von Briesen & Roper, S.C.

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Latest from von Briesen & Roper, S.C.

The incoming U.S. Presidential administration is loudly signaling that businesses should expect changes in trade policies in 2025. Although no specific policies have yet been promulgated, the President-Elect has stated in social media outlets that broadly sweeping import tariffs may be imposed on goods from Mexico, Canada and China. Even without policy details, there are key steps many U.S. businesses should consider in advance of any specific changes.

First, any business that exports goods, services or information, should have
Continue Reading Taking Stock of Trade Issues in 2025

Cincinnati Insurance Company v. James Ropicky, et al., No. 2023AP588, 2024 WL 5220615 (Wis. Ct. App. Dec. 26, 2024)

On December 26, 2024, the Court of Appeals of Wisconsin issued is decision in Cincinnati Insurance Company v. James Ropicky, et al., No. 2023AP588, 2024 WL 5220615 (Wis. Ct. App. Dec. 26, 2024), addressing whether an ensuing cause of loss exception to a Construction Defect Exclusion, Fungi Exclusion, and Fungi Additional Coverage endorsement contained in a homeowner’s insurance policy issued
Continue Reading Wisconsin Appellate Court Interprets Construction Defect Exclusion and Fungi Exclusion

von Briesen & Roper, s.c., announced today that attorney Erik M. Gustafson has joined the firm’s Milwaukee office. Gustafson is an Associate in the Litigation & Risk Management Practice Group. He focuses his practice on first-party property coverage, insurance coverage and analysis, and bad faith counseling and claims. Gustafson is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Bar Association, Wisconsin Defense Counsel and the Federalist Society. He received a J.D., magna cum laude, and a Certificate in
Continue Reading von Briesen Welcomes Erik Gustafson

On Monday, December 2, 2024, Dane County Circuit Court Judge Jacob Frost issued the long-awaited decision involving a November 2023 challenge to 2011 Act 10 by numerous unions and individual employees. On July 3, 2024, the Circuit Court previously indicated the Court would find specific provisions of Act 10 as unconstitutional. A summary of our Legal Update on that July decision from the Circuit Court can be found here.

In the December 2 decision, the Court identified nearly
Continue Reading Dane County Circuit Court Issues Long-Awaited 2011 Act 10 Decision

On Tuesday December 3, a Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Texas granted a nationwide preliminary injunction against the enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act and its Reporting Rule.

This order temporarily suspends the requirement for a reporting company organized before January 1, 2024, to file a Beneficial Owner Information Report with FinCEN by January 1, 2025. It also pauses the 90-day reporting deadline for certain organizations formed between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024, as
Continue Reading Corporate Transparency Act Update

von Briesen & Roper, s.c. announced continued expansion of its Chicago Office with three attorneys joining the Firm: Linnea A. Agner, Thomas J. Burns and Abosede Odunsi.
Linnea A. Agner is an Associate in the Trusts and Estates Section. Agner focuses her practice on estate and succession planning with an emphasis on tax minimization. She is a member of the American Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association and the Chicago Bar Association. Agner received a J.D. from
Continue Reading von Briesen Chicago Office Continues Expansion

On November 15, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas granted summary judgement to the Plaintiffs in a case involving a challenge to the Department of Labor Rule (“DOL Rule”) which increased the “minimum weekly” salary level for exempt status under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”). In the decision, the District Court enjoined the weekly pay rate increases for July 1, 2024 and January 1, 2025 on a nation-wide basis. This decision leaves the
Continue Reading Federal District Court Halts Nationwide DOL Rule Increasing Salary Minimum Threshold for Exempt Employees

von Briesen & Roper, s.c. is proud to have 25 attorneys listed as 2024 Wisconsin Super Lawyers® and Wisconsin Rising Stars and 4 attorneys named to their “Top” lists.
Top 10: Wisconsin Super Lawyers:

Top 50: Wisconsin Super Lawyers:

Top 25: Women Wisconsin Super Lawyers:

Top 25: Milwaukee Super Lawyers:

Top 25: Madison Super Lawyers:

Wisconsin Super Lawyers:

Wisconsin Rising Stars:

(* indicates lawyers listed for the first time)
Continue Reading von Briesen 2024 Wisconsin Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

