Timothy M. Barber

Timothy Barber is an income partner at Axley Brynelson, LLP. His practice focuses on appellate practice, commercial and municipal insurance defense work and litigation, and labor and employment law. Mr. Barber handles cases on a wide range of topics, including employment discrimination, insurance coverage, municipal liability, copyright law, business disputes, tort-liability, non-compete agreements, and property rights. He is also an adjunct professor at UW Madison, teaching legal writing and research.

Mr. Barber’s experience litigating and teaching in several legal areas allows him to provide his clients with a broad-based understanding of the challenges they face. Mr. Barber enjoys helping small businesses navigate through complex legal issues, so they can focus on what really matters to them.

Mr. Barber also frequently works on appellate matters and handles appeals before the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, Wisconsin Supreme Court, and Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. He recently was successful in two insurance defense cases before the Wisconsin Supreme Court, the first involving the interpretation of a pollution exclusion clause in a policy of homeowner’s insurance and the second involving the meaning of a “following form” endorsement in a commercial umbrella policy. He also routinely writes “friend of court briefs” on behalf of trade associations and interests groups.

As a self-described “appellate-guru,” Mr. Barber is often consulted by other attorneys facing difficult appellate issues and asked to help posture cases in trial for a potential appeal. Mr. Barber credits his two-year experience clerking for Justice Jon P. Wilcox (ret.) on the Wisconsin Supreme Court with providing him an insider’s understanding of how appellate courts operate and on what arguments they find persuasive. Attorney Barber has argued cases before the Wisconsin Supreme Court and United States Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

As an amateur shutter-bug, Mr. Barber enjoys working on cases involving trademark and copyright disputes, particularly as they relate to photography. Mr. Barber is also an avid cyclist and mountain bike racer and takes satisfaction in handling cases involving bicycle accidents, recreational immunity issues, and liability waivers. Mr. Barber is heavily involved in the local cycling community and serves on several committees relating to transportation issues. He also serves on the board of directors of a local non-profit group that builds and maintains bike trails in the Madison area.

The first lawyer in his family, Mr. Barber distinguished himself at Marquette University Law School by serving on the editorial board of the Marquette Law Review and as Managing Editor of the Marquette Intellectual Property Law Review. He continues to be a regular contributor to legal publications and is a frequent speaker at legal seminars.

Admitted to practice in the State Courts of Wisconsin, Eastern District of Wisconsin and Western District of Wisconsin.