News & Publications Topic Search

The 2023-24 Wisconsin legislative session was a busy and successful one for the State Bar and its lobbying sections. This Rotunda Report gives a brief summary of section positions and accomplishments.

Litigation over disputes arising from high school sporting events is common in Wisconsin and other states.

March Madness is a great time to not just unwind and watch a basketball game, but we can also use this time to learn and improve as attorneys. Meghan Teigen discusses the lessons from our hobbies and interests that can benefit our legal practice.

The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association arbitrarily applied its own rules by disqualifying a high school wrestler from competing in a regional meet after receiving two unsportsmanlike conduct calls at the prior meet, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals has held.

When do statements about people and events in the news cross the line from legitimate commentary and become libel or slander (collectively, defamation)? Ongoing litigation involving former football star Brett Favre might help clarify the law.

The Brewers' Marti Wronski, one of a handful of women executives in Major League Baseball, moves from general counsel to chief operating officer.

Solo criminal defense lawyer Bill Jones is a criminal defense lawyer by day. Outside of work, he plays hurling, an Irish sport billed as the fastest game on grass. In this article, Jones discusses the law, and hurling.

A recent Wisconsin appeals court decision shows how challenging is for a defendant to convince a court to enforce waiver-of-liability agreements. Alexander Pendleton discusses lessons on crafting waiver agreements that can be learned from thedecision.

Summer is a time for enjoying Wisconsin’s lakes and rivers – but boating injuries and deaths lead to lawsuits, and lawsuits often lead to bankruptcy. David Krekeler discusses options for debtors involved in boating accident cases.

Whether you are a music consumer, a musician, or a lawyer interested in music law, the music industry requires extensive legal expertise for protecting and managing rights to creative work. Law librarian Genevieve Zook provides a comprehensive list of online copyright and research resources for music law.

The amendments begin a new chapter in the history of legalized gambling in the Badger State.

Video gaming machines that allow players to preview the outcome of particular games are illegal gambling machines, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals District I has ruled.

A recent National Labor Relations Board announcement updated guidance on whether student athletes at academic institutions are considered employees with the right to organize. John Rubin discusses the new guidance and gives practical suggestions for academic institutions in light of the announcement.

Marty Greenberg brought sports law to Wisconsin and made Marquette University Law School's National Sports Law Institute one of the nation's top programs.

Every professional sports team depends on talented people both on and off the court. Mike Sneathern is one person helping the Milwaukee Bucks succeed and thrive, in his role as Bucks' chief legal officer.

U.S. Supreme Court may decide whether the NCAA's eligibility and compensation restrictions violate antitrust laws.

Some resources to launch your research when the sports or entertainment worlds intersect with your practice.

Fishing, boating, camping, festivals and concerts, cooling off at a water park – all usual activities of summer in Wisconsin. But what happens when something goes wrong? Here are resources to help with your research into tourism and hospitality law.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, which covers Wisconsin, has ruled that student-athletes are not employees entitled to a minimum wage under the Fair Labor Standards Act, rejecting claims by former student-athletes.

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that U.S. Soccer’s governing body properly authorize the promotional use of player images without consent from the labor organization that represents the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team.

State Bar of Wisconsin legal writer Joe Forward draws parallels between football and the legal profession with U.W. Athletic Director Barry Alvarez.

Fifty years ago, in summer 1966, the Wisconsin Supreme Court (4-3) decided an antitrust case that allowed the Milwaukee Braves to relocate to Atlanta. Former Marquette Law Professor J. Gordon Hylton tells this baseball story.

Wisconsin lawyers are a creative bunch. Meet the artists – or lawyers who represent them – whether they are painters, actors, writers, filmmakers, musicians, or involved in some other creative endeavor. We hope you enjoy the mix of creativity showcased here.

Lawyers who practice “arts law” represent individuals and entertainment-industry businesses but also any business that uses visual images – and other types of creative works – on its products or as part of its marketing or advertising. This article identifies the key considerations for individuals who create art and businesses that buy, commission, or use visual images.

Imitation can be the trigger for a copyright-infringement lawsuit. This article discusses the copyright fair use doctrine – and several recent notable decisions in which courts applied the doctrine to artists’ and entrepreneurs’ creation of works using cutting-edge electronic techniques.

This special focus issue, says editorial board member Douglas Frazer, is a reminder of the many ways lawyers add to, complement, and support the arts – making the fabric of our communities and society so much better for it.

Joe Forward says learning to overcome fear when facing new situations or circumstances is one of the best life skills you’ll ever develop.

The state supreme court has ruled that a woman injured by a runaway hot air balloon can pursue negligence claims against the operator even though she signed a liability waiver and despite the state’s recreational immunity statute.

As vice president of development for the Milwaukee Brewers, Marti Wronski is an integral part in the deals that fuel the ball club. And, she's Hank's surrogate mom!

The State Bar of Wisconsin National Mock Trial planning team is calling on attorneys, judges and experienced teachers and coaches from around the state to step up to the bench and volunteer to serve on a judging panel during the 2014 National High School Mock Trial Championship on May 9 and 10 in Madison.

Help the State Bar of Wisconsin send a bill to the governor’s desk, which would return first-time, nonviolent 17-year-old offenders to juvenile court jurisdiction.

Aug. 7, 2013 – The federal government has issued new guidelines to ensure that student-athletes with disabilities have equal opportunities to participate in sports. In this article, attorney Mary Gerbig explains what this means for school districts and athletic programs.

