Dewitt Ross & Stevens Law Firm

Dewitt Ross & Stevens Law Firmhttps://www.dewittllp.com/Firm NewsESOP News FeedFamily Law News FeedEmployment Law News FeedSeminarsEnvironmental Law News FeedMinnesota ArticlesBusiness Law Articlesurn:uuid:a4fabee6-19df-6764-8df2-ff0000f53411https://www.dewittllp.com/news-education/posts/2022/10/12/will-the-2020s-be-the-decade-of-the-esop Firm NewsESOP News FeedWill the 2020s be the “Decade of the ESOP?”In an article on Forbes.com , Mary Josephs described the reasons why the 2020s could be the decade of the ESOP. Wed, 12 Oct 2022 16:48:38 ZIn an article on <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryjosephs/2022/10/11/employee-ownership-expert-sees-four-factors-that-could-make-the-2020s-the-decade-of-the-esop/?sh=9721fce84217" target="_blank">Forbes.com </a>, Mary Josephs described the reasons why the 2020s could be the decade of the ESOP.  Ms. Josephs interviewed Corey Rosen, founder of the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) and author of “Ownership:  Reinventing Companies, Capitalism and Who Owns What.”  Among several other reasons, Mr. Rosen and Ms. Josephs point to the numerous states that have established their own ownership centers.  That is, several states have set aside funds to establish their own, state-run employee ownership centers which exist to educate businesses about the power of employee ownership.  Most notably, Colorado established its center in 2020 and experienced a 100% uptick in expected ESOP transactions. There is also significant bipartisan federal legislation in the works which would further incentivize business owners to sell to ESOPs and banks to lend into ESOP transactions.  Although one would think that bipartisan political support would be helpful to promote more ESOP-friendly legislation, Mr. Rosen notes that politicians tend to run on topics that differentiate them from their opponents.  So, a topic on which everyone agrees can fade into the background during campaign season.urn:uuid:6bf0bee6-19df-6764-8df2-ff0000f53411https://www.dewittllp.com/news-education/posts/2022/09/28/please-join-us-on-october-11-2022-to-hear-associate-justice-anne-mckeig-discuss-the-importance-of-pro-bono-work Firm NewsPlease Join Us on October 11, 2022 to Hear Associate Justice Anne McKeig Discuss the Importance of Pro Bono WorkDeWitt will be hosting a Minneapolis Office Pro Bono Fair on October 11, 2022 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. with refreshments and appetizers. Wed, 28 Sep 2022 16:17:52 Z<div align="center" style="text-align: left;">DeWitt will be hosting a Minneapolis Office Pro Bono Fair on October 11, 2022 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. with refreshments and appetizers.  Please join us to hear Associate Justice Anne McKeig, who will discuss Minnesota Professional Rule 6.1 Voluntary Pro Bono Public Service, specifically she will focus on the importance of the rule and the reporting requirement regardless of whether an attorney provided any pro bono representation.  Also in attendance at the event will be representatives from the Tubman Safety Project, which provides pro bono representation on Orders for Protection and Harassment Restraining Orders, the Volunteer Lawyers Network, the Immigrant Law Center, the Children’s Law Center and the Volunteer Mediation Project.    Please rsvp to Lori Maynard at <a href="mailto:lm@dewittllp.com">lm@dewittllp.com</a> if you would like to attend.</div> Our Minneapolis office address is 901 Marquette Avenue, Suite 2100.  <div align="center" style="text-align: left;"><h4>About Honorable Anne K. McKeig </h4></div>Associate Justice McKeig joined the Minnesota Supreme Court in September 2016, making her the first female Native American to sit on any state supreme court in the United States. A descendant of the White Earth Nation, Justice McKeig is a native of Federal Dam, Minnesota, where she grew up on the Leech Lake Reservation. She attended St. Catherine University for her undergraduate degree, and received her law degree from Hamline University. She served as an assistant Hennepin County Attorney for 16 years, handling child protection cases and adoption matters with a specialty in cases that fall under the provisions of the Indian Child Welfare Act. She then served as a district court judge in Hennepin County for almost nine years before her nomination to the Minnesota Supreme Court.Justice McKeig co-authored law school curriculum entitled Child Abuse and the Law, and teaches as an adjunct professor at both St. Thomas School of Law and Mitchell Hamline School of Law.      Justice McKeig has spoken at numerous national conferences and conventions regarding child protection, domestic violence, family law, diversity & inclusion, working with tribal communities, as well as a multitude of other topics. She is a member of the Speakers Bureau for the Zero Abuse Project, Division of Indian Work, the Infinity Project, a trustee for St. Catherine University, and a member of the State/Tribal Court forum, as well as serving on several national committees addressing domestic violence, child abuse, Native American issues, and diversity.urn:uuid:0af0bee6-19df-6764-8df2-ff0000f53411https://www.dewittllp.com/news-education/posts/2022/09/27/attorney-lindsey-m.-anderson-appointed-to-the-wisconsin-crime-victims-council Firm NewsFamily Law News FeedAttorney Lindsey M. Anderson Appointed to the Wisconsin Crime Victims CouncilToday DeWitt LLP law firm announced Wisconsin Attorney General Joshua L. Kaul appointed attorney Lindsey M. Anderson to serve as a Citizen Representative on the Wisconsin Crime Victims Council. Tue, 27 Sep 2022 18:24:32 ZGREEN BAY | MADISON | MILWAUKEE | MINNEAPOLIS – Today DeWitt LLP law firm announced Wisconsin Attorney General Joshua L. Kaul appointed attorney <a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/lindsey-anderson/biography" target="_blank">Lindsey M. Anderson</a> to serve as a Citizen Representative on the Wisconsin Crime Victims Council.  The mission of the Council is to advise the attorney general on matters important to victims of crime.  Anderson is a Family Law attorney who helps individuals in all walks of life, whether retired and involved in a long-term marriage, or a young couple seeking a divorce, to navigate family law issues including separation, divorce, custody and placement, child support and maintenance.  She also handles mediations for represented and pro se parties and assists clients with adult and minor guardianships and adoption.  She earned a J.D., magna cum laude, from Marquette University Law School, a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, and holds a certificate in litigation.  She is admitted to practice in the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin and is an active member of the Milwaukee Bar Association.  Anderson has received multiple awards for her groundbreaking pro bono efforts related to victim’s rights, to include her recent inclusion in the BizTimes Milwaukee Rising Stars in the Law Class of 2022.urn:uuid:0fefbee6-19df-6764-8df2-ff0000f53411https://www.dewittllp.com/news-education/posts/2022/09/23/with-child-without-workplace-accommodation-impact-of-the-recent-eeoc-v.-wal-mart-stores-east-l.p.-decision-and-the-biggest-takeaways-for-employers Employment Law News FeedWith Child, Without Workplace Accommodation: Impact of the Recent EEOC v. Wal-Mart Stores East, L.P. Decision and the Biggest Takeaways for EmployersThe Seventh Circuit Court held on August 16, 2022, that employers have considerable leeway in excluding pregnant employees from some accommodation policies, so long as the employer can offer a legitimate, nondiscriminatory business reason for doing so.Fri, 23 Sep 2022 20:17:31 ZThe Seventh Circuit threw a curveball to pregnant employee accommodation jurisprudence in its recent EEOC v. Walmart decision. The Court held on August 16, 2022, that employers have considerable leeway in excluding pregnant employees from some accommodation policies, so long as the employer can offer a legitimate, nondiscriminatory business reason for doing so. Brief History of Treatment of Pregnant Employees The United States has a complicated past regarding pregnant employees and their rights/accommodations in the workplace. In 1908, the Supreme Court in Muller v. Oregon ruled that limiting the working hours of all women was permissible, because “healthy mothers are essential to vigorous offspring, the physical well-being of woman becomes an object of public interest and care in order to preserve the strength and vigor of the race.” Traditionally, pregnancy was treated as a disability for purposes of employer policies. Critics argued, however, that pregnancy should not be treated like any other temporary disability because of its unique nature and health implications. In the 1970s, the Supreme Court in Geduldig v. Aiello held that discrimination on the basis of pregnancy is not sex-discrimination in violation of the Constitution. Shortly after this decision, Congress amended Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA). Among other things, the PDA required employers who provide health insurance and temporary disability plans to include pregnant employees. The PDA, however, left some questions be answered. For instance, the PDA allows employer policies which accommodate  some workers with non-pregnancy related disabilities but does not accommodate pregnancy-related conditions. In 2015, the Supreme Court in <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/14pdf/12-1226_k5fl.pdf">Young v. UPS</a> interpreted the PDA to impose a three-step inquiry as to whether an employer engaged in pregnancy discrimination: (1) the pregnant employee must show that the disability policy applies to others similar to their ability/inability to work; (2) the employer must then show that there was a legitimate, nondiscriminatory business reason for not including pregnant workers in the policy; and (3) the employee must prove the employer showed favorable treatment to non-pregnant employees. The Court in Young found that UPS’s “light duty” policy, which did not apply to pregnant workers, violated the PDA under this three-pronged test. EEOC v. Wal-Mart Decision Although the Supreme Court indicated in Young that more workplace protections for pregnant employees may be in the horizon, the Seventh Circuit went the other way in EEOC v. Wal-Mart. The facts in this case were similar to those in Young: the EEOC challenged Wal-Mart’s “Temporary Alternate Duty” Policy, which offered light duty to workers injured on the job who wished to earn their