Justia Legal Services & Lawyers Directory

I genuinely believe that the value of life comes from service to others. I have dedicated more hours to this philosophy than our business manager would care to imagine. I have been rewarded kindly in the friends that I have made, the lessons that I have learned and the impact that I have made on the community. I never stop hunting for the next project.

My service to the community has been very broad in scope. I have served as a member of the Oconomowoc school board, the Oconomowoc Hospital Foundation, and as a trustee of St. Jerome’s Catholic Church. I created a foundation for the Oconomowoc Rotary. I set up a non-profit corporation which provides medical services in Haiti. I have coached soccer for the Oconomowoc Soccer Association and Lake Country United. Currently, I am President of the Village of Lac La Belle. I am a legal advisor to St. Jerome’s Catholic Church and Holy Hill, and run a free legal clinic.

It is my passion and dedication that have powered my law career. As founder and president of the firm, I have created and nurtured an organization that is dedicated to the service of our clients. I require respect and dignity for everyone. I insist that every attorney and assistant obtain the training and continuing education necessary for the highest level of assistance to our clients. I practice what I preach. I travel annually to seminars all over the country. I arrange for twice-monthly teleconferences for our attorneys and the financial planners/CPAs who are our strategic partners. I emphasize active listening so that our team understands the range and depth of our clients’ needs. I provide client education so that they are empowered to meet the unique and unexpected challenges of life. My aim is to provide my clients with peace of mind. In the end, I want our clients to be satisfied with their choice of our firm as their personal, family attorneys.

I concentrate my practice in the areas of estate planning, probate and trust administration, but I am experienced in a wide-range of legal areas having represented financial institutions, medical facilities, real estate developers, condominium associations, real estate brokers, and business entities. I have a wide range of litigation experience including appellate work before the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Beyond that, I am a real estate broker and have a Masters of Tax degree in accounting. It is this range of knowledge and experience that has allowed me to offer our clients superior legal service. I look forward to helping you.

Jerome Buting is a shareholder in the Milwaukee area law firm of BUTING & WILLIAMS, S.C., where he practices throughout the state exclusively in the field of criminal law, handling both trials and appeals. He received his B.A. in Forensic Studies from Indiana University-Bloomington in 1978 and his J.D. from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in 1981. Mr. Buting is admitted to practice in Wisconsin state and federal courts as well as the United States 7th Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. He is a current member and past chair of the Criminal Law Section Board of Directors. He is a member of the Wisconsin Criminal Justice Commission, which is presently reviewing potential areas of reform in the Wisconsin criminal justice process. He is a past-president of WACDL, and a life member of NACDL and formerly served on its board of directors. Mr. Buting has organized CLE seminars for the State Bar Criminal Law Section and NACDL, and is a frequent contributor to State Public Defender seminars.

Mr. Buting is frequently sought after for his expertise on DNA and other forensic evidence, cross-examination of experts, innocence and wrongful convictions challenges, and how to handle a high profile case.

Chuck Palmer is the Managing Partner of Michael, Best & Friedrich's Waukesha, Wisconsin office. His primary practice areas are Labor and Employment Law, OSHA defense, fire, explosion and safety related litigation, and construction law. He is co-chair of the firms construction practice group. He is the author of Wisconsin Workers Compensation Law, a Handbook for Employers. He is on the Board of Directors for the following organizations: Wisconsin Underground Contractors Assn., Wisconsin Council of Safety, Make A Wish Foundation. An example of one of his published opinions can be found at:

http://www.wicourts.gov/sc/opinion/DisplayDocument.html?content=html&seqNo=33223

SCOTT N. BURNS graduated from the University of Wisconsin, and from Marquette University Law School. He is a member of the Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and American Bar Associations. He is admitted to practice in the Wisconsin and U.S. District Court, both Eastern and Western Districts.

Scott's practice is devoted to all aspects of real estate and business transactional law. Scott was recognized as a "top attorney" in Milwaukee Magazine Best Lawyers issues (February, 1995, October, 1999, and September, 2003) in the real estate law specialty. He has appeared on both radio and television as a real estate law expert. Scott has also lectured on real estate and construction law at Marquette University Law School. Scott often acts as a court-appointed and private mediator in litigation matters in his area of expertise, particularly involving real estate, contract/business disputes, construction defects and transactional disputes.

Main Office:
320 East Buffalo St.
Suite 700
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Phone: 414-271-3400

Waukesha Office:
20720 Watertown Rd.
Suite 202
Waukesha, WI 53186
Phone: 262-782-5200

CHRISTOPHER KOLB is a 1981 graduate from Yale University Law School. Prior to attending Yale, he earned two postgraduate degrees from UCLA, which he attended on an NDEA fellowship, and an undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin, where he graduated with Phi Beta Kappa honors.

His practice includes litigation on behalf of plaintiffs in securities disputes, representation of lawyers, doctors and other professionals facing possible disciplinary action by licensing authorities, and business litigation involving contract, intellectual property, and employment matters. He has also represented the owners of a large area shopping center regarding their leasing and litigation needs, and has extensive experience as a mediator.

He is a member of the Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin Bar Associations and has also appeared before the Federal Courts of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (which includes Wisconsin and Illinois), Ninth Circuit (including California), and Federal Circuit (in Washington, D.C. ).

Mr. Kolb has lectured at Marquette University Law School on the subject of alternative dispute resolution, and he is a two-time recipient of the State Bar of Wisconsin Authorship Award, once for an article on structured settlements and once for a two-part article on arbitration of securities disputes.

