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Storm Surge: The Swell of Probate and Trust Litigation in Wisconsin

The largest wave of wealth transfer in U.S. history is underway, as Baby Boomers reach retirement age en masse. This article explores its causes, examines effects on Wisconsin legal practice and the courts, and offers practical strategies for weathering the storm.

By Jonathan R. Ingrisano, Mark Ong Thomson & Xavier Jenkins

Stephen Sawyer: Leading with Service, Humility, and Purpose

From Navy helicopters and rescues at sea to finance law and criminal defense, Stephen Sawyer’s path to State Bar of Wisconsin president reflects a career of service. He starts his term with a simple message for the profession: kindness and humility are strengths, not weaknesses.

By Shannon Green

An Introduction to Handling Wisconsin Probate Administrations

As Wisconsin’s population ages, more attorneys will handle post-death estate matters. When a person dies with over $50,000 in assets not transferable through probate-avoidance or summary mechanisms, probate administration is required. This article offers a step-by-step guide to post-death administration in Wisconsin.

By Jackie Messler & Peter J. Wyant

Blockchain Technology & Cryptocurrencies: Basics for Trusts and Estates Attorneys: Part 1

Cryptocurrencies were conceptualized in the 1980s, and blockchain has been in use for nearly 20 years – yet many attorneys still aren’t familiar with these digital assets or the technology behind them. This article explains the concepts and underlying laws to help trusts and estates attorneys advise clients who own crypto.

By Michael Bezoian

Opinions, Voices & Ideas

Your State Bar
A Current of Joy, a Shared Commitment
Jill Rothstein describes welcoming a new cohort of Wisconsin lawyers as both a celebration of their achievements and a renewal of the promise we made upon entering this profession.

Nuts & Bolts
Representations & Warranties Insurance: What M&A Attorneys Need to Know
Julijana Englander explains that allocating exposure to a target company’s risks and liabilities is a crucial aspect of mergers and acquisitions. Representations and warranties insurance offers a way to manage that risk – an important concept for lawyers advising either buyers or sellers.

Ethical Dilemma
AI Recording and Transcribing Tools
While AI recording and transcription tools can save lawyers time, they also raise ethical concerns, Ethics Counsel Timothy Pierce cautions. That means understanding the technology, securing client consent, safeguarding confidentiality, verifying accuracy, and properly supervising staff who use it.

Bridging the Justice Gap
Legal Assistance Committee: Helping Bring Equal Justice for All
Megan E. Lee highlights the State Bar of Wisconsin's Legal Assistance Committee, which supports civil legal aid efforts, including the 2026 Wisconsin Equal Justice Conference. The conference offers immigration-focused continuing legal education, plus a second year of fundraising for the committee's grant program.

Listening to Lawyers
Lawyers in Love: Understanding and Supporting Lawyers at Home
Traits that make for successful lawyering can be liabilities in an intimate relationship, in which partners need openness and emotional presence. Amber Ault draws on social science to explain why lawyers often struggle in relationships and how to strengthen them.

Technology
The GenAI Governance Gap in Law Firms: Why Current Policies Fall Short and How to Govern Where it Matters
Law firms have moved from banning generative AI to requiring it, yet rank-and-file lawyers still lack guidance on when AI delivers better, faster, cheaper results versus when it's risky. David W. Simon offers an evidence-based framework to help lawyers make that call.

Final Thought
A New Lawyer's Challenge: Learning What Fills Your Cup
Nadia L. Gonzalez explores how the activities that bring you joy outside of work – whatever fills your cup – can sharpen the skills that make you a better lawyer.