full wages while recovering. The Policy, however, did not apply to pregnant employees. Instead of offering pregnant employees light duty work, Wal-Mart required pregnant workers to go on unpaid leave for several months. Using the three-prong test from Young, the Court found that Wal-Mart presented a legitimate business reason for the policy – that it was part of the company’s worker’s compensation policy to bring injured workers back to work as soon as possible while still complying with Wisconsin law (i.e., Wisconsin’s workers’ compensation laws). In response, the EEOC argued Title VII and Young required employers to explain why they excluded pregnant employees from the policy. The Court disagreed with the EEOC, holding Congress did not intend such a heightened standard for employers to comply with the PDA. Furthermore, the Court explained, this case is different from Young because UPS’s policy accommodated every other group of employees in need of accommodation, whereas Wal-Mart’s policy applied only to those injured on the job. Best Practices for Employers The Walmart decision indicates that employers may have more leeway with accommodation policies than initially thought. However, denying pregnant employees certain accommodations available to other employees may impact morale, consequently affecting employee retention and recruitment efforts. Therefore, employers should revisit their current policies and determine whether there is a legitimate and nondiscriminatory business reason for any physical accommodation policy that excludes pregnant employees, in compliance with the PDA. Employers should also train managers to recognize and implement accommodations for pregnant employees where needed.   Employers who are amending or creating new “light duty” policies or other physical accommodation policies should ensure that such policies are in compliance with the PDA. Please note that states may have different requirements regarding equal treatment of pregnant employees pertaining to leave, accommodations, and/or scheduling. Heads-up on PWFA Employers should also be advised that pending legislation, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), may impact employers, if passed. The Bill was passed in the House of Representatives, and is gaining bipartisan support in the Senate. If passed, the PWFA would prohibit employers from discriminating against qualified employees affected by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. In the meantime, however, employers should remember that establishing and implementing accommodation policies is much less costly than defending a discrimination suit, down the line. If you need any further guidance regarding the impact of the Seventh Circuit’s decision in EEOC v. Wal-Mart, please feel free to contact Laurel Montag or any other member of DeWitt’s Labor and Employment Practice Group.urn:uuid:c3edbee6-19df-6764-8df2-ff0000f53411https://www.dewittllp.com/news-education/posts/2022/09/19/100-esop-owned-eder-flag-featured-in-new-documentary ESOP News FeedFirm News100% ESOP-Owned Eder Flag Featured in New DocumentaryThe trailer to “The Flagmakers” was released on September 16, 2022. This documentary is about Eder Flag, a 100% Employee-Owned company in Oak Creek, Wisconsin.Mon, 19 Sep 2022 16:30:22 ZThe trailer to “The Flagmakers” was released on September 16, 2022. This documentary is about Eder Flag, a 100% Employee-Owned company in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. As the name would lead one to believe, Eder Flag is one of the nation’s leading makers of American flags, and a significant number of its employees are immigrants to the U.S. The movie is expected to have a successful run at various film festivals and likely be considered for an Academy Award. You can see the trailer here:  <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKCN_ppi2yw" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKCN_ppi2yw</a> Also, Giannis Antetokounmpo has signed on as the Executive Producer of the film.urn:uuid:f5ecbee6-19df-6764-8df2-ff0000f53411https://www.dewittllp.com/news-education/posts/2022/09/16/dewitt's-2022-annual-ethics-seminar-a-2-part-virtual-series SeminarsFirm NewsDeWitt's 2022 Annual Ethics Seminar: A 2-Part Virtual Series Please join us for DeWitt's 2022 virtual Ethics Seminar. DeWitt will be hosting the 2-part series on October 19th and 20th. Fri, 16 Sep 2022 18:46:06 ZPlease join us for DeWitt's 2022 virtual Ethics Seminar. DeWitt will be hosting the 2-part series on October 19th and 20th. Attendees interested in registering to attend one or both sessions can do so by following this <a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ztCZWJH4REWyOpppJhGiRQ" target="_blank">link</a>.   Part 1 – Wednesday, October 19th, 2022 <ol><li>12:00 p.m. – Brief virtual welcome </li><li>12:00 – 12:40 p.m. – "Passing the Baton: Ethical Considerations When Transferring a File And Communicating With New Counsel," presented by attorneys Deborah Meiners and Shannon Allen</li><li>12:40 – 1:20 p.m. – "Hidden Conflicts: Conflicts of Interest Arising in Unexpected Situations," presented by attorney Michael Kruse</li><li>1:20 – 1:30 p.m. – Questions</li></ol>   Part 2 – Thursday, October 20th, 2022 <ol><li>12:00 p.m. – Brief virtual welcome </li><li>12:00 – 12:40 p.m. – "Technology and Ethics: Requirements and Prohibitions," presented by attorney Jacob Simon</li><li>12:40- 1:20 p.m. – "How Low Can You Go?: The Ethical Implications of Weaponizing Mental Health Diagnoses in Law," presented by attorney Laurel Montag</li><li>1:20 – 1:30 p.m. – Questions</li></ol> 3 Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility (EPR) credits will be applied for – must attend both sessions for 3 full credits.      Please contact Michelle M. Friedman with any questions at<a href="mailto:mmf@dewittllp.com" target="_blank"> </a><a href="mailto:mmf@dewittllp.com" target="_blank">mmf@dewittllp.com</a>.urn:uuid:95e7bee6-19df-6764-8df2-ff0000f53411https://www.dewittllp.com/news-education/posts/2022/09/01/dewitt-welcomes-associate-elaine-mikel-to-the-firm Firm NewsDeWitt Welcomes Associate Elaine Mikel to the FirmToday DeWitt LLP law firm announced associate Elaine Mikel joined the firm’s Business practice group.Thu, 01 Sep 2022 14:00:54 ZGREEN BAY | MADISON | MILWAUKEE | MINNEAPOLIS – Today DeWitt LLP law firm announced associate <a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/elaine-mikel/biography" target="_blank">Elaine Mikel</a> joined the firm’s Business practice group. Mikel practices from the firm’s Minneapolis office and has worked in a variety of legal areas including Secured Transactions, Banking Law, Real Estate, Wills, Trusts and Estates, Immigration law, Criminal law and later clerked for The Honorable Judge Wermager in Dakota County where she dealt with civil, criminal, family, probate, and juvenile cases.  She earned a J.D. from the University of St. Thomas School of Law with an emphasis on Compliance, a B.A. from Gustavus Adolphus College and an International and European Union Law J.D. Certificate from Oxford University.  Mikel is admitted to practice in Minnesota and volunteers Guardian Ad Litem.urn:uuid:bde3bee6-19df-6764-8df2-ff0000f53411https://www.dewittllp.com/news-education/posts/2022/08/18/dewitt-s-best-lawyers-in-america-and-lawyers-of-the-year-2023-announced Firm NewsDeWitt’s Best Lawyers® in America and Lawyers of the Year 2023 AnnouncedToday DeWitt LLP announced the 28 attorneys from the firm who were included by the Best Lawyers® in America in its 2023 edition. Additionally, it announced two DeWitt attorneys were named as Lawyer of the Year in the 2023 edition.Thu, 18 Aug 2022 14:38:07 ZGREEN BAY | MADISON | MILWAUKEE | MINNEAPOLIS – Today DeWitt LLP announced the 28 attorneys from the firm who were included by the Best Lawyers® in America in its 2023 edition.  Additionally, it announced two DeWitt attorneys were named as Lawyer of the Year in the 2023 edition. Lawyer of the Year – Best Lawyers in America 2023 Madison <ul><li><a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/eric-farnsworth/biography">Eric A. Farnsworth</a> - Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs </li></ul>Greater Milwaukee - Brookfield, WI<a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/jeffrey-j-liotta/biography"> </a><ul><li><a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/jeffrey-j-liotta/biography">Jeffrey J. Liotta</a> - Litigation - Real Estate</li></ul> Best Lawyers in America 2023 Greater Milwaukee - Brookfield, WI <ul><li><a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/douglas-frazer/biography">Douglas H. Frazer</a> - Litigation and Controversy – Tax, Tax Law</li><li><a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/jeffrey-j-liotta/biography">Jeffrey J. Liotta</a> - Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Real Estate</li><li><a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/brian-smigelski/biography">Brian R. Smigelski</a> - Construction Law</li><li><a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/john-yentz/biography">John P. Yentz</a> - Corporate LawMadison, WI</li><li><a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/brian-anderson/biography">Brian L. Anderson</a> - Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Tax Law, Trusts and Estates</li><li><a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/jon-axelrod/biography">Jon P. Axelrod</a> - Commercial Litigation</li><li><a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/frederic-brouner/biography">Frederic J. Brouner</a> - Corporate Law, Real Estate Law, Tax Law</li><li><a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/paul-croake/biography">Paul A. Croake</a> - Corporate Law</li><li><a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/stephen-ditullio/biography">Stephen A. DiTullio</a> - Commercial Litigation, Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management</li><li><a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/bryan-esch/biography">Bryan C. Esch</a> - Real Estate Law</li><li><a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/eric-farnsworth/biography">Eric A. Farnsworth</a> - Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs</li><li><a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/jeff-goldman/biography">Jeff A. Goldman</a> - Trusts and Estates</li><li><a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/stuart-herro/biography">Stuart C. Herro</a> - Real Estate Law, Trusts and Estates</li><li><a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/jordan-lamb/biography">Jordan K. Lamb</a> - Government Relations Practice</li><li><a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/joseph-leone/biography">Joseph T. Leone</a> - Copyright Law, Litigation - Intellectual Property, Litigation – Patent, Patent Law, Trademark Law</li><li><a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/troy-mayne/biography">Troy A. Mayne</a> - Corporate Law, Real Estate Law</li><li><a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/william-mccardell/biography">William E. McCardell</a> - Construction Law, Employment Law – Management, Labor Law - Management</li><li><a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/ronald-ragatz/biography">Ronald R. Ragatz</a> - Commercial Litigation, Environmental Law</li><li><a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/theresa-roetter/biography">Theresa L. Roetter</a> - Collaborative Law: Family Law, Family Law</li><li><a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/mark-sewell/biography">Mark R. Sewell</a> - Land Use and Zoning Law, Municipal Law</li><li><a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/wrede-smith/biography">Wrede H. Smith, Jr.