Wisconsin: Law firm knee deep in State's many hot-button issues

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/law-firm-knee-deep-in-state-s-many-hot-button/article_f841356e-43d8-11e1-9a47-0019bb2963f4.html



..snip..

The news last month that a conservative Supreme Court justice had received two years of free legal service while fighting an ethics charge was just the latest indication of an increasingly cozy relationship between the Republican Party and one of Wisconsin's most prominent law firms.

The state is going through a particularly litigious period in its history, with nearly every piece of major legislation facing some kind of legal challenge. As a result, the most influential three names in state politics, outside of Walker, Fitzgerald and Fitzgerald, just might be Michael Best & Friedrich.

Collective bargaining. Mining. Redistricting. Recalls. Recounts. John Doe. Ethics charges. Michael Best & Friedrich has become the go-to law firm for all of the big issues facing Republicans. "They seemingly have a dog in every fight," said Mike McCabe, executive director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, an organization that tracks money in politics. "I can't remember seeing one firm so entrenched in every area of politics before. They have essentially become the in-house counsel for the Republican Party."

The governor turned to Michael Best & Friedrich not only when his landmark collective bargaining bill ended up in court, but also for advice on drafting mining legislation, to fight aspects of his recall election and to represent him in the ongoing John Doe investigation. Meanwhile, Republican senators turned to the firm for help with recall elections this past summer, and leaders of the state Senate and Assembly hired the firm to help draft the state's 10-year redistricting plan — and defend it in court.

..end..