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Joseph A. Bugni
About Joseph
Biography
Joe Bugni is an attorney at Hurley Burish, focusing on trial and appellate litigation in both civil and criminal matters.
In the thirteen years he spent with the Federal Defender’s Office, in Milwaukee and as supervisor in charge of the Madison office, Joe handled over 600 federal cases and over sixty appeals. He has taken many cases to trial and received acquittals in a variety of different cases, including in a closely followed large white-collar conspiracy prosecution. In addition to his extensive trial experience, he has also been successful in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit with many appellate victories and two en banc arguments. Three of his Seventh Circuit briefs have been recognized as “the best briefs” by the State Bar of Wisconsin Appellate Practice Section.
After law school, Joe clerked for three years for then-Chief Judge William J. Zloch of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida and for two years for Judge Daniel. A. Manion of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
Beyond his success in the courtroom, Joe has been recognized as a leader in the law by the State Bar. And his clients have given him over ninety positive reviews on AVVO—they can all be seen here.
Practice Areas
3
Practice Areas
Fees and Rates
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in Wisconsin for 19 years
State: Wisconsin
Acquired: 2006
No misconduct found
Location
Hurley Burish, S.C.
33 East Main, Suite 400, Madison, WI, 53703
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Joseph A. Bugni's Reviews
Avvo Review Score
124 Client Reviews
Filter Avvo Reviews (124)
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Practice Areas
Criminal Defense (70)
Federal Crime (23)
Lawsuits & Disputes (20)
Appeals (6)
Litigation (3)
Business (2)
Civil Rights (1)
Consumer Protection (1)
Drug Crime (1)
Education (1)
Environmental and Natural Resources (1)
Expungement (1)
Family (1)
Guardianship (1)
Juvenile (1)
Probate (1)
Securities & Investment Fraud (1)
State, Local And Municipal Law (1)
White Collar Crime (1)
What Clients Mention
Showing 1 - 5 of 40 reviews | Communication Style
Posted by melany | February 05, 2026 | Hired Attorney | Lawsuits & Disputes
Outstanding Attorney, Highly Recommend!
I cannot recommend Joe Bugni highly enough. He handled my father’s extremely complex case with exceptional care, strategic thinking, and professionalism from start to finish. Joe took the time to walk our family through every step of the process, clearly explaining each decision point and all poss...
Posted by Nicole | February 01, 2026 | Hired Attorney | Lawsuits & Disputes
Joe Bugni: Dedicated and Knowledgeable Legal Advocate
I felt completely unheard and powerless — like no one was listening and my life was slipping away. Then I met Joe Bugni. From the very first moment, he treated me with empathy, honesty, and integrity. He listened, understood, and fought tirelessly for me, turning one of the darkest moments of my life...
Posted by Laurie | January 02, 2026 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense
OUTSTANDING LAWYER
Joseph A. Bugni of Hurley Burish S.C. is currently representing my husband in a sentence modification/sentence adjustment matter, and his willingness to take our case meant more to me than I can put into words. From the very beginning, he has been responsive, compassionate, and professional — consist...
Posted by Renee | January 27, 2025 | Hired Attorney | State, Local And Municipal Law
Professional Review from Privacy Patrol LLC
Joseph A. Bugni and his team at Hurley Burish, S.C., provided exemplary legal support during our recent dealings with the state of Wisconsin. From the very beginning, they devoted considerable time to thoroughly understand our company's operations, culture, and business model. This deep dive into our...
Posted by Lisa | August 28, 2024 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense
Invested and compassionate
Joe was referred to us by other attorneys to handle a combination school discipline case that carried a criminal charge. He was very forthright in how I could pull information together to help build the case (also saving us some billable hours). We hired Joe after a few conversations about our situat...
Joseph A. Bugni's Lawyer Endorsements
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I have known Joe for many years now. And having watched him from the sidelines, worked on cases together, and worked in the same office as him, I am in a position to comment on his abilities. He is really a spectacular lawyer who cares about his clients and their families. He takes the time to get to know them and works tirelessly to advance their interests, which he does incredibly well. He is a great trial lawyer and excels in his written advocacy. It's an honor to be a colleague of his."
"If you're searching for a dedicated, passionate, highly intelligent and adept attorney for your federal defense, look no further than Joe Bugni. Joe has an innate ability to see and help others see the goodness and humanity in everyone around him, and he works tirelessly on behalf of all his clients to pursue the best possible outcome. An attorney who cares about your short term, long term, physical, emotional and spiritual well being, you will be hard pressed to find a better advocate or friend."
