Notices of Reinstatement: Under Supreme Court Rule (SCR) 22.30, the State Bar of Wisconsin is required to publish notice, generated by the Office of Lawyer Regulation, that a reinstatement petition was filed with the Wisconsin Supreme Court promptly following the filing of the petition. The notice must be published in an "official publication" of the State Bar of Wisconsin.

On Sept. 30, 2025, Michael D. Mandelman filed a petition for reinstatement of his Wisconsin law license. The Office of Lawyer Regulation (OLR) will investigate the eligibility of Mandelman for reinstatement of his license and assigned OLR Matter No. 2025MA1802 to its investigation.

Mandelman received discipline for professional misconduct on seven prior occasions, including four lengthy license suspensions, two private reprimands, and a license revocation. For a description of his complete disciplinary history, see Disciplinary Proc. Against Mandelman, 2015 WI 105. In his current petition, Mandelman is seeking reinstatement from the suspensions and revocation imposed since 2006.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court suspended Mandelman for nine months, effective June 21, 2006, for lack of diligence in several client matters, failing to provide a client a written fee agreement, and inducing a client to sign an agreement prospectively limiting Mandelman’s liability when the client did not have independent advice regarding the agreement. Disciplinary Proc. Against Mandelman, 2006 WI 45.

In 2009, the court suspended Mandelman for an additional year for six counts of misconduct in three client matters, including taking a fee when he had done no work, failing to notify and promptly deliver to a chiropractor settlement funds that had been received, and neglecting to return to a client items from their file. Disciplinary Proc. Against Mandelman, 2009 WI 40.

The court revoked Mandelman’s license in a decision issued Aug. 1, 2014. The revocation was retroactive to May 29, 2009, the effective date of the 2009 one-year suspension. In the revocation matter, Mandelman stipulated to 22 counts of misconduct, ranging from lack of diligence to disobeying a court order to commingling and conversion of client trust funds to various counts of dishonesty including filing false income tax returns on multiple occasions. Disciplinary Proc. Against Mandelman, 2014 WI 100.

Mandelman’s law license has been suspended or revoked since 2006. Further, the court has denied multiple previous reinstatement petitions filed by Mandelman, most recently in 2018. Disciplinary Proc. Against Mandelman, 2018 WI 56. Mandelman filed another petition for reinstatement on Jan. 4, 2021, but the court granted his motion to withdraw that petition and dismissed the petition on May 19, 2021.

Mandelman has the burden of demonstrating by clear, satisfactory, and convincing evidence, that he has the moral character to practice law in Wisconsin; that his resumption of the practice of law will not be detrimental to the administration of justice or subversive of the public interest; that the representations made in his petition are substantiated; and that he has complied fully with the terms of the orders of suspension and revocation and with the requirements of SCR 22.26 regarding an attorney’s activities following suspension or revocation.

Interested parties may submit written comments regarding Mandelman and his petition to the OLR, Attn: Investigative Counsel Beth Kugler, P.O. Box 1648, Madison, WI 53701-1648. Alternatively, written comments may be submitted via email to beth.kugler@wicourts.gov. Comments must be submitted by Nov. 29, 2025. The OLR will forward all comments to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. If a referee is assigned to conduct a hearing in this matter, all comments will also be forwarded to the referee. Individuals who submit comments may be contacted by the OLR for more information.

Upon completion of its investigation of Mandelman’s petition, the OLR will file a response with the Wisconsin Supreme Court. If the OLR does not oppose reinstatement, the OLR will enter into a stipulation for reinstatement with Mandelman for direct consideration by the supreme court. If the OLR opposes reinstatement, a referee will be appointed and a reinstatement hearing scheduled.

Notice of any hearing on Mandelman’s petition will be sent to those requesting such notice. A request for notice of hearing must include the address to which the notice is to be sent, and should be directed to the OLR at either the post office box or email address above.

Information regarding the status of Mandelman’s petition and any hearing is available at the OLR’s website: https://wicourts.gov/courts/offices/olr.htm.

This notice is published pursuant to SCR 22.30(1) and will be the only notice published regarding this matter.