Candidate for President-Elect

Lisa M. ​Lawless

Husch Blackwell LLP, Milwaukee
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Platform Statement

Life is a journey with twists and turns and wonderful opportunities and experiences. I’m not a Wisconsin native – I was born in Shreveport, Louisiana; lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma (11 years); and in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. I am the oldest of five children. I went to college in Virgina and law school in Bloomington, Indiana. I came to Wisconsin as a summer associate at Foley & Lardner, where I later practiced for five years. I practiced in Atlanta, Georgia, and Palo Alto, California (1998-2002), returning to Milwaukee with Whyte Hirschboek Dudek in 2002, which merged with Husch Blackwell in 2016. I am a civil litigator in state and federal courts in trial courts, arbitrations, and on appeal, with a particular emphasis on appeals. I’ve been honored to personally argue in front of the Wisconsin Supreme Court five times in my career.

The last 32 years have been personally fulfilling and intellectually challenging. From the moment I moved to Wisconsin in 1993, my work colleagues and others in the community have been warm, supportive, and welcoming. My life and work in Milwaukee and throughout Wisconsin has been a great ride, gaining many friends and treasured colleagues. I have lived in Wauwatosa for 18 years with my husband, and I have a grown daughter and stepdaughter. Beyond bar activities, I have been active in the community, working in the Wauwatosa schools including as a mentor for the Wauwatosa West “We the People” program and serving as a Tosa Kickers board member. I have played soccer for 17 years. I am president of Wild Space Dance Company. I also have been an active member of the Thomas Fairchild Inn of Court for 20 years.

After local bar leadership in Milwaukee, I ran for the State Bar Board of Governors in 2004 at a colleague’s encouragement. I have served eight two-year terms on the BOG, including my current term. My leadership roles include Strategic Planning Committee Chair, the Executive Committee, the Executive Director Hiring Committee, and serving as liaison to various section boards or committees, including currently the Indian Law Section Board.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this service – in particular, collaborating with State Bar members and State Bar staff. It is a great responsibility, and I have been particularly conscious of the State Bar’s role and authority and our role as member representatives. Over the years, I have personally taken on difficult challenges, exploring and speaking up in the BOG where concerns have arisen that lawyers may be subjected to arguably unconstitutional or invalid measures, or the State Bar considered action that caused pause for governance or other reasons.

This State Bar service has been a source of joy and professional satisfaction, and a good match for my energy, enthusiasm, and passion for the law and the profession. Becoming State Bar president would be the culmination of this journey and would be an incredible personal and professional challenge.

The State Bar is a well-run organization with excellent staff who are dedicated to serving members and fulfilling the State Bar’s charge. After the strong leadership of Larry Martin, the State Bar is entering an exciting new era with Executive Director Jill Rothstein. I would relish serving as president to work with Jill and State Bar staff during this exciting time.

The State Bar should continue serving members, supporting the justice system, and facilitating access to justice, fulfilling its role designated by the Supreme Court. It should continue providing value to State Bar members, through services needed in these changing times, given current technological and professional challenges. In doing all this, as a mandatory bar, the State Bar must act within the confines of the First Amendment, adhering to Keller, which constrains the State Bar since all lawyers are required to belong as a condition of our license.

Goals and initiatives I would support as president-elect include:

• Continuing the Rural Practice Development Program and Rural Clerkship Program.
• Increasing member engagement and State Bar leadership among lawyers of all levels (early, mid-career, and senior). Through State Bar activities/leadership, increasing the connections among members across the state and outside the state, to enhance professional and personal support.
• Explore new strategies to approach the state Legislature to increase funding to support the system of justice, and provide funding where none exists, including funding for civil legal services for persons of limited means, and increasing funding for the compensation of public defenders and state prosecutors.
• Explore methods for the State Bar to support civics education for Wisconsin residents of all ages (e.g., by reinstating the State Bar’s public understanding of law committee).

Biography

Education

• University of Virginia, 1989, BA in History and American Studies
• Indiana University Maurer School of Law, J.D. 1992, summa cum laude and first in class
• Licensed to practice law in Wisconsin (1993), Georgia (1999), California (2000)

Professional Experience

• Husch Blackwell LLP (formerly, Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek), Milwaukee, 2016-present
• Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek, Milwaukee, 2002-2016
• Fenwick & West, Palo Alto, CA, 2000-2002
• Troutman Sanders, Atlanta, 1998-2000
• Foley & Lardner, Milwaukee, 1993-1998
• Law Clerk, Chief Justice Randall Shepard, Indiana Supreme Court, 1992-1993

State Bar of Wisconsin Leadership

• Fellow, Wisconsin Law Foundation (2016 class)
• Board of Governors (BOG), 2022-present; 2017-2021; 2011-2015; 2004-2008
• President’s Awards, 2015, 2007
• Member, Executive Director Search and Transition Committee, 2025-present
• Executive Committee, 2024-2025
• Author, Annual Review of Wisconsin Supreme Court Decisions, Wisconsin Lawyer, 2015- 2021
• Speaker, Various CLE programs
• Chair, Strategic Planning Committee, 2014-2015; member, 2017-2018; 2011-2014
• Policy Committee, 2025-present; 2022-2023; 2020-2021
• Governance Committee, 2023-2025; 2018-2020
• Volunteer, Appellate Help Desk, 2016-2021
• BOG Liaison: Indian Law Section Board, 2022-present; Communications Committee, 2020-2021; Appellate Practice Section Board, 2020-2021; ADR Section Board, 2017-2019; IP Section Board, 2011-2015; 2004-2008
• Member, Law-Related Education Committee, 1996-1997

Other Bar Activities

• Barrister, Thomas E. Fairchild Inn of Court, 2004-present
• Member, Milwaukee Bar Association (MBA)
• Member, Association of Women Lawyers
• Member, Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association
• MBA Board of Directors, 2008-2011
• Co-Chair, MBA Bench Bar-Appeals Committee, 2015-2017
• Co-Chair, MBA IP Section, 2004-2007
• MBA Professionalism Committee, 1994-1996; vice-chair, 1996-1997; chair, 1997-1998
• Milwaukee Young Lawyers Association, secretary, newsletter editor, 1996-1997

Community Activities

• Player, Women’s Soccer Club, 2008-present
• Wild Space Dance Company, President, 2024-present; Board of Directors, 2007-2024; 1995-1998
• Tosa Kickers Soccer Club, Board of Directors, 2015-present
• Mentor, “We the People” program, Wauwatosa West High School, 2019-present
• Co-Chair, Wauwatosa School District Facilities Advisory Committee, 2017-2018
• Nicolet High School Foundation Board of Directors, 2004-2008

Other

• Martindale-Hubbell AV-rated
• Leader in the Law, 2019