About
John Walsh is retired but still refers work to other attorneys at Axley.
Mr. Walsh served as a trial lawyer and past president of the State Bar of Wisconsin. He has a perfect score of 10 (on a 10-point scale) qualifying him for a “Superb” rating on AVVO. He also received Martindale-Hubbell’s® highest rating, and was regularly recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© and “Super Lawyers” for his work representing people injured in accidents.
Mr. Walsh’s injury practice included all forms of motor vehicle accidents, as well as injuries involving children and the elderly. He has represented clients with brain injuries, neurological and orthopedic injuries, burn victims and all forms of traumatic injury. He has also represented people suffering the death of a family member. Mr. Walsh is also experienced in commercial trucking accidents and has handled cases of death or serious injury involving interstate motor carriers.
Mr. Walsh also represented those injury by “recalled” or defective medical implant devices and adverse reactions to prescription medication.
Mr. Walsh’s work in business litigation and arbitration has included litigating (as counsel) and ruling (as arbitrator) on stock purchase agreements, business valuations, law firm dissolutions, calculating lost profits, and contract damages involving multimillion dollar corporations. He has acted as Wisconsin trial counsel in intellectual property cases representing Taylor Made, Wonder Bread, Cardinal Class and copyright owners of the Charles Schultz “Peanuts” characters.
Mr. Walsh is a popular, part-time faculty member at the University Of Wisconsin School Of Business. He is the Principal author of two studies of “Wisconsin Injury Jury Verdicts” published by the State Bar of Wisconsin and an original contributing author to “The Law on Damages” in Wisconsin.
At the time of Mr. Walsh’s election as President to the State Bar of Wisconsin, he was the youngest president in State Bar history. Mr. Walsh has held various leadership positions for the State Bar of Wisconsin, including: Chairman of the Board, Chairman of the State Bar’s Legislative Committee and member of the Board of Directors of the State Bar’s Litigation Section. Mr. Walsh’s community involvement includes being a former board member of the Center for Public Presentation, the Wisconsin Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company, the Wisconsin Judicial Commission, and the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s Policy, Planning, and Procedures Committee. He currently is on the Board of directors of the Wisconsin Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund and the Wisconsin Health Care Liability Plan.
Admitted to practice in the State Courts of Wisconsin, Federal Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin, and United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
Education
J.D., University of Wisconsin Law School
B.A., University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire
Grambling College
Involvement & Recognition
Involvement:
- Past President, State Bar of Wisconsin
- Member, Dane County Bar Association
- Member, State Bar of Wisconsin
- Board of Directors, Wisconsin Patients Compensation Fund and the Wisconsin Health Care Liability Plan
- Faculty, University of Wisconsin Business School
Recognition:
- Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© (2001-2022 Edition) – Personal Injury Litigation
- Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© (2014-2025 Edition) – Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
- AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™
- Named to the 2006 – 2021 Wisconsin Super Lawyers Lists (Primary Area of Practice: Personal Injury Law)
Client Successes
Hit and run caused shoulder fracture and rotator cuff injuries.
Case was tried before a rural jury for a paraplegic injured in a motor vehicle accident.
A juvenile client was charged with multiple offenses including, Burglary, Felony Theft, Destruction of Property, Obstructing a Police Investigation, among other charges.
Mr. Walsh obtained a disposition of the case whereby the client had no criminal record and no jail times; the client paid a fine and provided community service to a nonprofit group.
Defended a client in a Federal Court criminal trial involving felony charges of theft from an interstate shipment (a federal offense). At trial the FBI presented video surveillance of the client unloading merchandise from the rear of a commercial semi-tractor trailer. Obtained a directed verdict and all charges were dismissed.
Defended a client charged with felony homicide by intoxicated driving and hit and run. Client struck a pedestrian during a snow storm and left the scene. Obtained a 30 day sentence and probation for the client.
Represented client charged with three felonies after he made three drug sales to an undercover informant of the Tri County Drug Task Force. Negotiated a plea agreement whereby client spent four days in jail followed by probation.
Defended semi-tractor trailer operator against allegations his rig collided with a car and caused the death of three occupants. Their car burst into flames during a 20-plus vehicle pile-up on the Wisconsin River Bridge. Paint scrapings proved client was not the cause of the fire or deaths and the case was dismissed.
Represented both the director of the Assembly Republican Caucus and the director of the Assembly Democratic Caucus in negotiations with prosecutors from the Dane County District Attorney and the Wisconsin Attorney General offices. Both clients obtained immunity and neither was charged with a crime. Also represented various corporate and individual witnesses during the John Doe proceedings.
Insights
Articles
Videos
Other Presentations & Publications
Endorsements
Atty. Walsh and I have been friends for over 40 years and in that time, he was the youngest President of the State Bar of Wisconsin and assisted my mother-in-law when she was severely injured in an auto accident at the age of 85. What we liked best about John’s skilled service was his sincere interest in my mother-in-law’s total wellbeing. He was an excellent listener and always addressed her concerns and got her the results he told us we could expect. I highly recommend Atty. John Walsh.