Meissner Tierney Fisher & Nichols s.c.

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Pamela J. Tillman

Pamela J. Tillman, a Shareholder Attorney at Meissner Tierney Fisher & Nichols S.C., has built a remarkable career in the legal field, particularly in representing businesses in complex litigation matters. With a focus on insurance coverage issues, commercial litigation, employment disputes, and professional liability, Pam has developed a reputation for her deep understanding of the intricacies of litigation.

Reflecting on her journey, Pam offers a wealth of advice to younger colleagues, sharing the lessons she wishes she had…
Continue Reading What I Wish I’d Known – Thought Leadership with Pam J. Tillman

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Jacob A. Sosnay is an attorney in Meissner Tierney’s litigation practice group. His practice focuses on representing insurers and their insureds in civil matters and civil rights litigation in federal court.
Where are you from?
Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
What was your first job?
Custodian (we said janitor back then) at an auto mechanic shop summer before 8th grade.
Do you have any hobbies?
Many. Soccer, Hurling, Curling, avid consumer of live music (concerts big and small),…
Continue Reading Attorney Spotlight – Jacob A. Sosnay

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Internal Revenue Code § 83 governs the taxation of property (e.g., stock, restricted stock units, or stock options) transferred in connection with the performance of services. Generally, the property is included in the recipient’s gross income (valued at fair market value minus any amounts paid for the property) when it is transferable or no longer subject to a “substantial risk of forfeiture.” In the case of stock subject to vesting requirements, the stock will be included in gross income…
Continue Reading Navigating the 83(b) Election: Risks and Rewards of Early Taxation

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Randal J. Brotherhood is an attorney in Meissner Tierney’s transactional group. He devotes a substantial part of his practice to representing businesses and their owners, as well as tax-exempt organizations, foundations and trade associations, on a wide range of matters, including mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, various types of commercial transactions, and intellectual property matters.
Where are you from?
I was born in Tampa, Florida on the McDill Air Force Base, where my Dad was serving as an Air Force…
Continue Reading Attorney Spotlight – Randal J. Brotherhood

Typesetting Blocks

“Typography matters because it helps conserve the most valuable resource you have as a writer—reader attention.” Matthew Butterick — Typography for Lawyers.

Lawyers, especially appellate lawyers, spend a lot of time on content and organization. But often when it comes to font and other typographical issues, it is easy to settle for the default—like Times New Roman, bold a few headings, and call it a day. Lawyers often perceive this as the “safe” choice.

Typography is more than what…
Continue Reading Not Just a Matter of Looking Pretty—Why Typography Matters in Legal Writing

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Alyssa N. Chojnacki is an attorney in Meissner Tierney’s litigation practice group. She represents insurers and their insureds in various matters, including general liability and insurance coverage issues.
Where are you from?
Lake Orion, MI
What was your first job?
Summer Camp Counselor
What are your hobbies?
Running, hiking, and anything else that gets me outside. I also enjoy reading, watching reality tv, and spending as much time as possible with other people’s dogs as possible until I can…
Continue Reading Attorney Spotlight – Alyssa N. Chojnacki

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Adam J. Tutaj is a shareholder of the firm and concentrates his practice in the areas of business, tax and health law.
Where are you from?
I was born and raised outside of Baltimore, Maryland, before moving to Buffalo, NY for a couple of years, and then Coventry, Rhode Island for several years after that. I came to Milwaukee for college in 1992 and have been here ever since.
What was your first job?
My first job was as…
Continue Reading Attorney Spotlight – Adam J. Tutaj

On May 6, 2024, attorneys Michael J. Cohen, David W. McCormack, and Caleb R. Gerbitz secured a victory for their clients in the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
In Denis Navratil, et al. v. City of Racine, et al., plaintiffs sued the City of Racine and its Mayor after the City denied a city-funded COVID-19 small business emergency grant application submitted by Dimple’s LLC, a store in Racine. The grant application was denied on the basis that…
Continue Reading Shareholder Michael J. Cohen Affirmed by Seventh Circuit

In the business world, there is always the risk of litigation–even for small businesses. Unfortunately, as a business continues its operations, the possibility of litigation turns from an “if” to a “when.” Litigation can be expensive, time-consuming, and stressful. Here are some basic considerations that can help mitigate the risk of litigation for a small business.

