Michael J. Cohen


Shareholder

mjc@mtfn.com

111 East Kilbourn Avenue, 19th Floor
Milwaukee, WI 53202

Martindale-Hubbell Peer Rated
Michael J. Cohen SuperLawyers 15 Years
Michael J. Cohen Top 50 Wisconsin SuperLawyers
Michael J. Cohen Top 25 Milwaukee SuperLawyers

Shareholder Michael J. Cohen has more than 35 years of experience in complex commercial litigation in federal and state courts. His proven record of numerous favorable verdicts at the trial and appellate levels has earned him a reputation as one of Wisconsin’s preeminent business litigators. For many years, Mike has been recognized by members of the Wisconsin bar and judiciary as one of the top lawyers in the state.

Mike concentrates his practice on complex commercial litigation including non-compete and other restrictive covenants, breach of contract, business torts, shareholder disputes and employment; environmental and toxic tort litigation; and on complex insurance coverage litigation, including environmental and asbestos liabilities and bad faith claims. He has been involved in some of the most significant complex insurance coverage matters in Wisconsin and other surrounding states over the two decades.

Mike has also been recognized by his peers as one of the top complex litigation mediators in Wisconsin. He has been mediating complex business litigation and coverage disputes for over 10-plus years. During that time, he has an outstanding success rate in getting cases resolved. Mr. Cohen is a facilitative mediator who uses his 35 years of litigation experience in complex civil cases in both federal and state courts to add value to the settlement process. In addition to his law practice, Mike serves on the firm’s Board of Directors and sits on the Executive Committee.

Honors


  • Top 10 Influential Commercial Litigation Lawyers to Watch in Wisconsin by Business Today (2023)
  • Milwaukee Bar Association Distinguished Service Award Winner (2022)
  • The Best Lawyers in America® (2010 – Present)
  • Milwaukee Lawyer of the Year® (Insurance Law, 2014, 2017 & 2019; Litigation-Insurance – 2020; Litigation – Environmental – 2023; Litigation – Insurance – 2024)
  • Wisconsin Super Lawyers® (2006 – Present)
  • Top 25 Lawyers in Milwaukee (2011 – Present)
  • Top 50 Wisconsin Super Lawyers (2008 – Present)
  • America’s Top 100 Attorneys – Lifetime Achievement Member (2017)
  • Leaders in the Law (2011)

Professional Organizations


  • State Bar of Wisconsin, Former Judicial Election Steering Committee
  • State Bar of Wisconsin, Past Member of the Board of Governors (2013 – 2017)
  • Milwaukee Bar Association, Past President; Bench-Bar Civil Division Committee, Former Co-Chair; Civil Litigation Section, Former Chair
  • Milwaukee Bar Foundation, Former Board Member
  • Thomas E. Fairchild Inn of Court, Master
  • American Bar Association, Tort Law and Insurance, Business Litigation
  • American Bar Foundation
  • Wisconsin Fellows
  • High School Mock Trial Tournament, Former Co-Chair
  • Defense Research Institute
  • Wisconsin Defense Counsel