</a> - Commercial Litigation, Corporate Law, Real Estate Law, Trusts and Estates</li><li><a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/timm-speerschneider/biography">Timm P. Speerschneider</a> - Environmental Law, Land Use and Zoning LawMinneapolis, MN</li><li><a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/eric-chadwick/biography-minneapolis-intellectual-property-attorney-litigator">Eric H. Chadwick</a> - Litigation - Patent</li><li><a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/matthew-drewes/biography">Matthew A. Drewes</a> - Real Estate Law</li><li><a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/robert-due/attorney-biography">Robert W. Due</a> - Family Law</li><li><a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/leigh-frost/biography">R. Leigh Frost</a> - Family Law</li><li><a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/kathleen-newman/biography">Kathleen M. Newman</a> - Family Law</li><li><a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/bradley-thorson/biography">Bradley Thorson</a> - Patent Law</li></ul>urn:uuid:f7e2bee6-19df-6764-8df2-ff0000f53411https://www.dewittllp.com/news-education/posts/2022/08/17/how-is-a-business-handled-in-a-minnesota-divorce Family Law News FeedFirm NewsHow Is a Business Handled in a Minnesota Divorce?Valuation of a business often raises complex issues in a Minnesota divorce. Resolving these issues effectively is particularly crucial when the business is among the estate’s most valuable assets, as it often is.Wed, 17 Aug 2022 14:03:25 ZGenerally, a business established or otherwise acquired after the marriage is deemed a marital asset. Even a business established prior to a marriage will likely have a significant marital component of value.  As discussed below, valuation of a business often raises complex issues in a Minnesota divorce. Resolving these issues effectively is particularly crucial when the business is among the estate’s most valuable assets, as it often is.   Family law attorney Kathleen M. Newman of the DeWitt LLP Law Firm uses her 35 years of family law experience to represent clients concerning the disposition of marital businesses.   How Is a Business Valued? Unless the spouses agree to the value, an appraiser will value the business using one or more of three primary valuation methods. The book value method calculates the difference between its assets and liabilities. The income method multiplies cash flow by a capitalization factor calculated using data like the business’s age and its goodwill.  Third, the market value method uses recent sale prices of similar businesses to calculate the value of the subject business.  Hiring an appraiser who is skilled and experienced in valuing a business under Minnesota divorce law is critical to get an accurate valuation.  In Minnesota, most divorcing couples use a neutral business valuation expert, due to the expense of a business valuation. However, whether to retain a neutral appraiser or to retain your own expert is a matter that you and your attorney must decide together. How Is a Business Divided? Businesses are divided by the rule of “equitable distribution” which is determined by considering: “all relevant factors including the length of the marriage, any prior marriage of a party, the age, health, station, occupation, amount and sources of income, vocational skills, employability, estate, liabilities, needs, opportunity for future acquisition of capital assets, and income of each party” . . .  [and the court] “shall also consider the contribution of each in the acquisition, preservation, depreciation or appreciation in the amount or value of the marital property, as well as the contribution of a spouse as a homemaker.”   Minnesota Statute 518.58, subdivision 1.  However, most businesses are valued at their fair market value, and generally are awarded to the party who has managed the business, and the other party receives either a cash buyout or receives other assets of equal value. Here, skilled lawyering can have a huge impact on the way the business is divided.  The determination of value and the method of division can be complex and requires developing evidence through discovery, including depositions, as well as through expert reports. Your attorney will also want to consider the tax impacts of valuing and dividing the business interest.  <a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/kathleen-newman/biography" target="_blank">Kathleen M. Newman</a> of the DeWitt LLP Law Firm and her colleagues offer compassionate, skilled services suited to their clients’ unique needs in divorce, including where businesses are involved.   If you have concerns about a business in the case of divorce, please contact us to discuss it. Sources: Minnesota Statute 518.58, subdivision 1. ‘Everything You Need To Know About Protecting Your Business In A Divorce,” Forbes (February 19, 2019).urn:uuid:ecdcbee6-19df-6764-8df2-ff0000f53411https://www.dewittllp.com/news-education/posts/2022/08/01/dewitt-welcomes-two-associates-to-the-firm Firm NewsDeWitt Welcomes Two Associates to the FirmToday DeWitt LLP law firm announced associates Laurel Montag and Adam Szymanski joined the firm.Mon, 01 Aug 2022 16:10:41 ZGREEN BAY | MADISON | MILWAUKEE | MINNEAPOLIS – Today DeWitt LLP law firm announced associates Laurel Montag and Adam Szymanski joined the firm. <a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/laurel-montag/biography" target="_blank">Montag</a>, who practices from the firm’s Greater Milwaukee office, is an attorney in the Business and Intellectual Property (IP) practice groups.  Her focus is on preparing efficient and quality research and writing to provide clients with the tools to make informed, focused decisions. Her prior legal experience includes working as a Summer Associate with Dewitt LLP and as an intern with the NCAA.  While in law school, Montag was heavily involved in the Marquette Sports Law program, serving as the Chair of the Sports Law Competition Board.  She also fine-tuned her writing skills as an editor of the Marquette Law Review and as a member of the Marquette Sports Law Review.  She earned a J.D., cum laude, from Marquette University Law School and a B.A. from Colorado State University.  Montag is admitted to practice in Wisconsin. <a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/adam-szymanski/biography" target="_blank">Szymanski</a>, who practices from DeWitt’s Minneapolis office, focuses on general litigation and is a member of the Appellate, Intellectual Property (IP) and Litigation practice groups.  He has more than seven years of IP experience and has represented clients in an array of IP matters, including patent litigation, patent enforcement, trademark litigation, trademark prosecution, false advertising litigation, and copyright enforcement.  He is well-versed in the various stages of litigation, from the pleadings through appeal. Before joining Dewitt, Szymanski served as a visiting and then an assistant Minneapolis City Attorney, where he prosecuted gross misdemeanor and misdemeanor cases, which included trying cases before juries and litigating constitutional issues.  During his time there, he also completed Drug Recognition Evaluator (DRE) classroom training and prosecuted DRE cases.  He earned a J.D., cum laude, from William Mitchell College of Law and a B.S. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  He is admitted to practice in Minnesota, the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.urn:uuid:4cd9bee6-19df-6764-8df2-ff0000f53411https://www.dewittllp.com/news-education/posts/2022/07/26/the-wisconsin-court-of-appeals-affirms-dismissal-of-multi-million-dollar-claims-for-alleged-negligence-in-the-design-and-repair-of-a-water-park-in-the-wisconsin-dells Firm NewsThe Wisconsin Court of Appeals Affirms Dismissal of Multi-million Dollar Claims for Alleged Negligence in the Design and Repair of a Water Park in the Wisconsin DellsToday DeWitt LLP law firm announced that the Wisconsin Court of Appeals – District IV recently affirmed the dismissal of multi-million dollar claims against DeWitt’s client, Architectural Designs, concluding the circuit court properly dismissed claims by Chula Vista Resort based on the ten-year statute of repose. Tue, 26 Jul 2022 13:45:54 ZGREEN BAY | MADISON | MILWAUKEE | MINNEAPOLIS –   Today DeWitt LLP law firm announced that the Wisconsin Court of Appeals – District IV recently affirmed the dismissal of multi-million dollar claims against DeWitt’s client, Architectural Designs, concluding the circuit court properly dismissed claims by Chula Vista Resort based on the ten-year statute of repose.  DeWitt litigators <a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/dwight-rabuse/biography" target="_blank">Dwight G. Rabuse</a> and <a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/laura-davis/biography" target="_blank">Laura M. Davis</a> successfully represented the defendant Architectural Designs in the case which was filed by Chula Vista in 2017.  The construction of the water park was completed in July of 2006.   The suit claimed the design firm breached its duty of care while designing an indoor water park for the resort because one year after completion of the construction Chula Vista discovered that a vapor barrier was not installed according to Architectural Design’s specifications.  Because the discovery occurred after the construction of the facility was complete, it was no longer feasible to install the vapor barrier as specified and the defendant worked with Chula Vista’s general contractor to install spray foam insulation instead.   