Main Office:
320 East Buffalo St.
Suite 700
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Phone: 414-271-3400

Waukesha Office:
20720 Watertown Rd.
Suite 202
Waukesha, WI 53186
Phone: 262-782-5200

Kathleen B. Stilling is a partner in the Milwaukee area law firm of BUTING & WILLIAMS, S.C., practicing statewide primarily in the field of criminal defense, both trials and appeals. She is a member of the Wisconsin State Bar, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and is a charter member and past-president of the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. She is admitted to practice in federal and state courts in Wisconsin as well as the United States 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. She is a frequent speaker at CLE seminars for lawyers throughout Wisconsin, as well as national seminars sponsored by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Effective November 1, 2008, I opened my own law office in Brookfield, Wisconsin (in Waukesha County, a suburb of the City of Milwaukee). In addition to being more centrally situated to my personal client base, this move also reflects the fact that as my practice was increasingly focused on asset planning and debt reorganization, it resulted in my former law firm more frequently encountering conflicts of interest with business organizations and financial organizations it represented (or, desired to represent!).

Generally, I will continue to provide services in the following areas of concern as they tend to interact, and at the listed rates:

A. Personal/business debt reorganization/resolution. My services here are based on assisting clients either eliminating debt concerns that hamper their business, or in exiting the business under circumstances where protection of the owner's personal assets are maximized, to the extant legally possible. This involves the use of such tools as Chapter 7 and 11 bankruptcies; Chapter 128 state law liquidations: and personal asset protection plans. To that end, I am representing only a few area banking concerns [AnchorBank; NorStates Bank) to eliminate conflicts of interest which, far too often, may be influencing the vigor of representation offered by other firms in this locale. Fees in this practice area will range from $250 to $265 per hour.

B. Employment matters and litigation. For businesses, I offer services in responding to employee claims, and assisting in employment decisions where a claim potential exists. I also will counsel higher-compensated employees about exploring their options in conflict with their employer. To this area, I bring my experience as a former claims investigator for the Wisconsin Equal Rights Division and years of representing each side in - typically - contested employment disputes, where trials or administrative hearings are likely to occur. My litigation (courtroom work) matters will focus on misrepresentation, fraud and/or administrative code violations, such as deceptive business practices. Fees here will range from $225-$245, again driven by the complexity and breadth of the issues.

C. General business consulting, planning and setup matters, including subsidiary and affiliate implementation, as a means to protect the core business in the event a planned expansion or venture either fails, or is more successful than anticipated. Generally, these services will be at an hourly fee range of $200-225, based on the size and complexity of the client's project.

A note about the fee ranges: Generally, these ranges are markedly less than charged by similar practitioners with similar experience in the subject fields. Nor do I expect to increase them any time soon. The business model of a "downtown firm," with annual fee increases noted as
standard in their engagement letter is not one I care to follow. I have a long relationship with most all of my present client base; they expect effective service and I intend to keep my overhead under control to eliminate fee spiraling for such services.

It goes without saying that a business seeks customers that pay timely for fair services; but the larger you grow in the service fields, the harder it is to hold true to that goal . . . and other clients tend to suffer for the consequences of that growth. I am proud that my practice has been virtually client referral-based. After initial discussion on a matter, I quote a fee rate from the above ranges and confirm it by letter. I also charge as "expenses" only out-of-pocket fees (for legal filings, court reporter fees) and, occasionally, photocopying; scanning; mailing, if a large volume is handled on my end (versus being copied and issued at your own facilities).

Personally, I obtained the coveted A-V rating from Martindale-Hubbell (generally recognized as the foremost and longest-established lawyer evaluation service) back in 1991 (one of the first to achieve such at my former firm).

Prior to engaging in private practice, I served as a law clerk (legal researcher) to the Wisconsin Supreme Court after graduating cum laude from Marquette Law School, where I was one of the editors of its Law Review. During law school, I was employed as a field investigator for the Equal Rights Division (through a law school clinical program) of the State of Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (investigating discrimination claims).

I have also been president of the Alumni Association for the Law School, and served two terms as its representative on the Marquette University National Alumni Association's Board of Directors. Early on, I was awarded the Volunteer Lawyer of the Year for the Milwaukee Young Lawyers' Association/Legal Action of Wisconsin joint program for supplying legal services to the community for complex employment matters; and still provide services on bankruptcy matters for its current program.

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.

Dan has tried over seventy cases to juries, including automobile accident cases for defendants and plaintiffs, medical malpractice cases for plaintiffs and defendants and coverage questions for insurers and insured's.

Dan has represented and obtained recoveries for several minors in significant injury cases and has tried punitive damage cases to juries as well. He has represented clients in hundreds of mediations where he has helped them resolve matters without the expense and uncertainty of trial. Dan also represents clients in Arbitration hearings and represents businesses and professionals in transactional and non litigation of matters, including negotiating and drafting shareholder, member and non-compete agreements, and the acquisition and development of new facilities. Dan uses a trial lawyer's eye to help his clients avoid future litigation, while addressing the matter at hand.

Mr. O'Brien served two elected terms on the Wauwatosa School Board from 2001 to 2007, a district with a $65 million dollar budget, 7,000 students and over 800 employees. He has lectured at the Marquette University Dental School on subject of professional liability and has likewise lectured and spoken at seminars on topics ranging from material misrepresentation and fraud in the insurance claims process to the recovery of diminished value of an automobile in third party cases.

Main Office:
320 East Buffalo St.
Suite 700
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Phone: 414-271-3400

Waukesha Office:
20720 Watertown Rd.
Suite 202
Waukesha, WI 53186
Phone: 262-782-5200