William A. Wiseman

Bill represents his clients in the litigation of many types of complex business and commercial disputes including contract and construction litigation and insurance coverage litigation. He also assists and counsels clients in resolving corporate and shareholder disputes, negotiating executive compensation and severance packages, as well as agreed settlements of employment disputes—including disputes over non-compete or nonsolicitation agreements. In his litigation practice, Bill draws on widespread transactional experience in business acquisitions and sales, corporate contracts, and financing. Bill has been with the Firm for over 35 years, following graduation from Law School and a one-year term as law clerk to then Chief Justice E. Harold Hallows, of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Experience

• Contract and Commercial Litigation
• Construction Litigation
• Insurance Coverage Disputes (from the insured's perspective)
• Securities Law Claims and Broker/Dealer Arbitration (NASD)
• Professional and Malpractice Litigation
• Fair Dealership Claims
• Employment Disputes
• Executive Compensation and Severance Packages
• Corporate and Shareholder Disputes
• Commercial and Securities Fraud
• Bankruptcy Litigation
• Environmental Litigation (CERCLA and state), Remediation and Site Closure (DNR)
• Insurance and Products Liability Defense
• Mediator of Corporate and Commercial Disputes

Recent Major Case Experience

• Represented Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America in the recently concluded lawsuit in Milwaukee County Circuit Court relating to the construction of the radial retractable roof of Miller Park (the home of the Milwaukee Brewers). The case, filed by the Southeast Wisconsin Professional Baseball Park District, sought $50 million in damages from Mitsubishi for alleged defects in the retractable roof, which Mitsubishi constructed. Mitsubishi denied liability and filed a counterclaim seeking additional costs incurred in constructing the roof due to material changes made to the roof's design by the Baseball Park District's architect-of-record after Mitsubishi bid the job. In late 2004, following three years of contentious litigation, the parties attempted
mediation. After three days of mediation involving 22 attorneys from seven states, a settlement was reached in January 2005, resulting in Mitsubishi paying nothing on the Baseball Park District’s claims and receiving $18 million on its counterclaim.

• Also represented Mitsubishi, post verdict and on appeal, in connection with the insurance issues presented in the ironworker death cases likewise brought in Milwaukee County Circuit Court arising out of the construction of Miller Park. These consolidated cases (which gave rise to a trial court verdict of $99M in December 2000) and the multiple consolidated appeals that were pending before the Wisconsin Court of Appeals—raising both trial error and insurance issues—were all recently settled and the appeals dismissed effective as of February 2006. Mitsubishi itself paid nothing, and the trial court rulings in favor of Mitsubishi on