Back to State Bar 2016 Election Officer Candidates.

Candidate for Judicial Council Representative

Sherry Coley

Senior Counsel, Davis & Kuelthau, S.C., Green Bay
Email: SColey@dkattorneys.com

Platform Statement

I am honored to be nominated as a candidate for the Judicial Council, and would welcome the chance to help our profession. While I have been involved with the State Bar for many years, the Judicial Council is a new opportunity for me.

In my time as Secretary of the State Bar I have also served on the Governance Committee of the Board of Governors. One of the tasks that the current Governance Committee is undertaking is to update the State Bar Bylaws and SCR Chapter 10. Although this is a new process for me, it has been extremely insightful to work with a group of fine colleagues to tackle fundamental issues of representation, participation and governance. The work has been daunting. Yet, it has given me greater insight into the structure of the State Bar and how the State Bar interacts with the court system. The State Bar Bylaws have not been updated in over a decade, so the committee is working to bring a dash of the modern age to rules of procedure.

While this may not be the same as the work being done by the Judicial Council, I am hopeful that my perspective, my experience as a civil trial lawyer in state and federal courts, and my prior experience helping to improve the State Bar’s Bylaws, will all give me a good foundation to take on this new role.

I believe I have the dedication to serve on the Judicial Council and respectfully request your vote.

Biography

Sherry is a member of Davis & Kuelthau’s Litigation Team practicing in the Green Bay office. Her practice primarily focuses on complex business litigation, with an emphasis on contract disputes, business torts, financial services litigation, real estate foreclosures and work-outs, and tax assessment appeals.

Sherry has represented financial institutions in state and federal court on a variety of commercial lending disputes, including defense of counterclaims raised in response to foreclosure or deficiency actions, and disputes arising from insolvent borrowers, including proceedings in bankruptcy court. In addition, she has defended manufacturers in product liability actions involving personal injury, wrongful death and property damage.

Sherry has significant trial experience in both state and federal courts and jury trials. She has represented clients in appeals pending in the state appellate courts of Wisconsin and the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

Sherry is fluent in French.

Practice Areas

• Commercial Finance
• Commercial Litigation
• Food and Beverage Industry
• Litigation

Education

• Juris Doctor, Marquette University Law School
• Bachelor's Degree, Drake University, magna cum laude, with honors

Professional Activities

• Admitted, State of Georgia
• Admitted, State of Wisconsin
• Admitted, Seventh Circuit Court
• Admitted, United States District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
• Admitted, United States District Court, Western District of Wisconsin
• Member, Brown County Bar Association
• Member, Outagamie County Bar Association
• Member, Eastern District Bar Association
• Member, Seventh Circuit Bar Association
• Member, Defense Research Institute (DRI)
• Member, Brown County Women Lawyers
• Member, Brown County Young Lawyers Association
• Member, Fox Valley Young Lawyers Association
• Secretary, Wisconsin State Bar (2014-present)
• Finance Committee Member, Wisconsin State Bar (2014-present)
• Chairperson, Wisconsin State Bar - Board of Governors (2013-2014)
• YLD liaison, Wisconsin State Bar - Board of Governors, (2012-2013)
• Co-Chair, State Bar of Wisconsin Board of Governors, Challenges Facing New Lawyers Task Force, (2011-2013)

Community Involvement

• President, Building for Kids Children’s Museum- Board of Directors (present)
• Secretary, Building for Kids Children’s Museum - Board of Directors, (2013 – 2015)
• Board of Directors, Phoenix Fund
• Member, Executive Women's Golf Association, Fox Cities/Green Bay Chapter

Published Articles/Presentations

• February 17, 2010, Fundamentals of Employment Law Seminar
• January 15, 2008, Post Judgment - How to Collect: Finding the Goose that Lays the Golden Egg
• November 14, 2006, Executive Women's Golf Association (EWGA) Fox Cities/Green Bay Chapter

Recognitions

• Fellow, Wisconsin Law Foundation (2015)
• Wisconsin Super Lawyers, Rising Star (2009-2015)