Recognition

Wisconsin Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists are compiled through peer reviews, independent research and a panel review by the national publication Law & Politics. Only five percent of the Wisconsin attorneys receive this honor. Rising Stars recognize the top 2.5 percent of the up-and-coming attorneys in the state. The survey is conducted in 48 states. Axley attorneys named to the Wisconsin Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists, along with their practice areas – as listed by Wisconsin Super Lawyers and Rising Stars magazine – include:

*This is the fifth year that Attorney Paul Curtis has been selected to the Top 25: Madison Super Lawyers and the eighth year that he has been selected to Super Lawyers. Attorneys like Paul D. Curtis are recognized by their peers for their outstanding work and commitment to the spirit of the legal profession. Their knowledge of the law, professional work ethic, and advocacy on behalf of their clients allow them to stand out among other attorneys in the field.

Regarded as a top reference guide to the legal profession, The Best Lawyers in America^© has been published biennially since 1983. The Best Lawyers® lists are compiled through an extensive peer-review survey in which thousands of lawyers in the U.S. confidentially evaluate their professional peers.

Best Lawyers® only recognizes one attorney as “Lawyer of the Year” per specialty and location. Attorney Michael J. Modl has the highest peer review rating and feedback in Madison for Litigation – First Amendment.

Additional Axley attorneys listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2024 list and the practice area they are recognized for include:

MADISON

• Michael S. Anderson – Commercial Litigation
• Steven A. Brezinski – Tax Law
• Gregory C. Collins – Real Estate Law
• Paul D. Curtis – Litigation – Insurance, Personal Injury – Defendants, Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
• Guy J. DuBeau – Litigation – Construction, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
• Saul C. Glazer – Commercial Litigation, Construction Law
• Kathryn M. Grigg – Family Law, Family Law Mediation
• Daniel T. Hardy – Communications Law, Energy Law
• Bruce L. Harms – Corporate Law, Real Estate Law
• Arthur E. Kurtz – Insurance Law
• Larry K. Libman – Real Estate Law
• Lori M. Lubinsky – Education Law, Insurance Law
• Michael J. Modl – Litigation – First Amendment, Litigation – Intellectual Property, Litigation – Labor and Employment, Litigation – Patent
• Mitch R. Olson – Litigation – Land Use and Zoning
• Laura S. Peck – Banking and Finance Law
• David M. Pelletier – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy, Litigation – Real Estate
• Richard E. Petershack – Banking and Finance Law, Real Estate Law
• Robert C. Procter – Real Estate Law
• Michael Riley – Arbitration, Mediation, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
• Leslie A. Sammon – Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management,
• John H. Schmid, Jr. – Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers
• Jonathan L. Schuster – Securities Regulation
• Heath P. Straka – Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
• Steven M. Streck – Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, Litigation – Environmental, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
• Charles V. Sweeney – Litigation – Construction, Litigation – Environmental
• John Walsh – Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
• Michael J. Westcott – Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment

WAUKESHA

• Adam Bazelon – Litigation – Real Estate
• Timothy Fenner – Insurance Law, Land Use & Zoning Law, Litigation – Land Use & Zoning
• Michelle Martin – Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Real Estate Law
• Don Murn – Business Organizations, Real Estate Law, Trust and Estates
• Ed Lawton – Real Estate Law

BEST LAWYERS – ONES TO WATCH

• Aneet Kaur – Insurance Law, Litigation – Labor and Employment, Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants
• Elizabeth Rodriguez Lanzhammer – Trusts and Estates
• Danielle B. Tierney – Commercial Litigation

Martindale-Hubbell^® Peer Review Ratings™ evaluate lawyers in the United States and Canada. Opinions of Judiciary and bar members are collected though objective questionnaires and personal interviews, confirming a lawyer’s legal ability and adherence to professional standards of ethics. Thus, these ratings are based on two components: (The italicized info is taken from the Martindale-Hubbell^® Peer Review Ratings™ website. For more information, click here.)

• The General Ethical Standards Rating, indicating the attorney’s commitment to professional standards of conduct and ethics, reliability, diligence and other criteria relevant to the discharge of professional responsibilities. An attorney must receive the General Ethical Standards Rating before his or her review can proceed to the Legal Ability Ratings.

• The Legal Ability Rating, evaluating performance in legal knowledge, analytical capabilities, judgment, communication ability and legal experience.

The end results are as follows:

• AV Preeminent®  – The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies that the lawyer’s reviewed peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.
• Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished^SM  – An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely respected by their reviewed peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.
• Martindale-Hubbell Notable^SM – This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their reviewed peers for strong ethical standards.

Due to the high percentage of Axley attorneys with (AV) ratings, Axley has been recognized by Martindale-Hubbell as one of the top nationally ranked law firms in the United States. Axley attorneys who received Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings include:

• Michael S. Anderson (AV Preeminent^®)
• Steven A. Brezinski (Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished^SM)
• Andrew J. Clarkowski (Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished^SM)
• William S. Cole (Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished^SM)
• Gregory C. Collins (Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished^SM)
• Paul D. Curtis (AV Preeminent^®)
• Guy J. DuBeau (Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished^SM)
• Timothy D. Fenner (AV Preeminent^®)
• Judd A. Genda (Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished^SM)
• Patricia M. Gibeault (AV Preeminent^®)
• Steven E. Grimm (Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished^SM)
• Kathryn Gutenkunst (AV Preeminent^®)
• Daniel T. Hardy (AV Preeminent^®)
• Bruce L. Harms (AV Preeminent^®)
• Thomas C. Hofbauer (AV Preeminent^®)
• Brian C. Hough (AV Preeminent^®)
• Ralph E. Johnson (Martindale-Hubbell Notable^SM)
• Arthur E. Kurtz (AV Preeminent^®)
• Larry K. Libman (Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished^SM)
• Lori M. Lubinsky (AV Preeminent^®)
• Michelle Martin (Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished^SM)
• Michael J. Modl (AV Preeminent^®)
• Donald Murn (Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished^SM)
• Mitchell R. Olson (Martindale-Hubbell Notable^SM)
• Richard E. Petershack (AV Preeminent^®)
• Mike Riley (AV Preeminent^®)
• John H. Schmid, Jr. (AV Preeminent^®)
• Carl A. Sinderbrand (AV Preeminent^®)
• Steven M. Streck (AV Preeminent^®)
• Charles (Buck) V. Sweeney (AV Preeminent^®)
• John Walsh (AV Preeminent^®)
• Michael J. Westcott (Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished^SM)

Up and Coming Lawyers

• Aneet Kaur (2019)
• Danielle Tierney (2018)
• Kathryn Grigg (2014)
• Edward Lawton (2012)

Leaders in the Law

• Buck Sweeney (2015)

Women in the Law

• Sara Beachy (2019)
• Melissa Warner (2018)
• Patricia Gibeault (2015)
• Laura Peck (2014)

Executive Choice Award – Winner (#1 Law Firm)

• 2022
• 2020
• 2019
• 2018
• 2017
• 2016
• 2015
• 2014