Feb. 4, 2026 – The State Bar of Wisconsin’s 2026 president-elect race features two candidates with years of experience as leaders in the State Bar and their areas of practice.

Anna Muñoz and Lisa Lawless have accepted nominations to run for 2026 State Bar of Wisconsin president-elect.

Both candidates are lawyers active in Milwaukee. Lawless (Indiana 1992) is with Husch Blackwell LLP; and Muñoz (Marquette 2005) is with Brookdale Senior Living, Inc.

The winner of the 2026 election in April will serve a one-year term as president-elect, then serve a subsequent one-year term as president starting July 1, 2027.

In addition to a president-elect, State Bar members in April will elect other officers, including a secretary, a judicial council representative, and 20 members of the State Bar’s 52-member Board of Governors. Those elected take office July 1, 2026, the first day of the new fiscal year.

In this article, learn about each candidate’s background and views on the important issues facing the legal profession and the State Bar. Coming in March: A candidate Q&A (send us your questions for our president-elect candidates).

Lisa Lawless: A Litigator’s Perspective for the State Bar’s Next Chapter

Lisa Lawless was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, and spent parts of her childhood in Oklahoma and Pennsylvania before college and law school. But she now calls Wisconsin home, having lived and worked here more than in any other state. “Wisconsin has been a wonderful place to live and practice and it’s very much home,” she said.

The eldest of 5 siblings, she was 13 when her parents “whispered the lawyer idea to me and I ran with it.” Since her 1L year, she has loved the study and practice of law.

“I am energized by daily learning and figuring out complicated legal questions in different substantive areas and working with great colleagues and clients. I also still love writing,” she said. “I feel grateful every day to love what I do and I’m proud to be a lawyer.”

Finding Home in Wisconsin

After college at the University of Virginia and law school at Indiana University Maurer School of Law, Lawless began her legal career with Foley & Lardner in Milwaukee in 1993 as a litigator, after working there as a summer associate.

Five years later, she moved to Atlanta for family reasons, practicing intellectual property litigation. Then she moved to Silicon Valley before moving back to Milwaukee in 2002, joining Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek – now Husch Blackwell. “I am licensed in Wisconsin, Georgia, and California – which, by the way, required three bar exams,” she said.

Over the past two decades, her practice has covered litigation and appeals, including consumer financial services litigation, and other complex civil matters.

“I love the intellectual challenge of litigation,” she said, “figuring out complex issues and presenting them to clients and judges. It’s really an art, not a science that we do.”

“I’ve argued in front of the Wisconsin Supreme Court five times in the past 15 years, including a case interpreting the Wisconsin Consumer Act, which has been a focus of my practice for 20-plus years. I’ve come to really enjoy property law, something I wouldn’t have predicted in law school,” Lawless said.

‘A Wonderful Challenge’

Running for president-elect is “a wonderful challenge to serve during a time of great change inside and outside our profession,” said Lawless.

“It is a privilege to have the opportunity to talk to lawyers throughout Wisconsin, to hear their challenges and concerns, and how the State Bar can serve and support them.”

Lawless joined the State Bar’s Board of Governors in 2004 and has served eight two-year terms. “I would bring a grassroots approach to the State Bar and member service. All lawyers must be members of the State Bar as a condition of being a lawyer, so we must take all members into account in everything we do.”

“Serving as president-elect and president would be a great opportunity to build connections within and among our membership inside and outside the state,” Lawless said.

On Tackling Challenges for the Legal Profession

The rapidly changing pace of technology, the profession’s changing demographics, the danger of legal deserts, and supporting access to justice for Wisconsin citizens are the most significant challenges facing the legal profession, according to Lawless.

The State Bar’s programs, such as its Rural Practice Development and Rural Clerkship programs, are already at work. “As a supplement to these initiatives, the State Bar can be a facilitator to connect people to match our members with each other to fill needs and introduce opportunities,” Lawless said.

On succession planning, “the State Bar should continue to offer support and programming to help our members plan for the succession of their practices as they retire.”

To help members with the challenges of AI and other technologies, “the State Bar needs to offer members the support and education they need and help them keep up with the changing times,” Lawless said.

On access to justice for all citizens, there is a compelling challenge for legal representation in civil matters for people of modest means, she says.

