Firm Statistics

• Year founded: 1943
• Office locations: Milwaukee and Madison, Wis.; Chicago
• Attorneys: 136
• Paralegals: 25
• Chief Executive: Paul J. Eberle
• WHD ranks sixth among "Largest Milwaukee-Area Law Firms" (2012 Business Journal of Milwaukee Book of Lists)
• Number of practice areas and industry teams: 51

Firm Recognitions

• Diversity – The Wisconsin Association of African-American Lawyers (WAAL) presented WHD with its Diversity Partner Award for 2011 in recognition of WHD's extraordinary work in supporting WAAL's efforts to create a culture of diversity in the practice of law throughout Wisconsin.
• World Finance named WHD Best M&A Law Firm in USA for 2012. The award was received as a result of the nomination of Richard W. Silverthorn in recognition of his national M&A experience, and the outstanding work performed by WHD’s Corporate Transactions Team. The World Finance Legal Awards identify industry leaders, individuals, teams and organizations that represent the benchmark of achievement and best practice in the financial and business world.
• Lawyer Monthly Magazine named Sverre David Roang Deal Maker of the Year and WHD Real Estate, Finance & Construction Law Firm of the Year for 2011, due to the work performed by Brad Dallet and the firm's Real Estate, Finance and Construction teams. The Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards highlight outstanding achievement within the legal profession across key practice areas and sectors, and recognizes achievement both at the firm and partner level, and the recent achievements of the leading law firms.
• Corporate INTL named WHD Clients' Choice–Wisconsin M&A Law Firm of the Year and Clients' Choice–Wisconsin Natural Resources Law Firm of the Year for 2011. The publication received more than 11,500 nominations from law firms, in-house counsel teams, business directors and private individuals from around the globe, and advisers from more than 100 countries were awarded.
• Finance Monthly Magazine selected WHD as M&A Law Firm of the Year (USA) and Corporate Governance Law Firm of the Year (USA) for its 2011 Finance Monthly Law Awards. The firm received the M&A Law Firm of the Year Award through the nomination of Richard W. Silverthorn in recognition of his national M&A experience, and the Corporate Governance Law Firm of the Year Award through the recognition of the work performed by Sverre David Roang.
• LexisNexis® Martindale-Hubbell® named WHD to its inaugural "Top Ranked Law Firms" list. The list is exclusive to U.S. law firms of 21 or more attorneys, where at least 33% of the firm's lawyers achieved the AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rating. This rating indicates the rated lawyer has been deemed by his or her peers to have demonstrated the highest level of ethical standards and legal ability. Currently, 36% of WHD attorneys are AV-rated.
• WHD is recognized by Goodrich Corporation as a 2012 Go-To Law Firm for litigation, according to ALM, an integrated media company. WHD is one of an elite group of firms that delivers exceptional work for the in-house legal departments at the Fortune 500.
• The Best Lawyers in America® (2013), published by Woodward/White, Inc., includes 46 WHD attorneys. Best Lawyers conducts exhaustive peer-review surveys to determine the top attorneys in the country.
• The Best Lawyers in America® (2011) ranked WHD No. 1 in Milwaukee in Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights Law, and among the top firms in Wisconsin and Milwaukee in Civil Rights Law and Mass Tort Litigation.
• Twenty Five of WHD's practice areas received national and local recognition in the 2012-2013 U.S. News – Best Lawyers "Best Law Firms" rankings.
• Wisconsin Super Lawyers® named 24 WHD lawyers as top attorneys in Wisconsin for 2012. Only 5% of the lawyers in the state are included in this recognition.
• Wisconsin Super Lawyers® named WHD the 2011 Top Large Law Firm for Litigation in Wisconsin.
• Wisconsin Super Lawyers® – Rising Stars Edition 2012 selected for inclusion 11 WHD lawyers. No more than 2.5% of the lawyers in the state are named to the list.
• WHD's Corporate/M&A, Intellectual Property (including Litigation), Litigation (General Commercial), Natural Resources & Environment and Real Estate practices have been ranked among the best in Wisconsin by Chambers and Partners in its Chambers USA 2012 guide.
• Twelve WHD attorneys earned individual recognition in the Chambers USA 2012 guide, based upon their reputations among clients and peers.
• The National Law Journal named WHD to its 2010 "Midsize Hot List" for the firm’s successes and innovation.
• Green Recognition: The American Bar Association recognized WHD’s offices as Law Office Climate Challenge Partners for their best practices in office paper management. WHD ensures that at least 90% of its office paper products contain a minimum of 30% post-consumer recycled content and recycles at least 90% of its mixed office paper.