More than ten years after the fact, Chula Vista filed its claims for damages.  Rabuse and Davis moved for summary judgment, arguing that Chula Vista’s claims were barred by the statute of repose in WIS. STAT. § 893.89.  The statute provides that “no cause of action may accrue, and no action may be commenced … against … any person involved in the improvement to real property after the end of the exposure period,” and the “exposure period” is defined as “10 years immediately following the date of substantial completion of the improvement to real property.” The circuit court concluded that Chula Vista’s suit was barred by the statute of repose because the construction of the water park facility was substantially complete in 2006, which was more than ten years before Chula Vista filed its suit against Architectural Designs.  Accordingly, the circuit court granted the motion for summary judgement and Chula Vista appealed.  The Wisconsin Court of Appeals – District IV, affirmed the dismissal in a Per Curium decision filed on July 21, 2022.urn:uuid:bed4bee6-19df-6764-8df2-ff0000f53411https://www.dewittllp.com/news-education/posts/2022/07/25/common-mistakes-to-avoid-in-divorce Family Law News FeedCommon Mistakes to Avoid in Divorce In Minnesota, family law has many complex rules. Without an experienced family law attorney, a party in a divorce can easily make costly mistakes with long term consequences. Mon, 25 Jul 2022 13:50:48 ZIn Minnesota, family law has many complex rules.  Without an experienced family law attorney, a party in a divorce can easily make costly mistakes with long term consequences.  Attorney Kathleen M. Newman of the DeWitt LLP Law Firm uses her 35 years of family law experience to effectively assist clients avoid mistakes and get quality outcomes. What are some common mistakes, and some ways to avoid them? 1. Not Hiring an Attorney Experienced in Family LawFamily law has complex rules with long term impact. Hiring an attorney specifically experienced in family law is critically important. Ideally, seek a referral to a family law attorney from other professionals you trust, like therapists, accountants and financial planners.  A referral from a friend who has used an attorney in their own divorce with positive results is also a good way to locate a qualified attorney.  The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers has state by state lists of highly qualified attorneys that are members of that organization.  Interview attorneys before deciding who to hire.  It is best to hire an attorney that has a practice that is focused on family law, not someone who does an occasional divorce as part of a general law practice.  While experience is necessary, be sure that you feel comfortable communicating with the attorney you choose, and with sharing with that attorney personal facts about your married life.  Ask what the attorney’s hourly rate is, and if the attorney uses a “team approach” so that more mundane aspects of the divorce can be managed by legal assistants, paralegals or associate attorneys at a lower hourly rate. 2. Not Properly Addressing Financial Matters Financial matters are an area ripe for potential mistakes.  Accordingly, be mindful of the following: <ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Fully disclose all of your financial information to your attorney. Accurate financial information is necessary to negotiate the issues in your divorce. Inaccurate financial disclosures can pose serious consequences, including the possibility your divorce decree and the award of assets, support and allocation of marital debt, may result in a request by your former spousal to reopen the case. Provide your lawyer with tax returns, bank account statements, retirement account statements, financial statements and other requested documents. Don’t hide the ball.</li><li style="text-align: justify;">Many people think that joint legal and joint physical custody and equal parenting time are mandatory.That is not true in Minnesota.Joint legal custody is presumed to be in a child’s best interest unless there has been domestic abuse.But joint legal custody requires a high degree of cooperation between parents, an issues like mental health or chemical abuse may also impact whether joint legal custody is appropriate in your case.While there is a presumption that a parent have at least 25% of time with the child, parenting time must be tailored to the circumstances of each case and must be in the child’s best interest.</li><li style="text-align: justify;">Don’t fall for the common misconception about what marital property is. For instance, parties sometimes assume they have no rights to a share of the other spouse’s retirement assets. However, marital property generally includes the retirement funds accumulated during the marriage. Similarly, don’t fall for the misconception that marital property is always equally divided. Although in Minnesota marital property is generally divided equally, there are some instances that call for an unequal division of marital assets, including a spouse having substantial non-marital property and age and health related circumstances.</li><li style="text-align: justify;">Don’t overlook the impact of an ex-spouse’s death or disability on their ability to fulfill financial obligations as set out in your divorce decree. Accordingly, it is often necessary to have life/disability insurance policies on an ex-spouse until his/her financial obligations are fully met, including payment of a cash property settlement, spousal maintenance and child support. </li><li>You are entitled to ask your spouse to pay all or part of your attorney’s fees if you do not have the financial resources to do so, or if your spouses bad behavior increased the cost or the length of time it took to get divorced.</li><li>While most cases in Minnesota are resolved through mediation, even mediation requires the advice of an experienced attorney. Attorneys usually attend mediation with their clients.</li></ul> Attorney <a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/kathleen-newman/biography" target="_blank">Kathleen M. Newman</a> of the DeWitt LLP Law Firm has over 35 years of family law experience and is skilled at helping clients navigate the many issues in a divorce.  She is a fellow in the Minnesota chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.  To learn more about how Ms. Newman can assist you, please call for a consultation.   Sources:  Minn. Stat. §518.58. “Don’t Forget Life Insurance During A Divorce,” Forbes Advisor (March 27, 2020). “Facing Divorce? 7 Common Costly Financial Mistakes To Avoid,” Forbes (Oct 25, 2018).urn:uuid:7dd4bee6-19df-6764-8df2-ff0000f53411https://www.dewittllp.com/news-education/posts/2022/07/18/dewitt-s-minnesota-super-lawyers-rising-stars-2022-announced Firm NewsDeWitt’s Minnesota Super Lawyers & Rising Stars 2022 AnnouncedDeWitt LLP announced today three of its attorneys were named by Minnesota Super Lawyers® as top attorneys in Minneapolis for 2022. Mon, 18 Jul 2022 13:45:43 ZGREEN BAY | MADISON | MILWAUKEE | MINNEAPOLIS – DeWitt LLP announced today three of its attorneys were named by Minnesota Super Lawyers® as top attorneys in Minneapolis for 2022.  The attorneys selected for inclusion as 2022 Minnesota Super Lawyers list are Family Law attorneys Robert W. Due, R. Leigh Frost and Kathleen M. Newman.  Additionally, Family Law attorney James Todd was included on the 2022 Minnesota Rising Stars list.  <a href="https://dewittllp.com/our-people/robert-due/" target="_blank">Due</a> is a partner at DeWitt who has substantial experience in high-net-worth cases involving complex assets that are difficult to value, such as closely held business entities, commercial real estate, and intellectual property.  He is skilled in both litigation and alternative dispute resolution, and he has a high success rate both in trying cases to a conclusion and in reaching settlements through mediation.  He has extensive appellate court experience before both the Minnesota Court of Appeals and the Minnesota Supreme Court, and he is listed on the Minnesota Supreme Court Roster of Qualified Neutrals.  He earned a J.D., cum laude, from the University of Minnesota and a B.A., magna cum laude, from Carleton College. <a href="https://dewittllp.com/our-people/leigh-frost" target="_blank">Frost</a> is a partner at DeWitt with more than 20 years of experience dealing with a range of family law issues.  She advises clients throughout the Twin Cities and surrounding areas on matters including divorce, child support, custody and visitation and spousal maintenance issues. She earned a J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law and a B.A. from the University of Minnesota.  In 2018 she was recognized as the Tubman Family Law Attorney of the Year <a href="https://dewittllp.com/our-people/Kathleen-Newman" target="_blank">Newman</a> is a partner at DeWitt with extensive experience in all aspects of marital dissolutions, including cases with high-net-worth, closely owned businesses, professional practices, and complex custody matters and is well-versed in mediation and alternative dispute resolution.   Newman is Board-Certified as a Family Law Trial Attorney by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.   She is also a skilled mediator, approved for inclusion in the Minnesota ADR Statewide Neutrals Roster in all categories of Family Neutrals and is on the Minnesota Supreme Courts list of Appellate mediators.  Newman earned a J.D. from Mitchell Hamline School of Law and a B.A. from Hamline University. <a href="https://dewittllp.com/our-people/james-todd" target="_blank">Todd</a> is a partner at DeWitt.  He has experience with a wide variety of family law cases, including the dissolution of complex marital estates, closely held business valuation disputes, spousal maintenance litigation, jurisdictional issues, contested custody disputes, and domestic abuse cases. He has successfully tried and argued cases in Minnesota's district and appellate courts and is skilled in litigation and alternative dispute resolution and enjoys a high rate of success in both.  