Martin, Michelle E.

Michelle E. Martin

Partner
Jacob Snow
262.409.2281

About

Michelle Martin is a partner at Axley, practicing primarily in the areas of real estate and business. She has extensive real estate experience in condemnation and eminent domain, land use and zoning, easements, tax assessments, development, leasing, and commercial and industrial transactions. Ms. Martin represents clients in condemnation matters relating to electric transmission lines, natural gas pipelines, highways, and other development. She also assists clients in developing, acquiring, and managing commercial and industrial properties.

With regard to business matters, her practice involves the formation and structuring of businesses, the sale and acquisition of businesses and their assets, as well as general contract drafting and negotiations. Ms. Martin’s practice in estate planning encompasses the preparation of wills, trusts, and powers of attorney; probate proceedings; and probate litigation.

Admitted to practice in the State Courts of Wisconsin and Federal Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin.

Education

J.D., cum laude, Marquette University Law School
B.S., Business Administration, Minor in Economics, Trinity University
Franklin College, Lugano, Switzerland

Involvement & Recognition

Involvement:

  • Member, American Bar Association
  • Member, State Bar of Wisconsin
  • Member, Waukesha County Bar Association
    – Board of Directors, 2002 – 2015
    – President, 2011 – 2012
    – Past President, Young Lawyers Division
  • Member, Dane County Bar Association
  • Plan Commission, Town of Brookfield, Wisconsin, 1998 – 2004
  • Zoning Board of Appeals, Town of Brookfield, Wisconsin, 2003 – 2004
  • Junior League of Milwaukee
    – Controller 1999-2000
    – Director of Operations/Treasurer, 2000 – 2001; 2006-2007
    – Board of Directors, 2000 – 2003; 2004 – 2007
  • Gilda’s Club Southeastern Wisconsin, Inc. Board of Directors 2003 – 2004

Recognition:

  • Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© (2021-2024 Edition) – Real Estate Law
  • Named the Waukesha County Bar Association’s Distinguished Member (2015)
  • Named to the 2007 Wisconsin Rising Stars List (Primary Area of Practice: Land Use Law)
  • Martindale-Hubbell DistinguishedSM Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™
  • Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© (2024 Edition) – Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)

Client Successes

Represent airports throughout the state to assist them in acquiring land rights to complete airport improvement projects. The land rights acquired include land in fee, aviation easements and temporary and permanent access easements.

Insights

Other Presentations & Publications
Article: “Raising Issues of Statutory Compliance…And No Good Deed Goes Unpunished.” The Preeminent Domain (1/2015)
Article: “Takings Cannot Be Too Large or Too Small: They Must Be 'Just Right'.” The Preeminent Domain (7/2014)
Article: "If a Permit Condition Is Not a Compensable Taking, It Is Constitutional." The Preeminent Domain (2/2014)
Article: "In Minnesota, a Legal Non-Conforming Use is Not Terminated by Issuing or Revoking a Conditional Use Permit." The Preeminent Domain (1/2014)
Article: "When it Comes to the Various Uses Under a Zoning Designation, One of These Things is Not Like the Other." The Preeminent Domain (12/2013)
Article: "When is an Unconstitutional Condition of a Governmental Land Use Permit a Taking?" The Preeminent Domain (12/2013)
Article: "When Are “Monetary Exactions” as a Condition of a Land Use Permit Constitutional?" The Preeminent Domain (11/2013)