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
- 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 1, 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.
Articles & Videos