I'm also an experienced trial lawyer, having led or second-chaired more than 15 trials, with a 90% success rate. In addition, I defend professionals accused of negligence.

I've helped large corporations and other public entities such as cities and school districts achieve their business and organizational goals:

On behalf of subsidiary of a 6,000 employee industry leader in power plant technology and power generation, successfully sued a deep-hole drilling subcontractor when it failed to properly manufacture large-scale heat exchanger components. Obtained 2007 summary judgment in Washington County Circuit Court.

Defended numerous employment claims brought against Racine Unified School District, which annually educates approximately 21,000 students with 1,400 teachers and more than 100 administrators. Prevailed at both federal and state investigation and administrative hearing stages on discrimination, retaliation, and disparate impact complaints, effectively preventing litigation of all claims brought from 2005-2009.

Defended a leading global engineering and design firm against claims of negligence arising from the design and construction of a water intake and transmission main for a Wisconsin municipality. Prevailed on 2007 summary judgment against co-defendant construction company, preventing trial on $2 million-plus claim in Winnebago County Circuit Court.

Defended a global restaurant chain (280+ locations worldwide) in Milwaukee County Circuit Court litigation arising from food-borne illness outbreak that made headlines in Milwaukee. Settled the majority of the eight-figure case before trial, leaving only the restaurant chain's cross-claims to be tried.

Defended regional HVAC equipment supplier against claims of negligence and breach of contract in Waukesha County Circuit Court. Obtained reversal of default judgment and pretrial judgment dismissing the majority of plaintiff's claims. In 2008, settled the action for less than its cost of defense.

Defended Bergensons Property Services, Inc., a California-based leading national provider of superior maintenance, cleaning, and janitorial service to the retail, commercial, institutional, and hospital industries. Despite not meeting contract requirements, a subcontractor sought payment from Bergensons. Settled the contentious dispute in 2007.

Defended 2005 commercial eviction of car repair chain boasting approximately 60 locations nationwide. After bringing a motion to dismiss before the Kenosha County Circuit Court, settled the suit within two weeks, and negotiated the client's continued presence in Wisconsin.

In 2009, successfully defended of one of Wisconsin's leading worker's compensation attorneys against claims of professional negligence. Settled the $2+million suit prior to Dane County Circuit Court trial.

Second-chaired the Western District of Wisconsin federal court trial of a constitutional challenge to the State of Wisconsin's system of Medicaid administration. The 7th Circuit's appellate decision cleared the way for the client to attract new clients from throughout the United States, significantly increasing its revenue.

In 2009, second-chaired the successful Milwaukee County Circuit Court trial defense of a renowned trauma surgeon accused of negligence after a laparotomy sponge was left inside a patient following surgery.

In the Eastern District of Wisconsin, defended a regional warehousing and transportation logistics company against allegations that it induced a breach of fiduciary duty and interference with multiple contracts. During 2008 and 2009, conducted dozens of depositions of third-parties in this approximately $2 million case, establishing the basis for a summary judgment motion and related motion to recover six-figure costs and fees.

I'm a member of the Litigation and Real Estate Sections of the State Bar of Wisconsin. I also participate as a member of the Commercial Litigation and Professional Liability Committees of the Defense Resource Institute. I practice with Hinshaw & Culbertson, LLP, a 475-lawyer firm headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Hinshaw's 23 offices in 15 states from Florida to Oregon offer comprehensive legal services, including intellectual property, business transactions, transportation, environmental, employment, fidelity and surety, white-collar crime, and products liability.

Executive and Governmental Experience
For three years, I served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Apartment Association of South Central Wisconsin, the second-largest such association in the state of Wisconsin. During my tenure, the Association grew to include three additional counties. Under my leadership, the Association successfully defeated multiple municipal, county, and state legislative efforts that would have harmed its members' businesses. For instance, one proposed ordinance would have mandated participation by all rental property owners in the federal government's Section 8 housing subsidy program.

I have extensive experience as an appointed and elected official in the State of Wisconsin. For example, Governor Tommy Thompson in 2000 appointed me to the Lead Paint Technical Advisory Committee, which was instrumental in crafting a lead paint law for Wisconsin. In 2006, I was appointed to the City of Muskego's Board of Review, where I served as vice-chairman. In 2007, I was elected to the City Council of Muskego, Wisconsin, and was three times elected to serve as the Council's representative on the Plan Commission, and appointed to chair the Public Works Committee in 2008. In April, 2009, I was re-elected to my second two-year term on the City Council of Muskego, Wisconsin, and was also elected President of the Council.

I love being a lawyer, and particularly a trial lawyer. It calls upon your intellect, your integrity and your imagination to solve remarkably tough problems. There is no greater opportunity to learn about human nature and participate in the affairs of your community than to work as a trial attorney.

Criminal work is particularly fascinating. Properly done, the vigorous and ethical defense of a serious crime not only protects the client but is also a service to every citizen.

James W. McNeilly, Jr., is the principal of Law Offices of James W. McNeilly, Jr. LLC, with offices in La Crosse and Kenosha, where he focuses on bankruptcy, estate planning, real estate and business law. Jim is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin, the National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees, the Commercial Law League of America and the American Bankruptcy Institute. He has a BSSW from UW - La Crosse and obtained his J.D. from the University of Wisconsin in 1981. He has been a Chapter 7 Panel Trustee in the Western District of Wisconsin since 1987 and was a La Crosse County Court Commissioner from 1995 to 2007. Jim has administered thousands of Chapter 7 bankruptcies and has been a receiver and an operating Chapter 11 Trustee. He has also represented debtors, creditors, and trustees in bankruptcy proceedings under all chapters of the Bankruptcy Code and debtors, creditors and receivers in receiverships. Jim serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for the Bankruptcy, Insolvency and Creditors' Rights section of the Wisconsin State Bar and is a frequent lecturer and author on bankruptcy, real estate and business law topics.

Practice limited to Wisconsin and Federal Criminal Appeals, habeas corpus, and post-conviction litigation

Wisconsin personal injury lawyer Frank Pasternak is managing partner of Pasternak & Zirgibel S.C., award-winning plaintiffs personal injury attorneys in Wisconsin. In 2008 and 2007, he was honored by "Super Lawyers" (top 5% of all Wisconsin attorneys) in Milwaukee Magazine. In 2006, he was recognized as a Wisconsin "Super Lawyer Rising Star" (top 2.5% of all Wisconsin lawyers under 40) in Milwaukee Magazine and in 2005, he was voted by CNI Newspapers as "Best Attorney." Pasternak & Zirgibel focuses exclusively on plaintiffs' personal injury and wrongful death litigation, including car accident, asbestos, malpractice and mesothelioma cases. Frank Pasternak has litigated lawsuits nationwide, including a trial against Walmart that resulted in a post-trial recovery of $11,400,000.00.