He earned a J.D. and M.B.A, cum laude, from the University of St. Thomas and a B.A. from William & Mary University. About Super Lawyers The selections for Minnesota Super Lawyers are made by the research team at Super Lawyers, which is a service of the Thomson Reuters legal division based in Eagan, Minnesota. Each year the team conducts a thorough selection process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, independent evaluation of candidates by the attorney-led research staff, a peer review of candidates by practice area and a good-standing and disciplinary check. The final list of Minnesota Super Lawyers features the top five percent of attorneys in more than 60 practice areas. Lawyers featured on the Rising Stars list are selected based upon similar criteria as Super Lawyers; however, a candidate must either be under 40 years of age or in practice for 10 years or less, and a peer evaluation is not conducted.urn:uuid:95d4bee6-19df-6764-8df2-ff0000f53411https://www.dewittllp.com/news-education/posts/2022/07/11/prenuptial-agreements-a-powerful-tool-for-protecting-you-in-divorce-or-death Family Law News FeedFirm NewsPrenuptial Agreements: A Powerful Tool for Protecting You in Divorce or DeathPrenuptial agreements, or “prenups,” are written contracts between individuals intending to marry which address key issues in cases of divorce or death. Mon, 11 Jul 2022 16:08:47 ZPrenuptial agreements, or “prenups,” are written contracts between individuals intending to marry which address key issues in cases of divorce or death.    Over the past thirty-five years, family law attorney Kathleen M. Newman of the DeWitt LLP Law Firm has advised clients who want to divorce about the ramifications of the prenups they signed before the marriage in a divorce action.  Kathleen also works with the DeWitt's Estate Planning team in drafting prenup agreements regarding the impact of the prenup in the event of a divorce or death.     Consider meeting with a family law attorney about a prenup if any of the below apply: <ul><li style="text-align: justify;">You’re a business owner.  Generally, you would not want a divorce to result in the valuation of your business and an award to your spouse of up to one half of the business value.  By classifying the business in your prenup as “non-marital” property, you may be able to avoid having the business valued in the divorce.  </li><li style="text-align: justify;">Substantial differences in spousal income.  Prenups can provide that neither party can receive spousal maintenance in the event of a divorce, or can limit the amount and/or duration of any spousal maintenance award.  This is particularly important in cases where spousal income varies substantially or when the parties intend that one parent would be a stay-at-home parent while the other parent is the breadwinner.    </li><li style="text-align: justify;">A significant age difference.  An older spouse may want a prenup to limit future obligations because of a shorter time to recover financially from a divorce. </li><li style="text-align: justify;">You are entering the marriage with children from another relationship.   In that case, you will likely want a prenup to financially protect your other children.</li><li style="text-align: justify;">Attorney’s fees in a divorce action.  In most cases where a spouse initiates a divorce, they request an award of attorney’s fees, based on a claim that they do not have sufficient income or assets to pay their own legal fees.  A prenup can include a provision that each party pay their own fees, or limit the amount that can be paid to a spouse who receives limited assets in the divorce.</li><li style="text-align: justify;">Pre-Marriage assets.  You own significant assets prior to your marriage, and you want to retain those assets in the event of a divorce.</li></ul> If a prenup makes sense in your case, it must be drafted in compliance with Minnesota law -- otherwise, it may not be enforced at the time of divorce or death.  The advice of an experienced divorce attorney is necessary in drafting a prenup to protect your rights. Take-away:Prenups are useful tools to protect spouses in cases of divorce or death.  However, Minnesota law imposes strict requirements on their formation and contents.  Failure to comply with these requirements may cause the prenup to be unenforceable.  Family Law attorney Kathleen M. Newman of the DeWitt LLP Law Firm will provide you experienced advice about whether a  prenup makes sense in your particular case or, if you are getting divorced, how a prenup signed prior to your marriage will impact an award of assets or support.  If it does, Kathy and her team are prepared to assist you.  If you need to have a prenup prior to your marriage, or if you have a prenup that will impact your divorce, please contact Kathy to schedule a consultation.  Sources: Minn. Stat. Section 519.11. “Financial Planning for Young Adults: Prenuptial Agreements—What You Should Know Before You Get Married,” Forbes (October 16, 2020).      urn:uuid:1ad4bee6-19df-6764-8df2-ff0000f53411https://www.dewittllp.com/news-education/posts/2022/07/05/on-remand-the-u.s.-district-court-for-the-western-district-of-wisconsin-awards-dewitt-s-client-approximately-$4-million-in-copyright-infringement-damages Firm NewsOn Remand the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin Awards DeWitt’s Client Approximately $4 Million in Copyright Infringement DamagesToday DeWitt LLP law firm announced that on remand the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin entered a damages award of $3,980,533.33 based on the distinct value of its client’s 33 infringed illustrations and unjust enrichment.Tue, 05 Jul 2022 17:23:19 ZGREEN BAY | MADISON | MILWAUKEE | MINNEAPOLIS –   Today DeWitt LLP law firm announced that on remand the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin entered a damages award of $3,980,533.33 based on the distinct value of its client’s 33 infringed illustrations and unjust enrichment. In 2017, DeWitt’s Intellectual Property litigators Harry Van Camp, Eli Van Camp and Laura Davis successfully obtained a jury decision in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin for approximately $4 million in damages for copyright infringement and unjust enrichment.    On appeal by the Defendant Flora, Inc. from the jury verdict and entry of final judgment in favor of the Plaintiff Amy Sullivan the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit issued an opinion affirming in part, vacating in part, and remanding the case back to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.  On July 1, 2022, U.S. District Court Judge William Conley released the post appeal decision and order confirming the judgment. At issue in the case was whether Flora, Inc., a business that hired Wisconsin-based graphic artist Sullivan to create work for advertising use, had used Sullivan’s illustrations from previous videos without her consent in new, independent online promotional advertising. Sullivan reserved all usage of her illustrations to herself except for two English language promotional videos.  After the initial use, Flora, Inc. no longer had the permission of Sullivan to use the illustrations.  That is where the problems began - Flora, Inc. even after being notified of copyright infringement continued to use Sullivan’s copyrighted illustrations.  After presenting its case to the jury in Wisconsin, the jury agreed that Flora, Inc. had damaged Sullivan economically through its copyright violations.  DeWitt’s Intellectual Property litigators are recognized as leaders in the Intellectual Property field by IAM Patent 1000, IP Stars, Martindale-Hubbell, World Trademark Review, and others.  Its attorneys work with clients around the world in all matters related to IP.   They have successfully represented the IP interests of clients in federal and state courts across the country.   urn:uuid:81d2bee6-19df-6764-8df2-ff0000f53411https://www.dewittllp.com/news-education/posts/2022/07/01/dewitt-elects-attorney-ben-grawe-to-its-executive-committee Environmental Law News FeedFirm NewsDeWitt Elects Attorney Ben Grawe to its Executive CommitteeToday DeWitt LLP announced that it has elected Benjamin C. Grawe to its Executive Committee effective July 1, 2022.Fri, 01 Jul 2022 15:27:49 ZGREEN BAY | MADISON | MILWAUKEE | MINNEAPOLIS – Today DeWitt LLP announced that it has elected <a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/benjamin-grawe/biography" target="_blank">Benjamin C. Grawe</a> to its Executive Committee effective July 1, 2022.  The role of DeWitt’s Executive Committee is to oversee and hold accountable the law firm’s management team, including its President and Managing Partner.   This includes advising the management team on sustainability and growth strategies, operational plans, budgets, financial performance, and risk assessments.  About Grawe Grawe is Chair of the firm’s Environmental practice group.  He specializes in environmental compliance and enforcement matters, with an emphasis on complex air, waste, and permitting issues.  He has extensive experience resolving environmental enforcement actions, negotiating settlements with state and federal agencies, and managing due diligence in the purchase and disposition of industrial assets. Grawe also represents clients on remediation projects across the country, including at some of the largest Superfund sites, where he leads PRP groups in structuring innovative solutions to complex environmental problems.  He has counseled clients on CERCLA and RCRA cleanups from initial site assessment and investigation, including negotiating consent decrees and administrative orders, to the implementation of final remedies and property redevelopment.  Grawe regularly collaborates with industry groups and regulators to develop best practices and influence environmental policies and trends. Grawe earned a J.D. from Vermont Law School and a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  He also earned a Certificate in Environmental Studies from the University of Wisconsin’s Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies.  Grawe is a Board Member of the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Environmental Law Section, and of Czar’s Promise – a non-profit dedicated to funding pediatric and companion animal cancer research.urn:uuid:07d3bee6-19df-6764-8df2-ff0000f53411https://www.dewittllp.com/news-education/posts/2022/07/01/dewitt-promotes-attorney-eric-r.-hansch-to-partner Firm NewsDeWitt Promotes Attorney Eric R. Hansch to PartnerToday DeWitt LLP law firm announced the promotion of Eric R. Hansch to partner. Fri, 01 Jul 2022 15:27:12 ZGREEN BAY | MADISON | MILWAUKEE | MINNEAPOLIS – Today DeWitt LLP law firm announced the promotion of <a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/eric-hansch/biography" target="_blank">Eric R. Hansch</a> to partner.  