John L. Cates

David Palay is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law and Commercial Litigation. David, who practices law in Madison, Wisconsin, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

As President of Murphy Desmond S.C., attorney Ginger Zimmerman is responsible for strategic planning, management, growth and development of the firm, in addition to representing her clients. Ginger's legal practice combines her experience in business, real estate, bankruptcy, secured transactions, agricultural and commercial transactions, loan transactions, and litigation. She represents creditors, debtors, receivers and Trustees in bankruptcies, collections, foreclosures, reorganizations, li...

Charity A. McCarthy is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Elder Law and Trusts and Estates. Charity A., who practices law in Madison, Wisconsin, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Charity A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

My practice emphasizes personal injury, medical and legal malpractice, bad faith insurance claims and business litigation. I have extensive litigation experience in the State and Federal Courts of Wisconsin and have practiced in many courts outside Wisconsin. Prior to becoming an attorney, I was a pharmacist for five years. I love to golf. I'm practicing as much as I can because someday, you never know, I might be playing on the senior tour. My wife and I have three grown children and two you...

Jessica Hutson Polakowski is a shareholder in Reinhart’s Intellectual Property Litigation and Litigation practice groups. Jess serves a wide range of business clients such as electrical and mechanical designers and manufacturers, biotech companies, health care technology companies, software developers, service firms and product distributors. Based out of Reinhart’s Madison office, Jess regularly appears in the Western District of Wisconsin and works to both advise and assist clien...

Sharon Mollman Elliott is of counsel in the Madison, Wisconsin, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. Sharon has handled all aspects of employment cases, including from the initial employment problem in the workplace through trial. Sharon regularly counsels employers in cases involving the most difficult employee discipline and termination situations, harassment and discrimination claims, handbooks, wage and hour issues, and disability and FMLA requests. She also has extensive experience in both inval...

Claire Richman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Litigation - Bankruptcy. Claire, who practices law in Madison, Wisconsin, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Claire is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Vanessa Wishart is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Environmental Law and Water Law. Vanessa, who practices law in Madison, Wisconsin, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Vanessa is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Rick Mundt is a Shareholder in the Litigation and Risk Management Practice Group at von Briesen & Roper, s.c. He focuses his practice on litigation involving construction defects, catastrophic property damage, OSHA, professional liability, bodily injury and complex insurance claims. Rick is also an experienced mediator for property and casualty dispute resolution.

As a member of Stroud, Willink & Howard, LLC , Dale is recognized as one of Dane County's preeminent litigators of complex business and commercial disputes. He represents business clients in all aspects of litigation and alternative dispute resolution. He has extensive experience in disputes involving contracts, dealerships, product manufacture and distribution, shareholder disagreements, mergers and acquisitions, construction, real estate, technology, and property taxation, among others....