Robert C. Procter
About
Robert Procter is Chief Executive Officer and Partner at Axley Brynelson LLP, where he also serves on the firm’s Management Team and plays a leadership role in the Business Practice Group. Licensed in Wisconsin and Illinois, Robert provides strategic legal counsel to businesses across a range of industries, with a focus on real estate development, construction, dealership and distribution, and insurance agency law.
Real Estate & Construction Law
Robert represents developers, contractors, investors, and property owners throughout Wisconsin and Illinois, guiding them through every phase of the development process. His work includes:
- Land Use & Entitlements: Securing zoning approvals, conditional use permits, variances, annexations, plat approvals, and development agreements.
- Tax Increment Financing (TIF): Structuring and negotiating TIF incentives to improve project feasibility and returns.
- Permitting & Compliance: Advising on site plans, stormwater management, environmental issues, and building code compliance to keep projects on track.
- Construction Contracts: Drafting and negotiating agreements with contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers to reduce legal risk.
- Dispute Resolution: Representing clients in construction defect claims, lien disputes, breach of contract cases, and regulatory challenges through mediation, arbitration, and litigation.
Robert also serves as outside general counsel to the Wisconsin Builders Association and as Government Affairs Director for the Realtors® Association of South Central Wisconsin, advocating for legal and legislative solutions that support housing and economic development.
Dealership & Distribution Law
Robert advises manufacturers and distributors on all aspects of dealership and distribution law, including:
- Drafting and negotiating dealer and distribution agreements
- Establishing and restructuring dealer networks
- Navigating terminations and product recalls
- Litigating under the Wisconsin Fair Dealership Law (WFDL)
His knowledge of the WFDL and related laws helps clients avoid common pitfalls and protect long-term business interests.
Insurance Agency Law
With family roots in the insurance industry — his family’s agency has served South Milwaukee since 1943 — Robert brings unique insight to the legal needs of insurance professionals. He spent more than a decade working alongside Attorney Tim Fenner, a leading authority in this field, and now advises clients on:
- Regulatory compliance
- Agency operations and governance
- Contract negotiations and litigation
Robert lives in Madison with his wife and four children. Known for his dry sense of humor and his knack for analogies, Robert brings clarity, pragmatism, and strategic thinking to every legal challenge.
Admitted to practice in the State Courts of Wisconsin and Illinois and Federal Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin.
Education
J.D., cum laude, Boston University School of LawB.A., University of Wisconsin-Madison
Involvement & Recognition
Involvement:
- Board Member and Secretary, Black Men Coalition
- Board Member, Own It: Building Black Wealth
- Outside General Counsel, Wisconsin Builders Association
- Government Affairs Director, Realtors® Association of South Central Wisconsin
- Former Board Member, Wisconsin Realtors® Association
- Former Board Member, Realtors® Association of South Central Wisconsin
- Former Board Member, Madison Area Builders Association
- Former Chair, Government Affairs Committee, Madison Area Builders Association
- Former Chair, Developers Council, Wisconsin Builders Association
Recognition:
- Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© (2013–2025) – Real Estate Law
- Associate of the Year, Wisconsin Builders Association
- Above and Beyond Service Award, Wisconsin Builders Association
- Affiliate of Distinction, Realtors® Association of South Central Wisconsin
- Associate of the Year, Madison Area Builders Association
- Named to the Wisconsin Super Lawyers Rising Stars list (2008, 2009)