Representation of municipalities and businesses is not just about contracts and court rooms. Effective representation requires a thorough knowledge of how government agencies work, how their decisions can be challenged and how rules and laws can be changed. Our office is across from the state Capitol and two blocks from the Department of Natural Resources and other state agencies. We have been able to successfully advocate for our clients in all of these forums.

      Legislation: Lobbying for Changes to Statutory Law.  We are registered lobbyists and have been involved in a number of significant changes to Wisconsin law by our involvement at the legislature. We have made changes on behalf of the Municipal Environmental Group ranging from state budget and fee issues to changes in regulatory programs. We have worked with trade associations involving builders and contractors to streamline a series of DNR water regulations. We have also worked on behalf of individual clients including paper companies, boat builders, marine contractors, road builders, individual municipalities, and others to make targeted changes in the statutes to solve problems for the client.

      Administrative Rules: Lobbying for Changes to Agency Rules.  We have worked extensively with the rulemaking process at the DNR. Some of this has been on behalf of MEG on wastewater issues; other times for builders, developers and contractors. We have served on several dozen advisory committees, participated in legislative counsel proceedings, and appeared before the Natural Resources Board on rulemaking issues. These activities bring us in to regular contact with senior DNR leadership and legislative leaders.

      Administrative Agency Proceedings: Adjudication and Hearings.  We have filed and/or participated in dozens of contested case hearings and petitions for judicial review and all their associated permutations such as motions for stay and rehearing. Many of these proceedings are settled, others resolved on motions and some only after hearing. We have participated in several contested case hearings before the DNR that have ranged from minor matters such as stream relocations, the siting of residential piers, and gas pipeline easements, to matters involving some of the largest facilities in the state such as the permitting of metallic mines, major commercial distribution centers and power plants. While most of these matters have involved the DNR, others have been before the Department of Commerce, the Department of Agricultural, Trade and Commerce Protection, the Department of Transportation, the Gaming Commission and other agencies.

      Judicial Challenges to Decisions: Declaratory Judgment and Judicial Review.  We have also been involved in petitions for declaratory rulings from the agency as well as major declaratory judgment actions in federal court on agency decisions. In one case, an EPA decision was overturned, agency fraud was uncovered and our fees fully paid by the government. We have argued regulatory issues on preemption before the Wisconsin and United States Supreme Court and have argued other administrative law issues before the state and federal appellate courts.

Call us today at (608) 246-8500 or contact us online to discuss your legal options.