"Joe is personable, diligent, and thoughtful. Having spent his entire career in the federal system, Joe's knowledge of both federal criminal law and the federal criminal justice system is tremendous. The level of care and thought he puts into any piece of writing is inspiring, and the results speak for themselves. He gets great results."
"If you're in trouble and the government is your adversary, you need Joe. He brings honesty, skill and passion to your defense. Joe is talented; his legal writing is superb. He is well-regarded and committed to his clients."
"When I think about the type of lawyer that I would want to hire if I was in trouble, I think of Atty. Bugni. He is smart, thorough, creative, concerned, and respected by lawyers and judges alike. He's the perfect person to have at your side if you're walking into a courtroom to fight for your rights. I highly recommend Atty. Bugni."
"Joe is a wonderful lawyer. He not only has an encyclopedic knowledge of the law, but a great deal of compassion for people who are going through a terrible time in their life. He is thorough, dogged, and tireless. If there is a problem with the government's case, Joe will find it and use it to his client's greatest advantage, whether it's litigation or resolution. Joe's clients are lucky to have him; they couldn't be in better hands."
"Joe is a brilliant and creative legal mind. He fearlessly takes on the most difficult cases, and aggressively advocates for his clients even against the toughest of odds. He has a mixture of legal knowledge and good judgment that few lawyers possess, and his clients are better off for it."
"Joe is a formidable criminal defense lawyer that masters the law and facts of each case he handles. From winning suppression motions to appeals, he represents his clients at the highest levels in federal courts throughout Wisconsin. He is personally invested in each client who he represents and cares about the outcome of each case. Having earned broad experience in many areas of law by clerking for two federal judges, he chose to dedicate himself to representing those accused of crime. No lawyer will work harder or smarter on a case, and Federal Defender Services of Wisconsin and its clients are lucky to have him."
"Keen intellect, sound judgment, and real passion make Joe Bugni the best young lawyer that money can't buy. If Joe were paid what he is worth, almost nobody could afford to hire him. I endorse this lawyer."
Andrea Winder
Criminal defense lawyer
Nathan Otis
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Kevin Smith
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Experience
Honors
2022
Best Brief, Wisconsin State Bar
2018
Leaders in the Law, Wisconsin Law Journal
2018
Best Brief, Wisconsin State Bar
2016
Best Brief, State Bar of Wisconsin
Work Experience
2024 - Present
Attorney, Hurley Burish, SC
2011 - 2024
Assistant Federal Defender, Federal Defender Services Of Wisconsin
2009 - 2011
Law Clerk, Seventh Circuit Court Of Appeals
2006 - 2009
Law Clerk, United States Federal Court for the Southern District of Florida
Associations
2014 - Present
United States District Court for the Western District of WisconsinMember
2011 - Present
Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association
2011 - Present
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh CircuitMember
2011 - Present
United States District Court for the Eastern District of WisconsinMember
2011 - 2015
Seventh Circuit Bar Association
Sample of Legal Cases
United States v. Leo, 792 F.3d 742
reversed
Pidgeon v. Smith, 785 F.3d 1165
grant of habeas corpus affirmed
United States v. Moore, 983 F. Supp.2d 1030
evidence suppressed
United States v. Delgado, 701 F.3d 1161
reversed
United States v. Rahman, 805 F3d 822 (7th Cir. 2015)
reversed, evidence ordered suppressed
Jensen v. Clements, 800 F.3d 892 (7th Cir. 2015)
habeas grant affirmed
United States v. Vivas-Ceja, 808 F.3d 719 (7th Cir. 2015)
United States v. Ferguson, 831 F.3d 850 (7th Cir. 2016)
reversal of 50 year sentence
Education
2006
Ave Maria School of Law
JD - Juris Doctor
2000
Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations
BS - Bachelor of Science
Speaking Engagements
2015
Marquette Appellate Writing Symposium
Narrative Brief Writing
2014
Marquette Law School Appellate Practice Section
Persuasive Brief Writing
Publications
2023
Florida Defender (FACDL)
A Legacy that Endures
2022
The Champion magazine
A Legacy of Uncompromising Excellence: A Tribute to Jim Shellow
2022
The Champion magazine
The Best Thing Since the Exlusionary Rule: For the Defense
2022
95 Wis. Law 38-46
Jim Shellow and the Importance of Mentorship
2019
THE ATTORNEY’S GUIDE TO THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS
Direct Criminal Appeals in the Seventh Circuit
Languages
English