Speeches & Publications


  • Chair and Speaker, Trending Topics in Business Litigation 2023, State Bar of Wisconsin (November 2023)
  • Speaker, Using Proactive ADR Strategies to Efficiently and Successfully Navigate Business Disputes, Milwaukee Bar Association (October, 2023)
  • Chair and Speaker, Trending Topics in Business Litigation 2022, State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE, (December, 2022)
  • Chair and Speaker, Trending Topics in Business Litigation 2021, State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE, December 2, 2021
  • Chair and Speaker, Trending Topics in Business Litigation 2020, State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE, December 3, 2020
  • Chair and Speaker, Trending Topics in Business Litigation 2019, State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE, December 5, 2019
  • Chair and Speaker, Trending Topics in Business Litigation 2018, State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE, November 29, 2018
  • Speaker, Expert Witnesses: Using Wisconsin Court Rules to Your Advantage, National Business Institute, September 27, 2017
  • Speaker, Arbitration: Soup to Nuts, Alternative Dispute Resolution Seminar, Milwaukee Bar Association, May 11, 2016.
  • Speaker, Social Media and Other Electronic Evidence, 2016 Marquette University Law School Civil Litigation and Evidence Conference, March 4, 2016.
  • Speaker, E-Discovery in Insurance Coverage Cases, PCI Claims Committee Conference, October 8, 2014.
  • Speaker, Agents who Prepare to Compete: Soliciting Customers and Co-Workers, State Bar of Wisconsin, December 5, 2013
  • Speaker, Trending Topics in Business LitigationPreparing to Compete and the Breach of the Duty of Loyalty, Wisconsin State Bar, November 30, 2012
  • Speaker, Litigation Holds—What Should Be Done.  Wisconsin Defense Counsel 2010 Summer Conference; Washington County Bar Association, February 17, 2010
  • Speaker, Advanced Allocation Issues, Complex Insurance Claims Litigation Association, March 10, 2010
  • Speaker, Litigation Holds and the Duty to Preserve Evidence, Marquette University Law School, November 6, 2009
  • Author, Recent Revisions to the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act Raise the Stakes for Employers, The Business Journal (Milwaukee), Vol. 27, No. 3 at 43 (Oct. 16, 2009) (co-authored with Thomas M. Hruz)
  • Author, Can Employers Force Employees to Sign Noncompete Agreements as a Condition of their Employment?, Wisconsin Lawyer, Vol. 72, No. 5, (May 1999) (co-authored with William T. Stuart)
  • Speaker, Practical Evidence Issues Before and at Trial—Scope of Expert Testimony at Trial—Attempts to Go Beyond Expert Report and Disclosures; Use of Information Obtained Over the Internet; Litigation Holds—What Should be Done; Contacting Employees and Former Employees of Opposing Party; Milwaukee Bar Association, December 12, 2008
  • Speaker, 2008 Insurance Law Institute—Views From Across the River—Trigger, Allocation and the Plastics Engineering Co. v. Liberty Mutual Co. Case in Wisconsin, Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association, November 13, 2008
  • Speaker, 31st Annual Corporate Practice Institute—Trade Secrets: A Thief or Not a Thief?, State Bar of Wisconsin—CLE Seminars, December 4, 2007
  • Speaker, Real Evidence for the Trial Practitioner—Scope of Expert Testimony at Trial—Attempts to Go Beyond Expert Report and Disclosures; Use of Information Obtained Over the Internet; Litigation Holds—What Should be done; Contacting Employees and Former Employees of Opposing Party, Lorman Business Center, Inc., August 28, 2007
  • Speaker, Current Issues Surrounding CGL Coverage—Insurance Coverage for Business Torts, Lorman Business Center, Inc., May 4, 2007
  • Speaker, Insurance Bad Faith Claims, Lorman Business Center, Inc., March 30, 2007
  • Speaker, 2006 Civil Law Seminar—Case Management Orders, Wisconsin Supreme Court, December 6, 2006
  • Speaker, Insurance Coverage for Environmental Contamination, Civil Trial Counsel of Wisconsin, August 12, 2006
  • Speaker, Annual Convention Litigation Section—Insurance Coverage for Business Torts, State Bar of Wisconsin, May 3, 2006
  • Speaker, Insurance Bad Faith Claims in Wisconsin, Lorman Business Center, Inc., March 31, 2006; April 29, 2005 and March 22, 2005.
  • Speaker, Insurance Coverage for Environmental Contamination: Welcome Back to Environmental Law After Johnson Controls, Inc., v. Employers Insurance of Wausua, et al., Civil Trial Counsel of Wisconsin, August 11, 2005

Marquette University Law School, J.D., 1986
University of Wisconsin, B.A., 1983


  • Wisconsin
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
  • United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit

  • The Joseph Gomoll Foundation (Joey’s Song), Board Member
  • International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, Former Chairman of the Board and Board Member
  • National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, Former Board Member
  • Business Law, Center for Legal Technology, a division of MBTI/Business Training Institute, Instructor (1989-1991)
  • City of Milwaukee Administrative Appellate Review Board, Board Member (1987-1989)
  • City of Milwaukee Housing Authority, Alternate Hearing Examiner (1986-1989)

Articles & Videos


Attorney Spotlight – Michael J. Cohen

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11 MTFN Attorneys Selected for 2023 Wisconsin Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

