Candidate for Secretary

Martina Gast

Pipestone Law, LLC, Lake Mills
Email: martina@pipestonelaw.com

Platform Statement

I want to express my gratitude for being nominated to run for State Bar secretary. I strongly believe in the importance of public service and look forward to assisting the State Bar and its members if elected as secretary.

After being actively involved in various positions within the State Bar for many years, including serving as chair and secretary of the Indian Law Section and my current role as the Native American Building Bridges Liaison, I have developed a deep understanding and appreciation of the State Bar and its mission. If elected secretary, I will combine my lifelong love for the State of Wisconsin and the hard work and discipline I have learned from those around me to perform the secretary’s duties and responsibilities accurately and efficiently. I will also lean on my personal and professional experiences to further the State Bar’s mission of providing professional service while promoting access to justice throughout the State, from our rural communities to our urban areas. Lastly, I look forward to hearing from you on how the State Bar can better serve the diverse group of attorneys who make up our membership, including increasing activities focused on attorney wellness.

I respectfully ask for your vote. Thank you for your consideration!

Biography

I am a first-generation college graduate born and raised in a small, rural Wisconsin town. I started my legal career as a labor and employment associate at Godfrey & Kahn in Madison. I then moved to Arizona where I worked at a boutique Indian law firm, further enhancing my desire to assist tribal clients. Missing my home state, I seized the opportunity to return to Wisconsin to serve as the labor and employment attorney for the Forest County Potawatomi Community. After nearly a decade of private practice and in-house experience, I started my own law firm, Pipestone Law, dedicated to providing employment law and HR support to Indian tribes and tribal entities.

I am a member of the Red Rock Indian Band, an Ojibwe First Nation. In my free time, I enjoy exploring the world, cheering on the Badgers, and teaching yoga.

Education

J.D., University of Wisconsin Law School (2011)

B.A., University of Wisconsin-Madison, with distinction (2008)

Professional and Community Involvement

State Bar of Wisconsin Indian Law Section - Secretary, Chair-Elect, Chair, Past Chair

State Bar of Wisconsin Native American Building Bridges Liaison

State Bar of Wisconsin Board of Governors Building Bridges Liaison Mentor

State Bar of Wisconsin Ready.Set.Practice. Mentor