For Immediate Release
March 28, 2018
Davis & Kuelthau Adds the Friebert, Finerty & St. John Team, Expanding Corporate, Environmental Torts, Litigation, Real Estate, and Technology Practices
MILWAUKEE— Davis & Kuelthau, s.c. announced today that six attorneys and the support staff of the Friebert, Finerty & St. John law firm will join Davis & Kuelthau in Milwaukee and Green Bay. The team includes attorneys Brian C. Randall, Christopher M. Meuler, Lawrence J. Glusman, M. Andrew Skwierawski, S. Todd Farris, and Ted A. Warpinski. The addition of these colleagues is among several executed growth initiatives as Davis & Kuelthau continues to expand its focus in the greater Milwaukee and Green Bay regions.
As one of Milwaukee’s preeminent law firms for over 45 years, Friebert, Finerty & St. John has provided high caliber representation through extensive client interaction and individualized attention. The Friebert firm has a long history of representing businesses, individuals and governments in complex litigation, high-stakes transactions, and prominent developments throughout Wisconsin and cultivated a sterling reputation in the areas of land use, zoning, permits and licensing, real estate, environmental torts, litigation, insurance, technology, creditor’s rights and lending. Friebert, Finerty & St. John will be ceasing operations effective March 29, 2018.
Lawrence J. Glusman, corporate, finance and real estate attorney at Friebert, Finerty & St. John, said, “Our Friebert team has practiced together for the majority of our legal careers and have continued the tradition of offering creative and effective legal services established by the firm’s founders. The dynamic we have formed offers a distinct benefit for our clients. We have been recognized for our work in many areas including real estate and land use, environmental law, litigation, and finance and we are now excited to join Davis & Kuelthau. We are joining a firm with an excellent reputation that enables us to carry on our mission while expanding our value via a broader array of service capabilities and enabling us to offer the full spectrum of support to our clients while maintaining the efficient, personalized service that clients expect and deserve.”
Joseph E. Tierney IV, president of Davis & Kuelthau added, “We are very excited to welcome this respected group of attorneys and staff to our team. Several of us have personally known and/or worked with this team for many years. The synergy between our firms in serving Wisconsin businesses, municipalities and individuals further solidifies our foundation as a competitive business law firm in Wisconsin and beyond. We have added more than 20 attorneys over the past two years, with each individual meeting the trending needs of our clients. Together, we will continue to serve the Midwest’s core industries including commercial development, construction, finance, food and beverage, manufacturing, retail and technology.”
Brian Randall, Shareholder, Land Use & Zoning, Real Estate, Food & Beverage and Municipal Law Teams, represents top developers, businesses and property owners when navigating the government process. Brian’s practice primarily focuses on land use and real estate matters for commercial, industrial and residential developments. Brian is experienced in zoning, entitlement, permitting, variances, historic preservation, and tax increment finance work for owners, developers and end users. He represents food and beverage clients and other businesses needing licenses through the municipal licensing process. Brian’s experience includes managing lobbying and legislative matters on behalf of clients who will be affected by proposed municipal regulation and he works with clients submitting bids for local government contracts and concessions. He also works with clients on targeted business enterprise issues including SBE/DBE/WBE/EBE certifications, and represents businesses submitting bids for governmental contracts and concessions. Brian has been recognized by Best Lawyers® in America, Wisconsin Super Lawyers® and as a 40 Under 40 honoree by the, Milwaukee Business Journal. He is an active member of NAIOP, CARW and the Tavern League of Wisconsin, and serves on both the Board of Directors for the Wauwatosa Chamber of Commerce and the Wauwatosa Board of Zoning Appeals. Brian earned his J.D. from Marquette University Law School, and his B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Chris Meuler, Senior Attorney, Insurance Coverage Disputes and Litigation Teams, focuses on commercial litigation with an emphasis on business disputes, eminent domain, insurance coverage, appellate work, contract disputes and bid protests. He also has a strong background in election law, working on numerous election recounts and nomination paper challenges, and has advised both sides of the aisle on campaign finance and other issues. His professional activities include involvement in the Wisconsin and Milwaukee Bar Associations, and he currently serves as Chair of the Milwaukee County Ethics Board. Chris also has been recognized as a Wisconsin Super Lawyer® and Wisconsin Super Lawyer® Rising Star. He earned his J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School and his B.A. in Economics and Political Science from Marquette University.
Larry Glusman, Shareholder, Commercial Finance, Corporate and Real Estate Teams, focuses on commercial lending, real estate and business transactions. For more than 20 years, Larry has represented Milwaukee Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) in documenting and closing hundreds of MEDC loans to a wide array of local businesses. Larry also represents established and start-up businesses with real estate and asset purchase transactions and other financing, leasing, development and corporate matters. His commitment to helping small businesses thrive comes from his own family’s legacy of owning and operating small businesses. Larry was recently selected as Wisconsin’s 2018 Small Business Legal Assistance award winner by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Larry earned his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Wisconsin Law School and his B.A. in Public Policy Studies from Duke University.
Andy Skwierawski, Senior Attorney, Environmental, Litigation and Technology Law Teams, is a veteran software developer and small business owner who focuses his legal practice on environmental litigation, e-discovery, complex commercial disputes and municipal compliance. His background in technology includes crafting and responding to e-discovery requests and reviewing software licensing and service agreements. Andy’s environmental litigation experience includes representing manufacturers, property owners, farmers and environmental organizations. His professional acknowledgements include Wisconsin Super Lawyers® Rising Star and the Wisconsin Law Journal’s “Up and Coming Lawyer” award. Andy earned his J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School and his B.S. in Mathematics and Computer Sciences from University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Todd Farris, Of Counsel, Litigation, Municipal Law and Real Estate Teams, brings more than 30 years of experience in representing clients in both trials and appeals in state and federal courts in business disputes, insurance coverage and claims, environmental, construction, real estate and municipal law litigation and appeals. Beyond litigation, Todd has an active real estate practice representing developers and owners of residential, commercial and office projects in acquisitions and sales, condominium formation, entity organization and structure, financing, eminent domain issues, leasing, property tax disputes, TIF financing and zoning opinions. Todd earned his J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School with honors and his B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Ted Warpinski, Shareholder, Litigation and Environmental Teams, has worked on a wide variety of environmental and litigation cases across Wisconsin. From the early years of Superfund litigation on sites like the Fadrowski Drum Disposal Site in Franklin, Wisconsin and the Moss-American Site in Milwaukee, Ted has been immersed in both the legal and technical aspects of environmental law. His practice includes environmental nuisance claims and toxic tort litigation, contract and property disputes, insurance coverage litigation and enforcement actions. Ted also works closely with real estate and development lawyers handling due diligence investigations and environmental permitting including wetland permitting. His success has been recognized by Best Lawyers® in America. Ted earned his J.D. from Marquette University Law School and his B.A. from the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay.