Miller v. West Bend Mutual Insurance Company
No. 2023AP1697 (Wis. Ct. App. Oct. 22, 2024) (recommended for publication)

In Miller v. West Bend Mutual Insurance Company, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals considered whether Wisconsin law permits insurers to define “underinsured motor vehicle” to exclude government-owned vehicles in a UIM policy. No. 2023AP1697 (Wis. Ct. App. Oct. 22, 2024). The court answered in the affirmative and recommended the opinion for publication, thereby confirming that the 2011 amendments to Wisconsin’s auto
Continue Reading Contractually Defining UIM Coverage

von Briesen & Roper, s.c. announced continued growth with several attorneys joining the firm statewide: Sarah J. Barnes (Madison), Cindy L. Hangartner (Eau Claire), Hanna R. Kolberg (Milwaukee), Avery J. Mayne (Milwaukee), Aleksandar Prpa (Milwaukee) and Derik P. Rush (Milwaukee).
Sarah J. Barnes is an Associate in the Trusts & Estates Section and also a Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor (CTFA). Barnes has over 15 years of experience in both private practice and as a trust officer. Her practice
Continue Reading von Briesen Announces Statewide Growth

There are impending deadlines under The Corporate Transparency Act (the “CTA”), which is a new Federal law that will impact almost all closely-held entities, such as LLCs, corporations, and limited partnerships.

For more information about the CTA, please read our previous Legal Update: What You Need to Know About The Corporate Transparency Act.

Filing Obligations and Deadlines
Entities formed before January 1, 2024, must file their initial report by January 1, 2025. For entities formed on or after
Continue Reading Filing Obligations and Deadlines for The Corporate Transparency Act

On August 20, 2024 the federal district court for the Northern District of Texas struck down the Federal Trade Commission’s ban on non-compete agreements, which was set to take effect on September 4, 2024. The court had previously granted relief from the FTC rule only for the plaintiffs in Ryan LLC v. Federal Trade Commission. However, this week’s ruling provides that the FTC cannot enforce the rule against any employer in the country, and the rule will not go
Continue Reading Federal Court Strikes Down FTC’s Ban On Non-Competes

von Briesen & Roper, s.c. is proud to announce that 81 attorneys are included in the 31st Edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. Among the accolades von Briesen received: seven attorneys are designated as “Lawyer of the Year”, 21 lawyers are listed for the first time and 20 attorneys are listed as Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America.
“Lawyer of the Year” Awards: Madison, WI

  • Michael P. Crooks – Insurance Law; Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants

Milwaukee, WI
Continue Reading 81 von Briesen Attorneys Named to the Best Lawyers in America® 2025

On Wednesday, July 3, 2024, Dane County Circuit Court Judge Jacob Frost issued the Court’s decision denying a motion to dismiss constitutional challenges to 2011 Act 10. Even though the Wisconsin Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit have both upheld the constitutionality of Act 10, the Dane County Circuit Court found those decisions did not address the specific issues before it involving equal protection challenges under Wisconsin’s State Constitution.

In denying the
Continue Reading Dane County Circuit Court Judge Denies Motion to Dismiss and Hints at Issuing Decision Overturning Act 10

STATE OF KANSAS, et al., Plaintiffs, v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, et al., Defendants (Case No. 24-4041-JWB)

In April 2024, the Department of Education (DoE) issued final Title IX rules that apply to complaints of sex discrimination occurring on or after August 1, 2024. Shortly thereafter, a number of states and organizations challenged the implementation of the final rules.

In State of Kansas, et al, v. United States Department of Education, the plaintiffs filed action against the DoE
Continue Reading Title IX Regulations

von Briesen & Roper, s.c., today announced the promotion of Michael R. Sherer to Shareholder. Michael R. Sherer is a member of the Labor and Employment Section. Sherer focuses his practice on employment law counseling and employment litigation. He has significant experience with wage and hour claims, employment discrimination, Title I of the ADA, wage garnishments, restrictive covenants, and other employment related claims. He is admitted to practice law in both Wisconsin and Illinois. Sherer is a member of
Continue Reading von Briesen Announces the Promotion of Michael R. Sherer to Shareholder