Thomas A. Hoffner

James I. Statz is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) and Real Estate Law. James I., who practices law in Madison, Wisconsin, has been recognized since 2017. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which James I. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

I learned the value of hard work growing up on a dairy farm, and it stuck with me. I have always loved to learn and did well in school, graduating from UW Madison, where I received my law degree in 1993. I have been a partner at Gingras, Cates & Luebke since 2000. My practice areas include whistleblower cases, employment law, civil rights, professional malpractice, personal injury and family law. I was raised to care deeply about the welfare of others, and that value is reflected in the w...

Peter L. Gardon is a shareholder and the chairman of the firm's Telecommunications and Energy Practice. He is also a member of the Business Law Practice. Pete draws on decades of successful practice, regulatory and legislative experience to effectively counsel telecommunications and energy companies, financial institutions, health care institutions and other business clients in a variety of complex administrative, regulatory, commercial, litigation and environmental matters. Pete's clients hi...

Blayne Christy is a member of the Litigation and Risk Management Practice Group at von Briesen & Roper, s.c. She focuses her practice on representing insurance carriers and their insureds in complex legal disputes, including in areas related to construction defects, contract disputes and professional liability claims. Prior to private practice, Blayne was a claims attorney managing outside counsel for a large insurance company. During law school, Blayne was a Member and Managing Articles ...

Michelle Umberger is a partner in the Patent Litigation and Intellectual Property Litigation practices. A registered patent attorney, she has focused her practice exclusively on intellectual property litigation for more than a decade. Michelle manages complex, high-stakes cases involving a wide range of technologies, including patents relating to microprocessors, medical devices, antibody libraries, genetically-engineered plants and mechanical devices. She represents both established internat...

Vern has substantial expertise representing clients on a wide variety of real estate transactions including purchase and sale of real estate, real estate leases, tax deferred exchanges, real estate development, real estate financing, environmental issues, municipal approvals, formation of real estate owning entities, senior housing and assisted living facilities, and condominium development and conversion. In addition, Vern assists a number of businesses with many of the legal issues which co...

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.

Chris Rogers is a shareholder with the firm. He initially practiced predominately in the firm’s Lake Geneva office, where he tried cases in Walworth, Kenosha, and Racine counties. In 2004, he moved to the firm’s Madison office, where he continues to practice today. His focus is on cases involving injuries from product defects, automobile accidents, and general negligence. He has clients throughout the State of Wisconsin. In 2017, Chris served a one year term as President – E...

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....

Ted Waskowski is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law, Litigation - Insurance, Litigation - Municipal, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Ted, who practices law in Madison, Wisconsin, has been recognized since 2008. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ted is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.