1. Put it in writing in definite terms.

As stated in Field of Dreams, “If you build it, they will come. . .”…
Continue Reading Mitigating Litigation Risk for Small Businesses

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Alexander C. Lemke is an attorney in Meissner Tierney’s litigation practice group. He focuses on assisting clients in complex commercial, intellectual property, regulatory, insurance, and employment litigation.
Where are you from?
I was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin. But, due to my Dad’s career we moved around the country quite a bit when I was younger so I lived in Columbus, Ohio, Richmond, Virginia, and New Hampshire, before we moved back to Wisconsin when I was ten years old.
What…
Continue Reading Attorney Spotlight – Alexander C. Lemke

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It is beyond dispute that artificial intelligence (“AI”) is prompting technological innovation in many areas of commerce and life in ways that, until recently, could only be considered unimaginable. AI has rapidly advanced from traditional AI systems that rely on explicit human-created programming rules–for example, binary statements that guide a system’s decisions (e.g., does a blood test indicate anemia)–to what has become known as “generative AI,” which involves the development of computer-based systems capable of generating original and creative…
Continue Reading Artificial Intelligence — Developing Intellectual Property Implications

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Mark R. Hamilton, Jr. is an attorney that serves in Meissner Tierney’s transactional practice group. Mark advises clients in a variety of legal areas ranging from mergers and acquisitions, business corporate transactions, intellectual property, securities law, and sports or esports.
Where are you from?
Dallas, Texas
What was your first job?
Outside of summer internships at a local law firm in Garland, Texas, my first job really started when I streamed video games full-time as a content creator during…
Continue Reading Attorney Spotlight – Mark R. Hamilton Jr.

Close-up of German Shepard brown eye looking straight at us
Dog German Shepherd looking towards the camera. The photo has an extremley shallow depth of field.

Wisconsin’s dog bite statute imposes strict liability against dog keepers/owners if their dog causes injury to another. Wisconsin Stat. § 174.02(1) states:

(1) Liability for injury. (a) Without notice. Subject to s. 895.045 and except as provided in s 895.57(4), the owner of a dog is liable for the full amount of damages caused by the dog injuring or causing injury to a person, domestic animal or property.

An owner is generally liable regardless of measures taken to prevent…
Continue Reading Liability Defenses for Dog Bite Cases in Wisconsin

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Michael J. Cohen concentrates his practice on complex commercial litigation including non-compete and other restrictive covenants, breach of contract, business torts, shareholder disputes and employment; environmental and toxic tort litigation; and on complex insurance coverage litigation, including environmental and asbestos liabilities and bad faith claims.
Where are you from?
Fond du Lac, WI.
What was your first job?
Cook at Hardees.
Do you have any hobbies?
Working out and trying new breweries and brew pubs. Also going to concerts…
Continue Reading Attorney Spotlight – Michael J. Cohen

Phantom stock plans are a deferred compensation tool companies can use to attract, motivate, and retain talented employees. These plans (also known by many other names, i.e., shadow stock plans, phantom equity plans, synthetic equity programs, etc.) offer employees some of the benefits of stock ownership without transferring company equity. While phantom stock plans bring many advantages, employers must avoid pitfalls and ensure smooth administration, especially when considering future change-of-ownership transactions.

While phantom stock plans offer a unique compensation…
Continue Reading Phantom Stock 101: A Primer on Invisible Equity

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Daniel A. Sievert is an attorney that serves in Meissner Tierney’s transactional practice group. He advises clients in the areas of business and corporate transactions and taxation.
Where are you from?
I was born and raised in Delafield, Wisconsin which is roughly 30 minutes from downtown Milwaukee. It’s a beautiful area with many inland lakes and thus, is affectionally referred to as Lake Country.
What was your first job?
I officially started working at 15 for what is now…
Continue Reading Attorney Spotlight – Daniel A. Sievert