My Why

What powers my practice

I find fulfillment in achieving results once thought out of reach through creative strategy, thorough preparation, and perseverance. Strong personal relationships and clear communication are central to how I work. Above all, I want clients to know that I’m deeply committed to putting their interests first—a principle reflected in client relationships that have lasted 25, even 40 years.

Overview

David is a zealous and unrelenting advocate in employment and labor relations matters. He also serves as general counsel for selected clients. David’s practice is defined by his singular commitment to helping clients achieve their business objectives.

A seasoned practitioner, David maintains a keen focus on helping clients manage employment law and corporate law risk by point-of-decision counsel and through the general counsel relationship. He brings over 40 years of experience to the bargaining table to achieve cost-effective solutions that preserve and maximize business opportunities.

David’s clients span numerous industries and range from healthcare providers to manufacturers and government contractors.

David is a recognized leader in labor and employment law. In 2015, Chambers USA ranked him as a “Leader in the Field.” David’s creative Value Fee Arrangements facilitate integrating purchase of legal services with corporate procurement best practices.

Experience

Solutions in action

Broadly experienced, David has:

  • Set precedent by winning labor arbitration in the newspaper industry that enabled the introduction of printing technology
  • Negotiated initial labor contracts in the healthcare, nonprofit, retail food, manufacturing and government contracting industries
  • Negotiated concessionary contracts in the printing, retail food, manufacturing, meat processing, broadcast and newspaper publishing industries
  • Initiated innovative consumer-driven health benefit plan designs
  • Negotiated more than 250 labor contracts with various labor organizations, including UFCW, UAW, AFSCME, SEIU, Steelworkers, Teamsters CWA (inc Newspaper Guild), and GCIU
  • Defended employment claims before the National Labor Relations Board, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Department of Labor and counterpart state agencies
  • Negotiated more than 200 severance arrangements
  • Served as outside general counsel for a federal contractor in the service and construction industries

Credentials

  • University of Michigan Law School, Juris Doctor (J.D.), Order of the Coif
  • University of Michigan, Bachelor of Arts (A.B.), Economics, with honors

  • Wisconsin
  • United States Supreme Court
  • United States Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
  • United States District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin

  • AV Preeminent Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®
  • The Midwest’s Best Lawyers©, Employment Law – Management and Labor Law – Management, 2021
  • Selected to Employment & Labor, Employee Benefits, Employment Litigation Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers®, 2005-2008, 2011-2019
  • Leading Labor & Employment Lawyer, Chambers USA, 2003-2020
  • Named one of Wisconsin Law Journal’s leading Labor and Employment Law attorneys
  • Best Lawyers®, Employment Law – Management; Labor Law – Management, 1995-present

Engagement

  • Member, Wisconsin State Bar, Employment and Labor Law Section
  • Member, Milwaukee Bar Association, Employment Law and Employee Benefit Law Sections
  • Charter Member, Wisconsin Retirement Plan Professionals, Ltd.
  • Charter Member, Greater Milwaukee Employee Benefits Council
  • Senior Member, MRA Attorneys Roundtable

  • Past President, Nicolet High School Board
  • Fox Point-Bayside School Board
  • Past President, Arthritis Foundation, Wisconsin Chapter

Insights