“We have wonderful public interest firms and projects providing service throughout our state, but that is just a drop in the bucket, and more is needed,” Lawless said.

“Wisconsin is one of the lowest-ranked states in the country in terms of funding for legal services for our citizens. I would like to correct this deficiency and make the case to the Legislature for provide funding for civil legal services. It would serve our state and our citizens for Wisconsin to step up in this regard. The State Bar can be a leader in this initiative to formulate new and creative ways to convince the Legislature to change the funding dynamic.”

Read more about Lawless on her candidate page on WisBar.org.

Anna Muñoz: A Leadership Style Grounded in Dialogue

Anna Muñoz knows the trade-off of in-house practice: meaningful work, but less day-to-day connection to the broader legal community.

Her solution: getting involved with the State Bar as a way to build relationships locally and as a pathway into leadership.

Muñoz learned about the importance of finding community as a first-generation law school graduate from Marquette University Law School.

“I didn’t know what I didn’t know when it came to legal studies,” she said. “I was the beneficiary of attorneys volunteering their time and helping us learn. It was a really great community.”

Now, as candidate for president-elect, she’s focused on creating community by listening – and making sure members know about, and can access, the State Bar’s programs and support.

A Path to Law and In-house Practice

Muñoz, one of four siblings, grew up in Wauwatosa. She attended the University of Minnesota for college, studying architecture at first. “I had a vision – and then there was all this math,” she said, and she pivoted to studio arts. Not happy as a student teacher, she explored law. Her friends in law school pointed out that law is about solving problems. “Being an advocate really appealed to me,” Muñoz said.

Muñoz has worked as in-house counsel for Brookdale Senior Living since she graduated in 2005. Brookdale is one of the largest senior living providers in the country. “When I joined, the company was growing and changing rapidly, which allowed me to learn about the industry and all the various – and frequently complicated – ways the law plays into business.”

Finding Community through the State Bar

Seeking community and connections outside her position, Muñoz turned to the State Bar. “I originally got involved to connect more with the local community because I do work in-house, and I don't do a lot in Wisconsin.”

Since 2010, Muñoz has been involved in the State Bar’s leadership development programs, including its Leadership Academy and the mentor program Ready.Set.Practice. Muñoz has been active with the State Bar Board of Governors since 2019. She is currently serving the second of two, two-year terms as governor; prior roles include secretary (2022-24), and liaisons to two sections and to the Continuing Legal Education Committee.

Outside the State Bar, Muñoz volunteers with the Marquette University Law School Small Claims Mediation Clinic and with Centro Legal.

There were a few years, however, when Muñoz had to pull back from being involved as a leader in State Bar and volunteer programs after a cancer diagnosis.

“In late 2013, I went through all the treatment, had setbacks, and all that.” She needed time to recover and refocus on work and her life outside of treatment.

But an opportunity came up with a midterm vacancy on the Board of Governors. “I was feeling better, and I wanted to be more engaged,” she said.

Leading by Listening and Long-term Support

Muñoz sees the role of president-elect and president as that of an advocate for members and the legal community in Wisconsin. “It's a huge honor to be nominated,” she said.

Her priorities would build on work the State Bar is already doing to connect lawyers and legal services with underserved communities across Wisconsin.

“We should keep evaluating how current programs are working and explore additional approaches to reduce the legal deserts, so legal help is available statewide,” she said.

Just as important, she said, is offering long-term support to retain attorneys in those areas – “by supporting their professional development and well-being, helping them feel confident in their choice, and connecting them to local mentors, community networks, and other lawyers.”

“If elected, I would prioritize highlighting the State Bar’s strong programs and finding ways to improve them while also making sure more people know they exist. There's a lot of great things we can continue to build on,” Muñoz said.

Muñoz also understands the challenges for new lawyers. “It's a huge transition from student to professional. I think a lot about how we can help them transition in.”

Her leadership style starts with listening – gathering information, asking questions, and creating space for real dialogue before reaching conclusions.

She plans to continue to advocate for State Bar members – especially needs that they feel are not being met or that the State Bar can improve upon. “For retention, we also need to continue the dialogue on work-life balance and stress relief,” she said.

“The State Bar does a lot of great things,” she said. “I would continue to take feedback and modify them, so that we better serve our members by hearing their voices.”

Read more about Muñoz on her candidate page on WisBar.org.