The State Bar of Wisconsin is set to host the National Mock Trial competition next spring, and organizers of the event are pleased to announce that they have received the largest donation to date – $25,000 – from the Wisconsin Law Foundation.

June 19, 2013 – NCAA rules don’t adequately protect college athletes, says Ramogi Huma, president of the National College Players Association. In this article, Huma explains some of the legal issues involved in college sports.

Oct. 3, 2012 – Forty years ago, Congress passed Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Title IX's impact has been felt most prominently in the sports world. In this article, MU law professor Paul Anderson explains the unresolved legal issues related to Title IX.

Sept. 19, 2012 – Do the estimated 24.5 million people who play fantasy football violate gambling laws? It depends on the state, according to sports lawyer Marc Edelman. Wisconsin has not addressed the issue specifically, suggesting the state regards fantasy sports as contests of skill.

Sept. 19, 2012 – What is the lawyer's role when a client wants to purchase a unique asset, such as one of only 120 professional sports teams in the country? In this video, Foley & Lardner attorneys Mary K. Braza and Kevin Schulz talk about their involvement in the sports law industry, the roles of lawyers in big sports transactions, how their firm built a nationwide sports practice, and their favorite teams.

Beneath America's favorite pastime lives a complex legal and business world. With insight from sports industry lawyers Mary K. Braza and Kevin Schulz, follow the purchase of the Los Angeles Dodgers for a record $2.15 billion – a deal they helped bring about – and the rise to prominence of Foley & Lardner in sports law.

July 18, 2012 – Football season is right around the corner, as well as potential concussions. In high school football alone, there are approximately 67,000 diagnosed concussions each year. In this article, Madison lawyer Patrick Fiedler explains the duties and obligations created by a new concussion law.

Aug. 3, 2011 – Green Bay Packers season tickets have been sold out since 1960, and the waiting list is miles, perhaps generations, long. Estate planning attorney Sara B. Andrew explains how season ticket owners can keep their cherished Packers tickets in the family using estate planning techniques.

Oct. 18, 2010 – Recognizing the "far-reaching effects" of a court holding regarding "sports ticket distribution systems utilized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and others," the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals will wait to determine whether the NCAA violated Indiana's law prohibiting illegal lotteries.

Jan. 27, 2010 – The Wisconsin Court of Appeals found an Internet posting is like a book or TV broadcast so that a defamation cause of action begins to accrue with its first appearance. Under the new rule, the court dismissed a defamation claim against sports announcer Bob Uecker and the Brewers baseball team.

Effective Dec. 1, 2009, new FTC Guides apply the FTC Act to the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising, including the use of new media such as blogs.

Wisconsin’s recreational immunity laws took an interesting tumble when the supreme court ruled in Noffke v. Bakke that cheerleading is a contact sport for purposes of immunizing participants from negligence actions.

Opening a liquor store, tavern, or nightclub offers many risks and rewards for entrepreneurs in Wisconsin. Here’s what you need to know about the liquor licensing process to provide your clients the professional guidance they need before, during, and after the license-application process to improve their chances for long-term success in their business ventures.

May 6, 2009 – Last year’s rampant flooding in Wisconsin pointed out a need that this program is designed to meet. Attend an afternoon of free training from 12:30 to 4:10 p.m. on May 21 in Madison to educate lawyers about common legal issues faced by victims of a natural disaster. Hear legal services professionals from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), representatives from the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, as well as private practitioners discuss how disasters af

April 15, 2009 – The next time you plan to attend a State Bar seminar, you can add it to your electronic calendar when you register by using WisBar’s new “Add to My Calendar” feature. Once you have registered, click the “Add to My Calendar” hyperlink. You will receive an email notification of your event with instructions on how to save the event to your electronic calendar. The feature works for Outlook and Google users.

Apirl 15, 2009 – Did you know that the State Bar of Wisconsin is the official record keeper for agencies that regulate the practice of law in Wisconsin? That means, when your State Bar member record is out of date or incorrect, it affects more than just the Bar. It could affect communications from the Wisconsin Office of Lawyer Regulation, Board of Bar Examiners, and Wisconsin Supreme Court.

April 15, 2009 – Today, our country is experiencing one of the most troubling economic periods since the Great Depression, and the legal profession is not immune from the effects. These difficult times make finding cost-effective ways to connect with paying clients more important than ever.

April 15, 2009 – The State Bar Practice411™ Breakfast & Business: Eggs, Ethics and Answers series will be presented on April 22 in Platteville and June 17 in Pembine. Pembine program information is not yet available. Pembine is conveniently located about an hour and a half from Rhinelander, Green Bay, and Marinette, and about a half hour from Iron Mountain, Mich. Both seminars, presented in two sessions, will begin with a hot breakfast at 8:15 a.m. and conclude at 11:15 a.m.

March 18, 2009, – Today, our country is experiencing one of the most troubling economic periods since the Great Depression, and the legal profession is not immune from the effects. These difficult times make finding cost-effective resources to connect with paying clients more important than ever.

More than 5,300 lawyers, judges, law office support staff, and court personnel subscribe to the State Bar's CaseLaw Express. This free weekly email service keeps members abreast of recent cases that have been added to WisBar's case law archives. Recently redesigned, the new format is easier to scan, saving subscribers valuable time.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court in Atkins v. Swimwest invalidated yet another waiver-of-liability agreement. Atkins unfortunately does not clarify this area of the law, and while it may still be possible to create enforceable exculpatory agreements, there remain numerous traps for nonvigilant drafters.