Eric joined DeWitt’s Madison office in 2018 and is a member of the firm’s Business and Real Estate practice groups. His practice focuses on all aspects of business and real estate law.  He works closely with and advises companies, business owners and executives on a wide array of corporate and organizational matters, including entity formation, mergers and acquisitions, financing transactions and contract negotiations. He also advises commercial real estate clients and lenders on real estate acquisitions and dispositions, development, leasing, financing, zoning, and entitlement approvals. Eric earned a J.D. cum laude, from the University of Wisconsin Law School, an M.B.A. from the University of Wisconsin, and a B.S., magna cum laude, in Finance and Real Estate from Marquette University.  Prior to joining DeWitt, he practiced corporate law at an Am Law 100 general practice firm and worked in the commercial real estate industry. Eric lives in Waunakee, Wisconsin with his wife, Barbie, and three children, Charlie (5), Jack (4) and Zoey (9 months).urn:uuid:edd1bee6-19df-6764-8df2-ff0000f53411https://www.dewittllp.com/news-education/posts/2022/06/21/four-dewitt-intellectual-property-attorneys-included-in-managing-intellectual-property-magazine-s-2022-list-of-ip-stars Firm NewsFour DeWitt Intellectual Property Attorneys Included in Managing Intellectual Property Magazine’s 2022 List of IP StarsToday DeWitt LLP law firm announced the inclusion of four of its attorneys in the 2022 Intellectual Property (IP) Stars list of recommended IP practitioners, as released by Managing Intellectual Property IP Stars.Tue, 21 Jun 2022 18:05:32 ZGREEN BAY |MADISON | MILWAUKEE | MINNEAPOLIS – Today DeWitt LLP law firm announced the inclusion of four of its attorneys in the 2022 Intellectual Property (IP) Stars list of recommended IP practitioners, as released by Managing Intellectual Property IP Stars. The IP Stars are private practice IP professionals who have been recommended by their peers and clients.  DeWitt and its attorneys David Biek, Joseph Miotke, Charles Sara, and Christopher Scherer are listed as top patent and trademark practitioners in Wisconsin and Minnesota. <a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/david-biek/biography" target="_blank">Biek</a> practices from the firm’s Minneapolis office and specializes in Business Transactions, Intellectual Property, International Law, Non-Infringement and Patentability Opinions, Due Diligence, and Patent Litigation.  Biek is listed as both a Patent and Trademark Star.  He earned a J.D., magna cum laude, from Case Western Reserve University Law School and a B.S.E. from Princeton. <a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/joseph-miotke/biography" target="_blank">Miotke</a> is the co-chair of DeWitt’s Intellectual Property Litigation Practice Group and practices from the firm’s Greater Milwaukee office.  He specializes in Intellectual Property Law, International Law, Litigation, and Patent Litigation.  Miotke is recognized as a Patent Star.  He earned a J.D., magna cum laude, from Marquette University Law School and a B.S. from Marquette University. <a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/charles-sara/biography" target="_blank">Sara</a> practices from DeWitt’s Madison office and specializes in Intellectual Property and International Law.  Sara is recognized as a Patent Star.  He earned a J.D., from George Mason University Law School and a B.A. from the University of North Carolina. <a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/christopher-scherer/biography" target="_blank">Scherer</a> is an Executive Committee Member at DeWitt and a co-chair of its Intellectual Property Practice Group and practices from DeWitt’s Greater Milwaukee office.  He specializes in Intellectual Property and International Law.  Scherer is listed as both a Patent and Trademark Star.  He earned a J.D. from the University of Illinois – Chicago School of Law and a B.S. from Marquette University. Managing Intellectual Property IP STARS is the leading international specialist guide to IP firms and practitioners worldwide.  Managing IP has been researching and ranking firms since 1996.  IP STARS research, rankings, and analysis provides independent and impartial accreditation across 151 jurisdictions, covering 1,645 firms and 7,100 practitioners.  In the previous 12 months over 175,000 IP professionals have utilized the platform to research, verify, and recruit new IP practitioners and firms globally.urn:uuid:d9cfbee6-19df-6764-8df2-ff0000f53411https://www.dewittllp.com/news-education/posts/2022/06/13/family-law-attorney-r.-leigh-frost-recognized-by-msba-for-pro-bono-contributions Minnesota ArticlesFirm NewsFamily Law News FeedFamily Law Attorney R. Leigh Frost Recognized by MSBA for Pro Bono ContributionsDeWitt LLP law firm announced today that one of its attorneys, R. Leigh Frost, was recognized by the Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA) as one of the 2021 “North Star Lawyers Pro Bono All-Stars” who offered 50 hours or more of pro bono legal services to low-income individuals in the community at no fee and without expectation of a fee.Mon, 13 Jun 2022 18:04:11 ZGREEN BAY | MADISON | MILWAUKEE | MINNEAPOLIS – DeWitt LLP law firm announced today that one of its attorneys, <a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/leigh-frost/biography" target="_blank">R. Leigh Frost</a>, was recognized by the Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA) as one of the 2021 “North Star Lawyers Pro Bono All-Stars” who offered 50 hours or more of pro bono legal services to low-income individuals in the community at no fee and without expectation of a fee. Frost was among 747 MSBA members certified as a North Star Lawyers Pro Bono All-Star for her pro bono work volunteered in calendar year 2021.   This is her 10th year of recognition as a Pro Bono All-Star.   Frost advises clients throughout the Twin Cities and surrounding areas on matters including divorce, child support, custody and visitation and spousal maintenance issues.  She earned a J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law and a B.A. from the University of Minnesota. Her affiliations include being a Volunteer with the Tubman Safety Project, a Presenter and Author, for the Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, including the Annual Family Law Institute, a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association, Hennepin County Bar Association, Amdahl Inns of Court, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts and the Woman’s Club of Minneapolis.  She has been recognized by the Tubman Safety Project as a Family Law Attorney of the Year (2018), by Super Lawyers in 2020 and 2021 for her Family Law experience, and by the Minnesota State Bar Association as a North Star Lawyer 2012 – present. About DeWitt DeWitt LLP was founded in 1903 and is one of the 10 largest law firms based in Wisconsin, with an additional presence in Minnesota.  It has more than 130 attorneys practicing in Green Bay, Madison and Greater Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Minneapolis, Minnesota, and has the experience to service clients of all scopes and sizes.  The firm is known for its work in a variety of legal areas including background screening, business law, employee stock ownership plans, employee benefits, intellectual property, patents, trademarks and copyright law, construction litigation, employment relations, environmental, estate planning, family business, family law, government relations, litigation, real estate, tax law, and more.  Additional information is available at <a href="https://dewittllp.com/">dewittllp.com</a>.urn:uuid:22ccbee6-19df-6764-8df2-ff0000f53411https://www.dewittllp.com/news-education/posts/2022/06/01/dewitt-welcomes-two-attorneys-to-its-team Firm NewsEmployment Law News FeedMinnesota ArticlesFamily Law News FeedDeWitt Welcomes Two Attorneys to its TeamToday DeWitt LLP law firm announced Labor & Employment Relations partner Bradden (Brad) Backer and Family Law associate Tara Flooding joined the firm. Wed, 01 Jun 2022 12:00:26 ZGREEN BAY | MADISON | MILWAUKEE | MINNEAPOLIS – Today DeWitt LLP law firm announced Labor & Employment Relations partner Bradden (Brad) Backer and Family Law associate Tara Flooding joined the firm.  <a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/bradden-backer/biography-of-bradden-backer" target="_blank">Backer</a>, who practices from the firm’s Greater Milwaukee office, has more than 40 years of experience assisting employers in employment law compliance, reducing risks associated with foreseeable employment disputes, and defending them against employment claims.  He also advises professionals and executive-level employees in connection with employment agreements and separations.  He is an experienced mediator and has served as an investigator in employment complaints.  Backer earned a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School and a B.A from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  He is admitted to practice in Wisconsin, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.  He is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin. <a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/tara-flooding/biography" target="_blank">Flooding</a>, who practices from DeWitt’s Minneapolis office, represents clients in several types of family law matters including divorce, custody and visitation, child support, spousal maintenance, and orders for protection.  Her previous experience working for the Presiding Judge of Hennepin County Family Court provided her with a valuable bench perspective she utilizes when advocating for her clients.  Before joining DeWitt, Flooding worked at a boutique family law firm where she successfully litigated a six-day contested custody and parenting time trial, and numerous other district court matters throughout the state.  She earned a J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law and a B.S. from Grand Valley State University.  Flooding  is admitted to practice in Minnesota and is a member of the Minnesota State Bar and Hennepin County Bar associations.  About DeWitt DeWitt LLP was founded in 1903 and is one of the 10 largest law firms based in Wisconsin, with an additional presence in Minnesota.  It has more than 130 attorneys practicing in Green Bay, Madison and Greater Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Minneapolis, Minnesota, and has the experience to service clients of all scopes and sizes.  