Bankruptcy

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Ultimately, every business will close. All businesses fail eventually.

In March 2025, the oldest business in North America filed bankruptcy. Hudson’s Bay Company, incorporated May 2, 1670, filed under the Canadian equivalent of Chapter 11. They quickly determined that it would not be able to put forth a viable restructuring plan and entered into liquidation. In June 2025, after 355 years, all its retail stores closed.

General Motors was one of the largest industrial companies in the world.

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Continue Reading Bankruptcy Isn’t the End: Tools Lawyers Can Use to Help Business Clients Rebuild

Posted on February 27, 2024 in Business Law
Debt collection is a critical issue for many businesses, as unpaid debts can significantly impact a company’s cash flow and its overall financial health. While many businesses prefer to resolve debt collection issues out of court through negotiations or payment plans, there are some cases where litigation may be necessary. Filing a lawsuit or enforcing a judgment can be a complex process, but it can ensure that the financial interests of…
Continue Reading When Will Businesses Need to Use Litigation to Collect Debts in Wisconsin?

A tenant’s filing of a bankruptcy, whether it is a Chapter 7 or a Chapter 13, stops your eviction cold under most circumstances!

Evictions are typically matters handled exclusively through the state court system, in whichever county the property is located. Every now and then, though, we have to make a trip to federal court to assist a landlord. This most frequently arises when a tenant files for bankruptcy protection.

Bankruptcy is authorized by the United States Constitution and…
Continue Reading How Does A Tenant’s Bankruptcy Interfere with Your Eviction?

Today, DeWitt LLP announced attorney Theresa Roetter was elected as the Vice President of the Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys
(AAAA) for a one-year term ending in May 2024.
She is also co-chair of the 2024 AAAA annual conference, which will welcome adoption and assisted reproduction professionals from around the world to Milwaukee May 5-7, 2024.
Roetter, who provides assisted reproduction and adoption services to her clients, is one of just a handful of attorneys in Wisconsin…
Continue Reading Theresa Roetter Elected Vice President of the Academy of Adoption & Reproduction Attorneys

In an article on Forbes.com , Mary Josephs described the reasons why the 2020s could be the decade of the ESOP.  Ms. Josephs interviewed Corey Rosen, founder of the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) and author of “Ownership:  Reinventing Companies, Capitalism and Who Owns What.” Among several other reasons, Mr. Rosen and Ms. Josephs point to the numerous states that have established their own ownership centers.  That is, several states have set aside funds to establish their own, state-run…
Continue Reading Will the 2020s be the “Decade of the ESOP?”

GREEN BAY | MADISON | MILWAUKEE | MINNEAPOLIS – Today DeWitt LLP law firm announced Wisconsin Attorney General Joshua L. Kaul appointed attorney Lindsey M. Anderson to serve as a Citizen Representative on the Wisconsin Crime Victims Council.  The mission of the Council is to advise the attorney general on matters important to victims of crime.  Anderson is a Family Law attorney who helps individuals in all walks of life, whether retired and involved in a long-term marriage, or a…
Continue Reading Attorney Lindsey M. Anderson Appointed to the Wisconsin
Crime Victims Council

 With Child, Without Workplace Accommodation: Impact of the Recent EEOC v. Wal-Mart Stores East, L.P. Decision and the Biggest Takeaways for EmployersThe Seventh Circuit threw a curveball to pregnant employee accommodation jurisprudence in its recent EEOC v. Walmart decision. The Court held on August 16, 2022, that employers have considerable leeway in excluding pregnant employees from some accommodation policies, so long as the employer can offer a legitimate, nondiscriminatory business reason for doing so.Brief History of Treatment of Pregnant EmployeesThe United…
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The trailer to “The Flagmakers” was released on September 16, 2022.  This documentary is about Eder Flag, a 100% Employee-Owned company in Oak Creek, Wisconsin.  As the name would lead one to believe, Eder Flag is one of the nation’s leading makers of American flags, and a significant number of its employees are immigrants to the U.S.  The movie is expected to have a successful run at various film festivals and likely be considered for an Academy Award.  You…
Continue Reading 100% ESOP-Owned Eder Flag Featured in New Documentary

