Randal J. Brotherhood
Shareholder
111 East Kilbourn Avenue, 19th Floor
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Randal J. Brotherhood has more than thirty years of experience representing businesses and their owners in a wide variety of industries and settings. He also devotes a substantial part of his practice to representing tax-exempt organizations, foundations and trade associations of all types and sizes, ranging from local charitable organizations to large national and international membership associations.
Randy represents business clients both on a day-to-day general counsel basis and as a strategic adviser for particular transactions, including acquisition transactions and joint ventures. Randy regularly functions as a member of his clients’ upper management teams in providing timely and experienced guidance to protect their interests.
As reflected by his ranking in The Best Lawyers in America®, the definitive guide to legal excellence in the country, as well as in other ranking venues, such as Wisconsin SuperLawyers®, Randy has earned an outstanding reputation among his clients and his peers in the legal community for his approach to legal issues, his skill in identifying creative, practical and business-oriented solutions, and his legal ethics and integrity.
Randy is a frequent lecturer and author on a variety of business-related legal topics.
Honors
- The Best Lawyers in America® (2011 – 2020)
- Wisconsin Super Lawyers® (2011 – 2021)
- Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated
- Wisconsin Law Journal’s “Leaders in the Law” (2014)
Professional Organizations
- State Bar of Wisconsin
- Board of Governors, Section Leaders Council Representative (2020 – Present)
- Member, Board of Governors Strategic Planning Committee (2022 – Present)
- Section Leaders Council, Vice-Chair (2020 – Present), Member (2016 – Present)
- Chair, Business Law Section, (2016 – 2018), Advisor to Board of Directors (2018 – Present)
- Chair, Corporations Committee (2014 – Present)
- Member, Diversity and Inclusion Oversight Committee (2019 – Present)
- Planning Committee, establishing State Bar of Wisconsin Real Estate and Business Law Institute (2011 – 2016)
- American Bar Association
- Section of Business Law Committee on Venture Capital and Private Equity: Committee on Fund Formation; Subcommittee on Prototype Limited Liability Company Fund Agreements
- Section of Business Law Subcommittee on Governmental Regulation: Subcommittee on Nonprofit Governance; Subcommittee on the Model Nonprofit Corporation Act; Subcommittee on Current Developments in Nonprofit Corporation Law; Subcommittee on Trade Associations
- Section of Intellectual Property Law Committee on Federal Trademark Legislation
- American Society of Association Executives, Past Member
Speeches & Publications
- Essential Trademark Concepts for Business Lawyers, Presentation to State Bar of Wisconsin Annual Meeting and Convention (June 21, 2018)
- A Primer on Hotel and Meeting Agreements–Selected Issues, Presentation to association management industry executives (March 3, 2017)
- Securities Law Considerations in Closely-Held Business Transactions, Presentation to StartupMKE (November 1, 2016)
- What Every Business Needs to Know About Intellectual Property, Presentation to StartupMKE (November 1, 2016)
- Program Chair and Presenter, What Every Business Lawyer Needs to Know in Advising Clients About Social Media Law, State Bar of Wisconsin Seminar (October, 2015)
- Initial Considerations for Nonprofit Organizations Contemplating a Merger, Joint Venture or Strategic Alliance, National Business Institute (October, 2014)
- Key Issues for Nonprofit Organizations in Evaluating and Negotiation a Merger, Joint Venture or Strategic Alliance, National Business Institute (October, 2014)
- Licensing Issues For Finders in Securities Offerings, Solicitors for Investment Advisers and Others Paid in Securities-Related Transactions: A Dialogue With the Wisconsin Securities Administrator, State Bar of Wisconsin Business and Real Estate Law Institute (June, 2013) (with Patricia D. Struck, Administrator, Division of Securities, WI Department of Financial Institutions)
- Social Media and the Law for Businesses: Developing Issues and Legal Trends, State Bar of Wisconsin Business and Real Estate Law Institute (June, 2012)
- Securities Law Considerations for Owners of Closely-Held Businesses, State Bar of Wisconsin Business and Real Estate Law Institute (June, 2011) (with Patricia D. Struck, Administrator, Division of Securities, WI Department of Financial Institutions)
- What Every Business Needs to Know About Intellectual Property, State Bar of Wisconsin (June, July and September, 2010)
- Choice of Entity for Wisconsin: New and Old Considerations in Light of Recent and Pending Developments, State Bar of Wisconsin 33rd Annual Corporate Practice Institute (November, 2009)
- Selected Issues in Regulation of Non-Profit Organization Activities, National Business Institute (2006)
- Boards of Directors of Tax-Exempt Organizations, National Business Institute (2005)
- Overview of Critical Association Law Issues, Private client presentation delivered to numerous trade association clients (2009)
- Securities Law Considerations in Formation of Start-Ups and Venture Capital Transactions(presentation delivered periodically to Marquette University graduate school business students)
- Introduction to Law of Tax-Exempt Organizations,National Business Institute (2006)
- Ethical Considerations Pertaining to Representation of Non-Profit Organizations, National Business Institute (2004)
- Intellectual Property Law Aspects of Franchises,National Business Institute (2003)
- Forms to be Familiar With in Starting a Franchise,National Business Institute (2003)
- Location Selection in Starting a Franchise, National Business Institute (2003)
- Introduction to Intellectual Property for IT Professionals,State Bar of Wisconsin (1999)
- Legal Issues Presented by the Internet and E-Mail,International Association of Association Management Companies (1998)
- Doing Business in Wisconsin: Recent Trends, Historical Perspectives and a Look to the Future,MTFN Symposium (1998)
- A Practitioner’s Guide to Intellectual Property Issues on the Internet, State Bar of Wisconsin (1998)
- Developments in Investment Adviser Regulation, State Bar of Wisconsin (1998)
- Knowing Your Rights in Computer Software, State Bar of Wisconsin (1996)
- Recent Developments in Intellectual Property Pertaining to the Internet,State Bar of Wisconsin (1996)
- The Wisconsin Fair Dealership Act, Milwaukee Minority Business Development Center (1993)
- Legal Aspects of Franchising, National Business Institute (1993)
- What Business and Investors Can Expect Under the Clinton Administration, Robert W. Baird & Co./MTFN Symposium (1993)
- The Impact of Asbestos on Real Estate Transactions and Ownership, State Bar of Wisconsin (1991)
- Gain from Sale or Exchange of Residence, Private client presentation (1990)
Washington University, J.D., 1981, Senior Editor, Washington University Law Quarterly
Marquette University, B.A., 1978, cum laude
- American Heart Association, Wisconsin Affiliate, Executive Board of Directors (1993-2002); Chairman (2000-2001)
- Wauwatosa Public Library, Board of Trustees (1997-2004); Chairman (2001)
- Marian Catholic Home, Inc., Board of Directors (1988-1995); Chairman (1992-1995)
- Kindcare Inc., Board of Directors (1993-1999); President (1995-1998)
- Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Inc., Board of Directors, Milwaukee Regional Board (1993-1997)
- City of Wauwatosa Citizen’s Advisory Capital Improvements Committee (1993-2004)
- Washington University, Alumni Board of Governors (1987-1993)
- Washington University Alumni Association, Wisconsin Chair (1987-2000)
Articles & Videos