The firm is known for its work in a variety of legal areas including background screening, business law, employee stock ownership plans, employee benefits, intellectual property, patents, trademarks and copyright law, construction litigation, employment relations, environmental, estate planning, family business, family law, government relations, litigation, real estate, tax law, and more.  Additional information is available at <a href="https://dewittllp.com/">dewittllp.com</a>.urn:uuid:8bc7bee6-19df-6764-8df2-ff0000f53411https://www.dewittllp.com/news-education/posts/2022/05/17/four-dewitt-attorneys-honored-as-fellows-of-the-wisconsin-law-foundation Firm NewsFour DeWitt Attorneys Honored as Fellows of the Wisconsin Law FoundationDeWitt LLP law firm announced the Wisconsin Law Foundation (WLF) recently honored four of its attorneys as fellows.Tue, 17 May 2022 13:56:35 ZGREEN BAY | MADISON | MILWAUKEE | MINNEAPOLIS – <a href="https://dewittllp.com/">DeWitt LLP</a> law firm announced the Wisconsin Law Foundation (WLF) recently honored four of its attorneys as fellows.  Partners Brian Anderson, Deborah Meiners and Timothy Stewart were named to the 2021 class.  Partner Brody Richter was named a fellow in 2020 and was also honored this year. Anderson practices in Business and Employee Benefits among other areas of the law. He earned a Master of Law in Taxation from New York University School of Law, a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School and a B.A. from the University of Illinois.  He is admitted to practice in Minnesota, the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, the U.S. Supreme Court, and U.S. Tax Court.  He is a member of the Wisconsin State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, Dane County Bar Association, the American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries, the Greater Madison Area Society for Human Resource Management, Inc., IRS Great Lakes Council, Madison Benefits Council, Madison Estate Council, Minnesota Society of Certified Public Accountants, Wisconsin Planned Giving Council, and the Wisconsin Retirement Plan. Meiners’ areas of expertise include Appeals, Construction Litigation, Insurance, Labor & Employment Relations, and Commercial Litigation.  She earned a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School, and an M.A. and B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she also served as the former managing editor of the Wisconsin Law Review.  She is admitted to practice in the State of Wisconsin, the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin, as well as the Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Circuit Courts of Appeals.  She is a member of the Dane County Bar Association, the Western District of Wisconsin Bar Association, the Legal Association for Women, and Leadership Greater Madison. Richter is a Partner and Co-Chair of its Business Law practice group.  His practice primarily focuses on Business, Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate Transactional Matters, Commercial Real Estate and Land Use, Private Securities Transactions, the Construction Industry and Licensing. He earned a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School and a B.S. from Ohio University. He is admitted to practice in the state of Wisconsin and is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin.  In addition, he is a former board member of Community Around the Children’s Hospital (CATCH), Tri4Schools, Chrysalis, and the University of Wisconsin’s Carbone Cancer Center. Stewart is the President and Managing Partner at DeWitt.  His practice focuses on Employee Benefits, Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPS), and Labor and Employment Relations.  He earned a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School and a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is admitted to practice in Wisconsin and is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin.  He is also a member of the Greater Milwaukee Employee Benefits Council, the Wisconsin Chapter of the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Association, The Wisconsin Retirement Plan Professionals, and the Waukesha County Business Alliance.  The Fellows of the Wisconsin Law Foundation is an honorary program that recognizes members of the profession in Wisconsin for high achievements and outstanding contributions for the advancement and improvement of the administration of justice in the State of Wisconsin. Only members of the state bar – lawyers, judges or teachers of law – who are in good standing can be named fellows.  The recognition is for outstanding attainment in professional, public, or private careers for dedication to the welfare of their community, state, and nation and the advancement of the legal profession.About DeWittDeWitt LLP was founded in 1903 and is one of the 10 largest law firms based in Wisconsin, with an additional presence in Minnesota.  It has more than 130 attorneys practicing in Green Bay, Madison and Metropolitan Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Minneapolis, Minnesota, and has the experience to service clients of all scopes and sizes.  The firm is known for its work in a variety of legal areas including intellectual property, patents, trademarks and copyright law, construction litigation, corporate law, employment, environmental, employee benefits, estate planning, family business, family law, government relations, health care, litigation, real estate, and tax law.  More information is available at<a href="https://dewittllp.com/"> dewittllp.com</a>. urn:uuid:80c4bee6-19df-6764-8df2-ff0000f53411https://www.dewittllp.com/news-education/posts/2022/05/09/remote-work-and-employee-leave-what-leave-related-issues-do-wisconsin-employers-need-to-stay-on-top-of-with-respect-to-a-remote-work-environment Firm NewsRemote Work and Employee Leave – What Leave-Related Issues Do Wisconsin Employers Need to Stay on Top of With Respect to a Remote Work Environment? Remote work presents employers with a number of different complications that they may not have previously had to face, including the impact of that work on employment leave laws.Mon, 09 May 2022 16:25:17 ZA number of Wisconsin employers have a long history of using remote employees. However, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of Wisconsin employers using remote employees has dramatically increased, as has the number of remote employees being used. Although many employees who had been working on a completely remote basis earlier in the pandemic have long since returned to the workplace in some capacity, a significant number of employees continue to work remotely on a full-time basis and will almost certainly continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Remote work presents employers with a number of different complications that they may not have previously had to face, including the impact of that work on employment leave laws. I recently had the opportunity to present on this topic to Metro Milwaukee SHRM along with my co-presenter, Schuyler File, from the Hausmann Group (<a href="http://www.myhaus.com/">www.myhaus.com</a>). Among other issues, we focused on three specific employer take-aways that are also relevant to this post. <ol><li style="text-align: justify;">Employers need to determine what, if any, implications their remote work arrangements have on their obligations under the Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”) and the Wisconsin Family and Medical Leave Act (“WFMLA”). Employers are not required to comply with either the FMLA or the WFMLA until they have reached a minimum threshold of 50 employees. Once this threshold is reached, Wisconsin remote employees are entitled to the WFMLA’s protections regardless of how close they live to their employer’s physical workplace, so long as they satisfy the WFMLA’s minimum requirements relating to hours of work and length of employment, and so long as they live somewhere within Wisconsin.      The FMLA is different. Not only must an employee satisfy the applicable hours of work and tenure requirements, he or she must also be “employed at a worksite where 50 or more employees are employed by the employer within 75 miles of that worksite.” 29 C.F.R. § 825.110. On its face, this rule would seem to eliminate the possibility that a good number of remote employees – for example, many of those living out-of-state – could qualify for FMLA protections. However, the Department of Labor has clearly stated otherwise, providing that, for purposes of the FMLA, remote employees are not employed at their homes, but at “the office to which they report and from which assignments are made.” 29 C.F.R. § 825.111(a)(2). As a result, the key for a remote employee is not whether the employee lives within a 75-mile radius of a worksite, but whether he or she reports to and receives assignments from a worksite that has 50 or more employees employed by the employer within a 75-mile radius.  </li><li style="text-align: justify;">Employers need to determine whether the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act (“WFEA”), or another state’s equivalent disability accommodation law could apply to require leave for remote employees and, if so, the implications resulting from that application. Whether or not an employer must comply with the FMLA or the WFMLA, or whether a particular remote employee is eligible for leave under one or both of those laws, the employer must also consider whether the employee is eligible for leave under the ADA and/or the WFEA. The ADA and the WFEA have long been understood to require employers to provide a period of unpaid leave to disabled employees as a reasonable accommodation under certain circumstances (including where the accommodation would not impose an undue burden on the employer, and there is no other appropriate accommodation that the employer might prefer). In the last several years, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has issued multiple decisions providing that this obligation may be limited to a relatively short period of time under federal law<a href="file:///C:/Users/nnoor/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/9OD5CV4R/Remote%20Work%20and%20Employee%20Leave.