Practice Group and Team Recognitions

Corporate/M&A

• World Finance named WHD Best M&A Law Firm in USA for 2012. The award was received as a result of the nomination of Richard W. Silverthorn in recognition of his national M&A experience, and the outstanding work performed by WHD’s Corporate Transactions Team. The Finance Monthly Legal Awards identify industry leaders, individuals, teams and organizations that represent the benchmark of achievement and best practice in the financial and business world.
• Lawyer Monthly Magazine named Sverre David Roang Deal Maker of the Year for 2011. The Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards highlight outstanding achievement within the legal profession across key practice areas and sectors, and recognizes achievement both at the firm and partner level, and the recent achievements of the leading law firms.
• Corporate INTL named WHD Clients' Choice–Wisconsin M&A Law Firm of the Year for 2011. The publication received more than 11,500 nominations from law firms, in-house counsel teams, business directors and private individuals from around the globe, and advisers from more than 100 countries were awarded.
• Finance Monthly Magazine selected WHD as M&A Law Firm of the Year (USA) and Corporate Governance Law Firm of the Year (USA) for its 2011 Finance Monthly Law Awards. The firm received the M&A Law Firm of the Year Award through the nomination of Richard W. Silverthorn in recognition of his national M&A experience, and the Corporate Governance Law Firm of the Year Award through the recognition of the work performed by Sverre David Roang.
• Chambers USA 2012 – Chambers describes WHD's Corporate/M&A practice as having good control of corporate legal issues, stating that its attorneys "… are very practical. They will get the transaction done." Richard W. Silverthorn is praised for his “presence in negotiations and understanding of key issues." Sverre David Roang is described as a "very practical attorney who tries to find a solution to each problem," and a source comments about John Emanuel, "When he tells you that you can sign a document, you know it has been thoroughly negotiated."

Intellectual Property (Including Litigation)

• Chambers USA 2012 – Chambers praises WHD's Intellectual Property practice for the group's responsiveness and vast patent litigation capabilities. Gina Carter is noted for the manner in which she "lends creativity to her approach to matters." Grady Frenchick is commonly called upon for his expertise in matters relating to biotechnology, medical devices and electrochemistry areas, while John Pienkos serves clients in electrical and mechanical engineering including robotics and electromagnetics, computer hardware and automotive systems."

Litigation (General Commercial)

• WHD is recognized by Goodrich Corporation as a 2012 Go-To Law Firm for litigation, according to ALM, an integrated media company. WHD is one of an elite group of firms that delivers exceptional work for the in-house legal departments at the Fortune 500.
• Wisconsin Super Lawyers® named WHD the 2011 Top Large Law Firm for Litigation in Wisconsin.
• Chambers USA 2012 – "Chambers recognizes WHD's Litigation practice for its litigators' trial experience at state and federal courts, as well as for their being "well versed in a wide variety of contentious matters, including employment, product liability, IP and real estate disputes." Ann Maher is a business litigation specialist who concentrates on antitrust, dealership and distribution disputes.

Natural Resources & Environment

• Corporate INTL named WHD Clients' Choice–Wisconsin Natural Resources Law Firm of the Year for 2011. The publication received more than 11,500 nominations from law firms, in-house counsel teams, business directors and private individuals from around the globe, and advisers from more than 100 countries were awarded.
• Chambers USA 2012 – Chambers praises WHD's diverse environmental practice for its sought after "knowledge of the permitting processes of numerous agencies, including the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the EPA." Jennifer Buzecky is "extremely thorough" and "stays on top of all the issues." Richard Lewandowski "focuses on compliance and enforcement defense, in addition to environmental permitting, and also had experience working on groundwater protection and Superfund matters."

