Contact Information

T 608.283.2271
F 608.283.2275
One South Pinckney Street
Suite 700
Madison, Wisconsin 53703

Legal Assistant

Sally Stengel

T    608.257.3501 x27510
 

2009 Top Lawyers List

Education

  • University of Wisconsin Law School
    ,
    Juris Doctor (J.D.)
    ,
    1974
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison
    ,
    Master of Science (M.S.)
    ,
    1973
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison
    ,
    Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
    ,
    1971

Bar Admissions

  • Wisconsin, 1974

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Supreme Court, 1980
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin, 1974
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Linda H. Bochert

Practice Specific Overviews

As a partner in the firm’s Land and Resources Practice Group, Linda Bochert helps her clients establish and maintain effective working relationships with state and federal environmental regulatory agencies. She serves in various policy advisory roles to state agencies, including the Wisconsin Departments of Natural Resources, Agriculture and Revenue. Her clients benefit from her unique understanding of the workings of regulatory agencies and her ability to develop mutually beneficial solutions to regulatory issues. Ms. Bochert also co-chairs our firmwide Sustainability Initiative.

Ms. Bochert focuses her practice on environmental law and includes wastewater permitting, stormwater management, air permitting, wetlands regulation, navigable waters (Chapter 30 and Section 404) and Public Trust Doctrine issues, Green Tier certifications, and large facility, landfill, pipeline, transmission line, wind farm and power plant siting. She co-authors an annual survey of Wisconsin environmental law and is a principal co-author and co-editor of the Wisconsin Environmental Law Handbook, 4th edition, published in July 2007.

Prior Work Experience

  • Before joining Michael Best in 1991, Ms. Bochert served in Wisconsin state government for 17 years with the Departments of Natural Resources and Justice in both legal and policy-making positions. 
  • Staff Attorney, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, working in wastewater (WPDES) program and enforcement, 1974-1976.
  • Assistant to Administrator, Division of Enforcement, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, 1976-1978.
  • Unit Head, Environmental Protection Unit, Wisconsin Department of Justice, 1978-1980.
  • Executive Assistant, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources; senior policy advisor to Secretary and 7-member Citizen Natural Resources Board, 1980-1991.

Professional Activities

  • Member, Michael Best & Friedrich Management Committee
  • “Legal Perspectives” Advisor, Department of Natural Resources Green Tier Advisors Committee (2005-present)
  • Member, Advisory Board, UW-Stevens Point College of Natural Resources (2007-present)
  • Member (Environmental), Governor’s Farmland Advisory Council (1995-present)
  • Member and Past Chair, UW College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Board of Visitors (1997-2006)
  • Member, Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Livestock Facility Siting Advisory Board (2001-2003)
  • Co-Chair, Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Working Lands Initiative Steering Committee (2005-2006)
  • Member, State Bar of Wisconsin, Environmental Law Section, Board of Directors (1990-94), Vice Chair (1990-94)

Honors and Recognitions

Ms. Bochert received the 2008 Honorary Recognition Award from the University of Wisconsin College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) in 2008. She has been recognized by numerous publications for providing exceptional legal services, including:  The Best Lawyers in America for Environmental Law (listed since 1993), Madison Magazine's survey of best environmental lawyers (voted each year by peers since 2001), In Business magazine's Annual Executive VIP Register (named in 2002, 2004-2008), Super Lawyers Magazine's Top 25 Female and Top 50 Wisconsin Lawyers since 2005 and Madison Magazine's “Leading Lawyer” as selected by TEMPO Madison, an executive women’s organization, in 2006. She is Founding Regent of the American College of Environmental Lawyers, and has received the highest rating (AV rating) by Martindale-Hubbell.

Community Involvement

  • Member, Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin Board of Directors
  • Member, TEMPO
  • Member, Executive Committee, A Fund for Women
  • Chair, Board of Appeals, Village of Shorewood Hills Zoning (1993-present)

Outside Interests

  • Downhill skiing
  • Snow shoeing
  • Golf
  • Vegetable gardening and canning
  • Jam and jelly making