Contact Information

T 608.283.2267
F 608.283.2275
One South Pinckney Street
Suite 700
Madison, Wisconsin 53703

Legal Assistant

Juanita K. Braley

T    608.257.3501 x27521

Education

  • University of Wisconsin Law School
    ,
    Juris Doctor (J.D.)
    ,
    cum laude
    ,
    1991
    ,
     Order of the Coif
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison
    ,
    Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
    ,
    with honors
    ,
    1988

Bar Admissions

  • Wisconsin, 1991

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin, 2008
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin, 1991
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David A. Crass

David Crass is chair of the firm's Agribusiness, Food Processing and Distribution Group, a leader in the firm's Energy and Sustainability practice and a member of the firm's Management Committee. Mr. Crass has served as the Managing Partner of the firm's Madison Office (2005-2008) and as chair of the firm's Land and Resources Practice Group (2003-2005). He focuses his practice primarily in the areas of environmental and energy law, climate change counseling, agricultural and food industries and renewable energy project development. Mr. Crass has represented clients in a number of multi-party environmental remediation sites including state and federal-lead hazardous waste sites, manufactured gas plant waste sites, impacted sediment cleanups, emergency spill response and removal actions. Mr. Crass has litigation experience in administrative contested case hearings, civil toxic tort defense, contribution actions, government enforcement defense, professional engineering malpractice and environmental insurance coverage litigation. On the transactional side, Mr. Crass has assisted both buyers and sellers in assessing environmental issues in real estate and corporate transactions, Brownfield redevelopments and insurance-backed liability transfers, and has also counseled lenders on various environmental issues. Mr. Crass has secured and negotiated federal, state and local permits and approvals for a number of projects, including industrial facilities, renewable energy plants and livestock operations.

Professional Activities

  • Member, Michael Best Management Committee
  • Member, Strategic Planning Committee, Goodwill Industries of SC Wisconsin Board
  • Member, Housing and Land Development Committee, Goodwill Industries of SC Wisconsin Board
  • Chair, Lex Mundi’s Agribusiness Practice Group (2006-2008)
  • Board of Directors, Wisconsin Biodiesel Association (2006-2009)
  • Advisory Board Member, Wisconsin Crop Production Association
  • Member, Board of Visitors of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin - Madison (2007-2011)
  • Member, Steering Committee, Wisconsin Bioenergy Initiative (WBI)
  • Member, Industry Work Group of Governor’s Task Force on Global Warming (2007)
  • Member, Technical Advisory Committee on Revisions to WDNR Nonpoint Pollution Rules, NR 151 and NR 153 (2007-2008)
  • Member, Wisconsin Agribusiness Council Legislative Committee
  • Member, Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), Environment Committee
  • Member, Environmental Task Force, National Milk Producers’ Federation (2005-2007)
  • Board of Directors, Dairy Business Association of Wisconsin (2002- 2008)
  • Public Member, Joint Legislative Council Special Committee on Recodification of Town Highway Statutes (2002-2003)
  • Member, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Technical Advisory Committee for Rewrite of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation Rule (2003-2006)
  • Member, NRCS 590 Technical Standard Revision Work Team (2004-2006)
  • Member, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture’s Model Ordinance Advisory Committee for Livestock Operations (2001-2002)
  • Member, State Bar of Wisconsin (Environmental Law Section)
  • Managing Partner Michael Best’s Madison Office (2005-2008)
  • Chair, Michael Best’s Land and Resources Practice Group (2003- 2005)
  • Chair, Michael Best’s Agribusiness, Food Processing and Distribution Practice Group
  • Program Chair, Federation of Environmental Technologists - Madison Chapter (1996-1998)
  • Past Member, Rule Advisory Committee, Wisconsin Agricultural Chemical Clean-up Program
  • Member, Leadership Greater Madison V, Madison Chamber of Commerce

Honors and Recognitions

Mr. Crass has been recognized as a leading legal practitioner by numerous publications and organizations, including:

  • Recognized in the area of natural resources and environment law by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2011)

  • Recipient, Leaders in the Law Award, Wisconsin Law Journal (2009)

  • Recipient, Outstanding Service to Industry Award, Wisconsin Fertilizer and Chemical Association/Wisconsin Crop Production Association (2006)
  • Recognized as one of Madison's "Who's Who of Professionals," (2005-2006 edition)
  • Listed in In Business Magazine's 2nd annual "40 under 40" executives (December 2002)
  • Listed as one of the "Best Lawyers in America" for environmental law published by Woodward/White, Inc. (2003-2011)
  • Listed in Corporate Counsel’s Best Lawyers: Environmental Law (2003-2005)
  • Named in In Business Magazine as a VIP of Madison area civic-minded executives in its Annual Executive Register (2002, 2005-2011)
  • Listed as a Wisconsin Super Lawyer (2007-2010)
  • Selected one of Madison Magazine’s Best Lawyers for Environmental Law (2001-2005)

Community Involvement

  • Board of Directors, Goodwill Industries of South Central Wisconsin
  • Board of Directors, Dane County Humane Society (1997-2000)