Real Estate

• Lawyer Monthly Magazine named WHD Real Estate, Finance & Construction Law Firm of the Year for 2011, due to the work performed by Brad Dallet and the firm's Real Estate, Finance and Construction teams. The Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards highlight outstanding achievement within the legal profession across key practice areas and sectors, and recognizes achievement both at the firm and partner level, and the recent achievements of the leading law firms.
• Chambers USA 2012 – Chambers noted that WHD's Real Estate practice "has experience across all areas of real estate, condominium law and construction litigation." Brad Dallet focuses on real estate finance and transactions. Hal Karas is well versed in the development and redevelopment of industrial and office buildings, and also advises on financing and New Markets Tax Credits transactions. Nathaniel Hoffman is highlighted for his advising a national pension fund on the drafting and negotiation of a number of leases across three states.

Individual Recognitions

• Wisconsin Law Journal Leaders in the Law Award. The award recognizes lawyers and judges who give their time and talent to improve the practice of law, the justice system and the communities in which they live.
  • Thomas Pyper (2013)
  • Jack Laffey (2011)
• Best Lawyers named Ross A. Anderson as Best Lawyers' 2013 Milwaukee Litigation – Real Estate "Lawyer of the Year;" Philip J. Halley as Best Lawyers' 2013 Milwaukee Litigation – Trusts & Estates "Lawyer of the Year;" and Kim M. Wynn as Best Lawyers' 2013 Milwaukee Banking and Finance "Lawyer of the Year." Only a single lawyer in each designated area of practice in each community is honored as "Lawyer of the Year."
• Benchmark Litigation named Gina Carter to its Top 250 Women in Litigation list. Top 250 Women in Litigation is the first magazine devoted to honoring the achievements and issues facing female trial lawyers in the United States. The female litigators were selected on the basis of peer reviews conducted for the 2012 edition of Benchmark Litigation, the parent publication of Top 250 Women in Litigation. Female local litigation stars from each of the 50 states plus the District of Columbia are listed in this guide.
• M Magazine listed Hal Karas (Real Estate) and Douglas A. Pessefall (Tax) as one of Milwaukee’s Highest-Ranked attorneys for 2012.
• Wisconsin Law Journal named Eric E. Lenzen and Jennifer H. Jin 2012 Up and Coming Lawyers, which recognizes lawyers who have been practicing eight years or less, have successfully achieved legal outcomes early in their career, have significantly contributed to their communities, and have demonstrated exceptional leadership.
• Sverre David Roang has been awarded the Family Firm Institute’s Certificate in Family Wealth Advising. Roang is the only professional in Wisconsin to receive the certificate, which is presented to individuals who have achieved comprehensive professional knowledge and gained significant expertise and insight into professional best practices that will be valued by family business owners and family wealth clients.
• Lawyer Monthly Magazine named Sverre David Roang Deal Maker of the Year for 2011. The Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards highlight outstanding achievement within the legal profession across key practice areas and sectors, and recognizes achievement both at the firm and partner level, and the recent achievements of the leading law firms.
• Best Lawyers named Philip J. Halley as "Milwaukee Best Lawyers Trusts and Estates Lawyer of the Year" for 2012. Only a single lawyer in each designated area of practice in each community is honored as "Lawyer of the Year."
• Wisconsin Law Journal named Sarah Thomas Pagels and Barbara J. Zabawa 2011 Up and Coming Lawyers, which recognizes lawyers who have been practicing eight years or less, have successfully achieved legal outcomes early in their career, have significantly contributed to their communities, and have demonstrated exceptional leadership.
• Wisconsin Law Journal named Lynda R. Templen and Kim M. Wynn 2011 Women in the Law, which recognizes outstanding women in the Wisconsin legal community.
• Wisconsin Law Journal selected Lydia J. Chartre as an Up and Coming Lawyer for 2010.
• Wisconsin Law Journal selected Bruce A. Arnold as a 2010 recipient of its Leaders in the Law Award. The award recognizes lawyers and judges who give their time and talent to improve the practice of law, the justice system and the communities in which they live.
• Wisconsin Law Journal named Ann M. Maher as a recipient of the 2010 Women in the Law Award. Women in the Law honorees are recognized for their outstanding achievement in the practice of law.