- Managing Partner: David A Krutz
- Chair of the Management Committee: Scott C Beightol
- Number of partners: 140
- Number of attorneys: 230
Firm Overview:
Michael Best & Friedrich LLP has earned a reputation as a leading law firm in the Midwest due to the firm’s long commitment to delivering results for clients.By guiding businesses through complex legal problems in diverse economic environments, the firm’s attorneys possess a solid foundation for understanding the constantly evolving business environments facing clients today.Michael Best is ideally positioned to handle a wide range of legal matters across the practice areas identified below. In addition, the firm offers sophisticated counsel to cutting-edge industries, including advanced manufacturing,banking and financial services, energy and sustainability and technology.
Main Areas of Practice:
Transactional Corporate & Business:
The firm’s Transactional Practice Group includes a broad range of services. Corporate and business law is a core competency of the firm. The range of services involves individuals, partnerships, limited liability companies and corporations and includes assisting in the organization, financing and operation of business ventures, through and including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and joint ventures. Experience in corporate finance has resulted in representation of venture capital investors, mezzanine lenders and start-up companies.
Contact: Gregory J Lynch Email: gjlynch@michaelbest.com
Land & Resources:
Michael Best’s land and resources attorneys practice in all areas of environmental, construction, development, real estate lawand climate change, serving property owners, developers, all types of manufacturers and industrial operations, public utilities, construction and agribusiness companies.
Contact: Michael S Green Email: msgreen@michaelbest.com
Tax:
Michael Best’s Tax Group is comprised of some of the most pre-eminent practitioners in the Midwest. In the tax planning area, attorneys advise organizations with respect to the federal, state and international tax aspects of structuring acquisitions, reorganizations, real estate developments, exchanges and related transactions. In the tax controversy area,members of the group regularly appear in federal and state trial and appellate courts, litigating all aspects of income taxes, excise taxes, sales and use taxes and property taxes.The group is well known for its sought-after publication titled,“The Complete Guide to Wisconsin Sales and Use Taxes”.
Contact: Timothy G Schally Email: tgschally@michaelbest.com
Wealth Planning Services:
Michael Best provides high quality, cost effective and innovative services regarding business succession planning, financial planning, asset protection planning, retirement planning, estate litigation and family counseling. The attorneys in this group consult with clients to determine short-term and long term objectives regarding asset protection and management, minimization of taxes and disposition of wealth.
Contact: Mark S Poker Email: mspoker@michaelbest.com
Intellectual Property:
Michael Best has one of the nation’s leading intellectual property practices. Nearly 100 professionals offer a complete range of services to clients throughout the nation and around the world. Michael Best’s Intellectual Property Practice Group offers legal and technical experience in areas such as patent, trademark and copyright prosecution and counseling; intellectual property litigation; internet and e-commerce; technology transfer and joint venture agreements; computer software and system acquisition agreements; M&A due diligence; biotechnology and trade secrets. Michael Best ranks among the leading trademark law firms in the nation.
Contact: Billie Jean Smith Email: bjsmith@michaelbest.com
Labor & Employment:
Michael Best’s labor and employment attorneys represent some of the most innovative businesses, public sector and non-profit organizations in the nation. The attorneys continually strive to develop close partnerships with clients, focusing on litigation prevention and the achievement of strategic objectives through human resources counseling, planning and training. The attorneys are recognized by their clients and peers as among the best and most respected management-side labor, employment, and employee benefits attorneys in the Midwest,providing legal defense in all aspects of labor and employment litigation; union organizing, collective bargaining, and grievance arbitration; wagehour issues; safety and workers compensation; employee benefits and immigration.They have decades of experience practicing in state and federal trial courts, appellate and Supreme courts, administrative agencies and arbitrators, and designing compensation, retirement, pension, stock and health plans.
Contact: José A Olivieri Email: jaolivieri@michaelbest.com
Litigation:
Michael Best’s Litigation Practice Group has an unmatched depth of experience and success with more than 150 published cases at every level of State and Federal Courts in recent years. Its members include a host of former judicial law clerks, law review editors, a former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice and board members and officers of local, state and national bar associations. The attorneys are consistently honored by publications as among the best counsel in their fields. More than 70 members strong, Michael Best’s Litigation Practice Group is equipped to provide clients with first class representation in any type of complex commercial litigation.
Contact: Steven M Biskupic Email: smbiskupic@michaelbest.com
International Work:
Through various international legal affiliations,Michael Best has the ability to bring global resources to clients. Michael Best is the exclusive Wisconsin member of Lex Mundi (‘Law of the World’), enabling the firm to arrange effective representation for clients around the world.
Contact: Thomas A Miller Email: tamiller@michaelbest.com