Justia Legal Services & Lawyers Directory

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.

I have been practicing for four years in the State of Wisconsin, representing people in the criminal courts.

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.

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

As a partner at Henry & Higgins, L.L.C., in Madison, Wisconsin, Attorney Michael Higgins firmly believes that every client deserves his personal attention and responsive communication to help resolve their legal matter.

He is dedicated to helping people who are going through difficult situations find the right legal solution by offering a wide range of service levels from do-it-yourself divorce, where he advises you and you do the forms and the legwork, to full service divorce, where a retainer fee is collected and Mr. Higgins does all the work. He is also an experienced mediator for family law cases.

I provide innovative representation to low-income clients, primarily in the areas of family and housing law. Licensed to practice in the state of Wisconsin and admitted to practice in the Eastern & Western U.S. District Courts of Wisconsin.

Attorney Daniel A. Rottier has been with Habush Habush & Rottier since 1979. In his role as Chief Operating Officer, he monitors the twelve offices of the firm. His own work focuses on medical negligence, product liability and general liability matters.

Dan has been recognized by many legal organizations for the quality of his work. He is a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers; a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers; a Diplomat of the American Board of Trial Advocates and a Fellow of the Wisconsin Law Foundation. He has been named as one of the top ten attorneys in Wisconsin for the last three years by Super Lawyers, a Law & Politics publication. In 2008 he was named Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Wisconsin Association For Justice.

Dan has been listed in the Best Lawyers in America for over ten years and has been certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy since 1982. He has been lead trial counsel on cases resulting in recovery of more than $200 million for the firm's clients. He is a past President of the Wisconsin Association for Justice.

His practice has involved cases in seventeen states and he had the honor of arguing before the United States Supreme Court in 1992, with a unanimous decision in favor of the firm's client.

Dan is a past president of the Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers, a past chair of the Litigation Section of the Wisconsin State Bar and has served on the Board of Governors of both AAJ and the State Bar. He lectures widely on legal matters and serves on the Board of Visitors of the University of Wisconsin Law School.

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I split my time between our real estate and business law practice and teaching in the Wisconsin School of Business. Please visit the weblinks on this page to learn more about our practice and the Wisconsin program in Real Estate and Urban Land Economics.

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. She is frequently sought after for her expertise in the defense of accusations of sexual assault and child sexual assault offenses.

I am honest, caring and hard working. You are the 'boss' and together we put together a plan to help you with your legal need.