Please join us for DeWitt’s 2022 virtual Ethics Seminar. DeWitt will be hosting the 2-part series on October 19th and 20th. Attendees interested in registering to attend one or both sessions can do so by following this linkregistration link
.Part 1 – Wednesday, October 19th, 2022

  • 12:00 p.m. – Brief virtual welcome
  • 12:00 – 12:40 p.m. – “Passing the Baton: Ethical Considerations When Transferring a File And Communicating With New Counsel,” presented by attorneys Deborah Meiners and Shannon Allen
  • 12:40 – 1:20

    • …
    Continue Reading DeWitt's 2022 Annual Ethics Seminar: A 2-Part Virtual Series

    GREEN BAY | MADISON | MILWAUKEE | MINNEAPOLIS – Today DeWitt LLP law firm announced associate Elaine Mikel joined the firm’s Business practice group.Mikel practices from the firm’s Minneapolis office and has worked in a variety of legal areas including Secured Transactions, Banking Law, Real Estate, Wills, Trusts and Estates, Immigration law, Criminal law and later clerked for The Honorable Judge Wermager in Dakota County where she dealt with civil, criminal, family, probate, and juvenile cases.  She earned a J.D.
    Continue Reading DeWitt Welcomes Associate Elaine Mikel to the Firm

    GREEN BAY | MADISON | MILWAUKEE | MINNEAPOLIS – Today DeWitt LLP announced the 28 attorneys from the firm who were included by the Best Lawyers® in America in its 2023 edition.  Additionally, it announced two DeWitt attorneys were named as Lawyer of the Year in the 2023 edition.Lawyer of the Year – Best Lawyers in America 2023Madison

    Greater Milwaukee – Brookfield, WI

    …
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    In Minnesota, family law has many complex rules.  Without an experienced family law attorney, a party in a divorce can easily make costly mistakes with long term consequences.  Attorney Kathleen M. Newman of the DeWitt LLP Law Firm uses her 35 years of family law experience to effectively assist clients avoid mistakes and get quality outcomes.What are some common mistakes, and some ways to avoid them?1. Not Hiring an Attorney Experienced in Family LawFamily law has complex rules with…
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    Generally, a business established or otherwise acquired after the marriage is deemed a marital asset. Even a business established prior to a marriage will likely have a significant marital component of value.  As discussed below, valuation of a business often raises complex issues in a Minnesota divorce. Resolving these issues effectively is particularly crucial when the business is among the estate’s most valuable assets, as it often is.   Family law attorney Kathleen M. Newman of the DeWitt LLP Law…
    Continue Reading How Is a Business Handled in a Minnesota Divorce?

    Tired owner sitting on floor in closed cafe, small business lockdown due to coronavirus.
    Tired woman owner sitting on floor in closed cafe, small business lockdown due to coronavirus.

    A bankruptcy filing is intended to give debtors a financial “fresh start.” However, debtors’ financial futures are only as good as what they can make of it. Fortunately, former bankruptcy debtors have many steps, options, and resources to make the most of their fresh start, and continue the road to financial independence.

    Here are a few:
    First: Get Serious About Personal Finances
    The most important first step for debtors emerging from bankruptcy is to get serious about their personal

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    Continue Reading Lawyers: Advice to Help Your Bankruptcy Clients Take a ‘Fresh Start’

    Housing is important to all of us, whether we have gone through a bankruptcy or not. People often have concerns about being able to obtain housing after a bankruptcy.

    I have been practicing for over forty years and have represented thousands of people in bankruptcy cases. I have yet to have a client call me and tell me that they were homeless because of their bankruptcy filing.

    Certainly there are some landlords who will view your credit history and…
    Continue Reading Renting a House or Apartment after Your Bankruptcy Case

    Q. Is Bankruptcy Right For Me?

    A. Possibly. When choosing bankruptcy, there are many sub-options. A lawyer who is familiar with practicing all forms of bankruptcy can help you make the best choice about which option you should choose.

    For more on this subject and many other frequently asked questions about bankruptcy and financial problems, check out Attorney Krekeler’s new book Bankruptcy, Asked and Answered: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Bankruptcy and Financial Problems. Need help with your …
    Continue Reading Frequently Asked Questions: Is Bankruptcy Right For Me?