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).

Mr. Woody has a special interest in environmental and natural resources law. He is a member of the Natural Resources Division and Forest Resources Committee of the American Bar Association. He serves as legal counsel to the Ruffed Grouse Society, a national wildlife conservation and sportsmens association, on matters pertaining to the National Forests. He counsels natural resource clients in all aspects of Forest Service decision-making and its consequences on the forest's stakeholders, including industry, Native Americans, residents, and environmental interest groups.

In addition, to National Forest legal issues, Mr. Woody concentrates his practice on ERISA litigation, subrogation and insurance defense and complex coverage issues and appeals. Mr. Woody has represented ERISA Plans in numerous federal courts around the country.

Sean's practice focuses on business transactional law, business litigation, civil litigation, and real estate law. Sean has experience litigating business and civil disputes as both plaintiff's and defendant's counsel, helping buyers and sellers complete real estate transactions, as well as experience drafting contracts ranging from small business contracts to plow a parking lot to large corporation contracts dealing with operating and maintaining real estate.

Sean earned his Juris Doctor (JD) and Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from Marquette University. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Economics from Northern Arizona University. Before joining Halling & Cayo, Sean ran his own practice, Tosa Law Office.

Sean has not only the legal training and experience needed to provide complete service, he also has the education and training to understand the real world needs and challenges that organizations large and small face today.

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.

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.

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 between $250-$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 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 a service field, 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 only 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. 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's Association/Legal
Action of Wisconsin's joint program for supplying legal services to the community for complex employment matters; and still provide services on bankruptcy matters for its current program.

Rob has enjoyed the opportunity to practice law in Southeastern Wisconsin for over 24 years. Rob and his wife, Ann, currently have a son in college and twin daughters in high school, and they reside in Mequon. Rob is responsive to questions from both individuals and business owners, and has handled a variety of cases and projects in the areas of estate planning, wills, elder law, trusts, probate, tax, small business, business sales and acquisitions, real estate, litigation and general practice.

Tony Resimius focuses his practice in the areas of employment law, litigation and business law. As the leader of the Rohde Dales Employment Law Team, Tony provides advice and counsel to employers in all aspects of the employment relationship. This advice and counsel regularly includes issues related to the Americans with Disabilities Act, employee handbooks, drug testing policies, independent contractor agreements, wage and hour issues, the Family Medical Leave Act, arrest and conviction discrimination allegations, and workers compensation matters.

At Roney Law Office, LLC, we know that you work very hard for your money. That is why we work very hard for you! We offer a comprehensive flat fee schedule where you know the cost for legal services up front.

With a flat fee structure you pay one amount at the time that you retain Roney Law Office, LLC. After that you pay an additional amount ONLY if there is a fee, court expense or other expense related to your legal matter. You only pay for the additional fee or expense when the fee or expense is actually incurred.

While we cannot offer flat fee services for every conceivable matter, in situations where we are unable to offer a flat fee we offer a very competitive hourly rate. In addition, there are contact rates for businesses referring large volumes of legal matters, such as collections and landlord/tenant matters.