Michael Best is pleased to announce that Albert “AJ” Bianchi, Jr. has rejoined the firm as Senior Counsel in the Litigation Practice Group, based in the Madison office.
Bianchi brings more than 17 years of experience guiding clients through complex commercial and intellectual property litigation in both federal and state courts. His practice focuses on high-stakes disputes involving breach of contract, business torts, real estate, class actions, land use, trademark, copyright, and patent infringement, toxic torts, and employment discrimination.
“AJ’s arrival strengthens our litigation capabilities and deepens our bench of experienced trial attorneys and former USDOJ prosecutors,” said Dan Vaccaro, Chair of Michael Best’s Litigation Practice Group. “His extensive experience and strategic approach to dispute resolution make him a tremendous asset to our clients and our team.”
Throughout his career, Bianchi has served as both first- and second-chair trial counsel in bench and jury trials, as well as arbitration proceedings. He has argued before the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals and the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, managed large-scale discovery and e-discovery projects, and drafted a wide range of pleadings, motions, and briefs. His intellectual property experience includes representing clients in patent, copyright, and trademark infringement cases and developing litigation strategies for complex IP disputes. “We are thrilled to welcome AJ back to the firm’s Madison Office,” said John Scheller, Managing Partner of Michael Best’s Madison Office. “His breadth of experience and proven track record in high-stakes litigation will strongly complement the services and capabilities our team is able to offer the Madison and Wisconsin markets.”
Prior to joining Michael Best, Bianchi served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, where he represented the federal government in matters involving Bivens claims, Federal Tort Claims Act cases, habeas corpus petitions, Freedom of Information Act disputes, immigration lawsuits, employment discrimination disputes, and False Claims Act investigations. He began his legal career as a judicial law clerk in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, clerking for the Honorable William Conley, the Honorable Barbara Crabb, and the Honorable John Shabaz.
Bianchi is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and an active member of the American Bar Association; the Western District of Wisconsin Bar Association, where he served as President in 2020; and the James E. Doyle Inns of Court. Bianchi earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from Marquette University Law School and holds a B.A. in History and English from the University of Wisconsin. He is admitted to practice in Wisconsin and Illinois, and before the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.