Super Lawyers, an esteemed division of Thomson Reuters, is a rating service for outstanding attorneys across the nation, using peer...
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Michael J. Cohen of Meissner Tierney Fisher & Nichols S.C. Named 2024 Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” in the Milwaukee Area

Meissner Tierney Fisher & Nichols S.C. is proud to announce that Best Lawyers recognized Attorney Michael J. Cohen as the...
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The 2024 Edition of Best Lawyers in America® Recognizes 11 MTFN Attorneys

Best Lawyers in America recognizes seven Meissner Tierney Fisher & Nichols S.C. shareholders and one associate attorney in their 2024...
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Shareholder Michel J. Cohen Listed in Business Today’s Top 10 Influential Commercial Litigation Lawyers to Watch in Wisconsin

Shareholder Michael J. Cohen was recently recognized in Business Today's Top 10 Influential Commercial Litigation Lawyers to Watch in Wisconsin....
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MTFN’s Michael J. Cohen Recognized by Super Lawyers Top Lists

Each year, Super Lawyers recognizes the top lawyers in Wisconsin via a patented multiphase selection process involving peer nomination, independent...
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10 MTFN Attorneys Selected for 2022 Wisconsin Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers, from more than 70 practice areas, who have...
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Michael J. Cohen of Meissner Tierney Fisher & Nichols S.C. Named 2023 Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” in the Milwaukee Area

Meissner Tierney Fisher & Nichols S.C. is proud to announce that Best Lawyers recognized attorney Michael J. Cohen as the...
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The 2023 Edition of “Best Lawyers in America” Recognizes 13 MTFN Attorneys

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Shareholder Michael J. Cohen wins Milwaukee Bar Association’s 2022 Distinguished Service Award

Every year, the Milwaukee Bar Association recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of members within the legal community at the MBA Annual...
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Meissner Tierney Fisher & Nichols S.C. Attorneys Named to 2021 Wisconsin Super Lawyers/Rising Stars

Meissner Tierney Fisher & Nichols S.C. is proud to announce that seven shareholders, including Joseph E. Tierney III, Thomas J....
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Michael J. Cohen to Chair and Join Panel Discussions in PINNACLE’s Trending Topics in Business Litigation 2021

Meissner Tierney Fisher & Nichols S.C. Shareholder, Michael J. Cohen, is the long-time Program Chair and a frequent presenter for...
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Michael J. Cohen Recognized as a 2022 Benchmark Litigation Star

Meissner Tierney Fisher & Nichols S.C. is excited to announce that shareholder Michael J. Cohen has been recognized as a...
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The 2022 Edition of “Best Lawyers in America” Recognizes 13 MTFN Attorneys

Meissner Tierney Fisher & Nichols S.C. is proud to announce that nine of its shareholders were recently selected for recognition...
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Meissner Tierney Fisher & Nichols S.C. Attorneys Named to 2020 Wisconsin Super Lawyers/Rising Stars

Meissner Tierney Fisher & Nichols S.C. is proud to announce that seven shareholders, including Joseph E. Tierney III, Thomas J....
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Shareholder Michael J. Cohen Recognized as Leading Litigation Practitioner

Meissner Tierney Fisher & Nichols S.C. is pleased to announce that Shareholder Michael J. Cohen has been recognized as 2021...
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Nine Meissner Tierney Fisher & Nichols Attorneys Selected as 2021 Best Lawyers

Meissner Tierney Fisher & Nichols S.C. is proud to announce that nine of its Shareholders were recently selected by their...
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Attorney Michael Cohen Presents at Trending Topics in Business Litigation

Attorney Michael J. Cohen recently chaired and spoke at the Trending Topics in Business Litigation seminar held by the State...
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Nine Meissner Tierney Attorneys Selected as 2019 Wisconsin Super Lawyers

Meissner Tierney is proud to announce that seven of its active shareholders, including Joseph Tierney III, Thomas Nichols, Randal Brotherhood,...
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Shareholder Michael Cohen’s Article “A Perilous Decision: Steadfast Explains an Insurer’s Duty to Defend in the Multi-Insurer Context (and the Damages Available Against a Breaching Insurer)” Featured in the Wisconsin Civil Trial Journal

Shareholder Michael Cohen recently co-authored an article for the Wisconsin Defense Counsel’s Wisconsin Civil Trial Journal, Summer 2019 Edition titled, “A...
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