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1">[i]</a>; however, Wisconsin has not been nearly as helpful to employers. Instead, it appears that, under certain circumstances, a period of unpaid leave lasting several months or more may well be considered a reasonable accommodation under Wisconsin law. There is no reason why an employer’s accommodation obligations would not apply equally to in-person and remote employees – they do. However, the fact that an employee is working remotely may well provide the employer with a greater amount of flexibility when it comes to a request for leave (outside of the FMLA/WFMLA context), and almost certainly provides the employer with a greater ability to push back on such a request where appropriate. Indeed, the fact that an employee is already working from home may lessen the impact of, or eliminate, some of the reasons why he or she might seek non-FMLA medical leave, including an inability to travel to the office, office-related stress, exhaustion, etc. For example, an employee suffering from motion-induced elevated heart rates as a result of long-COVID may not be able to work in an office environment that requires regular movement (i.e., walking between offices, to/from the restroom, etc.), but may be able to work without such movement from his or her home. Put simply, employers that receive a leave request from a remote employee should take steps to fully engage in the interactive process and push back against the employee and/or the employee’s health care provider when faced with accommodation-related assertions that appear inconsistent with the fact that the employee is already working from home. If done appropriately, the employer may be able to limit the amount of leave purportedly required or uncover a strong basis on which to deny the requested leave altogether.      </li><li style="text-align: justify;">Employers need to determine whether any of their remote, out-of-state employees are covered by any leave laws from the states in which the employees reside. </li></ol> As a matter of course, Wisconsin employers with any significant number of employees in a state other than Wisconsin should take steps to ensure that they are aware of, and comply with, the laws of that other state. Unfortunately for employers, state employment laws frequently have different number-of-employee thresholds when defining which employers must comply, and some of those thresholds are very low. This concept extends to state specific leave laws. For example, Colorado recently passed a Family and Medical Leave Insurance law providing that, beginning on January 1, 2024, employers with any number of employees regularly working within the state (i.e., one or more employees) must provide eligible Colorado-based employees with paid medical leave for the circumstances identified by the law (which include, but are not limited to, many of the reasons set forth under the FMLA). If they have not done so already, employers with out-of-state remote workers should consider consulting with legal counsel to determine what state-specific leave and other employment law obligations they may need to address, as well as the most efficient manner in which to do so.   *     *     * If you need any further guidance regarding the employment law implications of remote workers, please do not hesitate to contact John Gardner, or any other member of DeWitt’s Labor and Employment Law Practice Group.      <div> <hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" style="text-align: justify;"> <div id="edn1"> <a href="file:///C:/Users/nnoor/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/9OD5CV4R/Remote%20Work%20and%20Employee%20Leave.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1">[i]</a> See, e.g., Severson v. Heartland Woodcraft, Inc., 872 F.3d 476 (7th Cir. 2017) (holding that an employee’s request for a two-plus month leave of absence that followed his use of the full 12-week allotment of FMLA leave was not a request for a reasonable accommodation under the ADA). </div> </div>urn:uuid:8ac2bee6-19df-6764-8df2-ff0000f53411https://www.dewittllp.com/news-education/posts/2022/05/03/rutgers-university-report-employee-owned-businesses-outperformed-other-businesses-during-pandemic ESOP News FeedBusiness Law ArticlesFirm NewsRutgers University Report: Employee-Owned Businesses Outperformed Other Businesses During PandemicA recent Rutgers University survey illustrated employee-owned companies did much better during the pandemic than others. Tue, 03 May 2022 18:39:07 ZAccording to a report released by Rutgers University, companies that are owned by their employees (i.e., ESOP companies) are dramatically outperforming other companies in maintaining jobs, work hours, salary and benefits.  The study found that employee-owned companies were: <ul type="disc"> <li style="text-align: justify;">3-4 times more likely to retain non-manager and manager employees.</li> <li style="text-align: justify;">3.2 times more likely to retain staff—even when other businesses received funding through the Paycheck Protection Program and the employee-owned firms did not.</li> <li style="text-align: justify;">Significantly less likely to reduce employees’ hours or pay.</li> </ul> The full report is available to download <a href="https://cleo.rutgers.edu/articles/employee-owned-firms-in-the-covid-19-pandemic-how-majority-owned-esop-other-companies-have-responded-to-the-covid-19-health-and-economic-crises/" target="_blank">here.</a>urn:uuid:ecc1bee6-19df-6764-8df2-ff0000f53411https://www.dewittllp.com/news-education/posts/2022/05/02/seasoned-intellectual-property-attorney-paul-onderick-joins-dewitt Firm NewsMinnesota ArticlesSeasoned Intellectual Property Attorney Paul Onderick Joins DeWittToday DeWitt LLP law firm announced partner Paul Onderick joined the firm’s Minneapolis office as a member of its Intellectual Property Group.Mon, 02 May 2022 12:07:31 ZGREEN BAY | MADISON | MILWAUKEE | MINNEAPOLIS – Today DeWitt LLP law firm announced partner <a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/paul-onderick/biography" target="_blank">Paul Onderick</a> joined the firm’s Minneapolis office as a member of its Intellectual Property Group. Dr. Onderick, who is also a licensed Optometrist, assists clients with protecting, developing, and managing their patent portfolios.   His experience as a licensed optometrist benefits many of his clients who seek to protect innovations in technologies that relate to his background in optometry, including optical products such as microscopes and digital projectors, clinical and surgical instruments and related products, heads-up and night vision displays, and laser-refractive technologies.  In addition to his work related to ophthalmic and surgical inventions, Dr. Onderick also works with manufacturers who develop automated and robotic manufacturing equipment, biomedical instruments, minimally invasive catheters and other medical devices.   In the area of mechanical devices, he has assisted numerous clients with obtaining patent protection for their intellectual property.  He earned a J.D., cum laude, from the University of Minnesota Law School, an O.D. from Indiana University, and a B.S. in Optometry from Indiana University.  He is licensed to practice law in Minnesota, before the Minnesota Supreme Court, U.S. District Court – District of Minnesota, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).  He also has argued appeals before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Dr. Onderick is a member of the Minnesota Intellectual Property Law Association, the American Bar Association and the Hennepin County Bar Association.  Additionally, he is a former member of the Board of Directors for Central Minnesota Legal Services and is an active volunteer with Children’s Law Center of Minnesota and with the White Bear Center for the Arts.  About DeWitt DeWitt LLP was founded in 1903 and is one of the 10 largest law firms based in Wisconsin, with an additional presence in Minnesota.  It has more than 130 attorneys practicing in Green Bay, Madison and Metropolitan Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Minneapolis, Minnesota, and has the experience to service clients of all scopes and sizes. The firm is known for its work in a variety of legal areas including intellectual property, patents, trademarks and copyright law, construction litigation, corporate law, employment, environmental, employee benefits, estate planning, family business, family law, government relations, health care, litigation, real estate, and tax law.  More information is available at<a href="https://dewittllp.com/"> dewittllp.com</a>.  urn:uuid:d5b7bee6-19df-6764-8df2-ff0000f53411https://www.dewittllp.com/news-education/posts/2022/04/18/associate-attorney-robb-m.-evans-joins-dewitt Business Law ArticlesFirm NewsAssociate Attorney Robb M. Evans Joins DeWittToday DeWitt LLP law firm announced associate attorney Robb M. Evans joined the firm’s Madison office.Mon, 18 Apr 2022 02:43:44 ZGREEN BAY | MADISON | MILWAUKEE | MINNEAPOLIS – Today DeWitt LLP law firm announced associate attorney <a href="https://www.dewittllp.com/our-people/robb-evans/biography" target="_blank">Robb M. Evans</a> joined the firm’s Madison office. Evans is a member of the Business Law practice group of DeWitt.    He works with his clients on a plethora of business, labor and employment, and real estate matters and has served as outside general counsel for several start-up businesses.  His experience includes drafting and negotiating vendor, customer, independent contractor, employment, and lease agreements.   He also actively guides employers through issues ranging from non-competition and non-solicitation agreements to unemployment matters.  Evans earned a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School and a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  He is admitted to practice in Wisconsin and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.  He is a member of the Wisconsin State Bar Association, Dane County Bar Association, Rock County Bar Association and Eau Claire County Bar Association.  He is a Director on the Board of Directors for Janesville Innovation, Inc. and is a former Board Member of L.E. Phillips Career Development Center. About DeWitt DeWitt LLP was founded in 1903 and is one of the 10 largest law firms based in Wisconsin, with an additional presence in Minnesota.  It has more than 130 attorneys practicing in Green Bay, Madison and Metropolitan Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Minneapolis, Minnesota, and has the experience to service clients of all scopes and sizes. The firm is known for its work in a variety of legal areas including intellectual property, patents, trademarks and copyright law, construction litigation, corporate law, employment, environmental, employee benefits, estate planning, family business, family law, government relations, health care, litigation, real estate, and tax law.  More information is available at<a href="https://dewittllp.com/"> dewittllp.com</a>.