Rubicon Criminal Lawyers

I have successfully defended the rights of the accused in the full range of criminal and traffic offenses since 1992. I am sensitive to the fact that while I have a busy caseload, this may be your only experience with the criminal justice system. Whether your are accused of a minor traffic violation or a serious felony, you can expect that your matter will be handled with a high level of professionalism, integrity and sensitivity. Remember, it's your case.


Proper communication between attorney and client is the hallmark of effective representation. Clients can expect copies of documents filed on their behalf...

Attorney Hetzel is the founding partner of Hetzel Law Office, LLC and honors the practice of law through his professionalism, ethical standards and aggressive representation of his clients. Attorney Hetzel has developed a reputation for his diligence in his responsibilities to his clients which has resulted in a practice dominated by referrals from satisfied clients and other attorneys. Areas of practice include personal injury, workers compensation, insurance disputes and criminal defense. He is currently a member of the Wisconsin Association for Justice and Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

I am the Managing Member and an attorney with Leech Law Offices. I am dedicated to representing people in defense of criminal charges principally in Washington, Ozaukee, Fond du Lac, Dodge and Sheboygan Counties.

Attorney Julius Kim serves as the managing partner of Kim & LaVoy, S.C. Mr. Kim specializes in the area of criminal defense, and is particularly knowledgeable in cases involving drug offenses, sex offenses, internet crimes, domestic violence, drunk driving, and white collar crimes. He has an AV Preeminent™ attorney rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the nation’s leading authority on lawyers and law firms for over 140 years. This rating is the highest possible rating for legal ability and ethical standards. In addition to his AV Preeminent™ rating, Mr. Kim has also earned the Client Distinction Award from Martindale-Hubbell. This...

Attorney Nelson has an impressive criminal trial record having accomplished not guilty verdicts in many cases, including a stretch of seven not guilty verdicts within a span of ten trials. He has successfully had cases dismissed after getting courts to suppress illegally obtained evidence. He is passionately dedicated to the aggressive protection of constitutional rights and liberties. In representing injured and disabled client's he has obtained numerous successful results, including a $627,000 jury verdict in an automobile collision case in Milwaukee County following a week-long trial. In December of 2014 he got a Washington County Jury to award...

Attorney John Birdsall has more than 30 years of experience and has earned a reputation as one of the most trusted criminal defense lawyers in Milwaukee and the State of Wisconsin. With over 250 jury trails, mostly for serious felonies such as homicide, he has an acquittal rate that is three times the Wisconsin average. John’s practice is focused exclusively on defending the wrongly accused, and has recently helped a client named Eddie Gill. After being accused of shooting and killing a Milwaukee resident, John helped uncover that the police has interrogated Gill into confessing when he was in...

A true Wisconsin native, Attorney Wood earned her undergraduate degree from Marquette University and her law degree from the University of Wisconsin. From the beginning of her legal career, Attorney Wood dedicated herself to defending OWI cases—allowing her to gain valuable experience and insights that are used to help her clients. Attorney Wood is the first Wisconsin attorney to serve on the Board of Regents for the National College for DUI Defense (NCDD) held at Harvard Law School, an organization devoted to furthering education for attorneys in this field of law. She is also a frequent speaker at...

Kirk Obear began his career in the U.S. Air Force as a JAG, prosecuting military cases. He later became one of the most renowned defense lawyers within the military. In the 1990s, Kirk moved his practice to defend civilians in private practice. Today, with the help of superior legal professionals, he represents individuals facing the most serious crimes.

At our firm, we take a teamwork approach. To us, more muscle means getting the job done faster and better. Frequent meetings, brainstorming, extensive investigation, and applying our years of legal and scientific training are all part of what makes our teamwork approach...

Attorney Westley practices criminal defense and DUI/OWI all over Wisconsin. She graduated from Marquette University Law School in 2015 with a certificate in litigation and uses that every day. She did her undergrad at the University of Minnesota and graduated from there in 2011. She has done a stint with Americorps and regularly volunteers for Teen Court in Waukesha County as a judge.

She has won numerous awards for client satisfaction and works hard to get the best case scenario for her clients on a daily basis.

Rick Coad is the founder and principal of Coad Law Office, S.C., in Madison, Wisconsin. He is a top-rated criminal defense attorney with more than 19 years of experience. Rick focuses his practice on defending individuals and corporations in state and federal court. His skills have carried him to courts throughout the midwest, and he has argued a case in the United States Supreme Court. He has been named by Super Lawyers thirteen times in his career, most recently in 2023. He is widely considered a leading defense lawyer in Wisconsin.

Nils Wyosnick is an attorney for Murphy Desmond S.C., based in Madison, Wisconsin. With a concentration in defending clients charged with drunk driving offenses and misdemeanor and felony crimes, Nils represents clients in Wisconsin and Illinois. A graduate of the University of Illinois-Chicago School of Law, Nils began his career as a prosecutor for the Cook County State's Attorney's Office in Chicago. As an Assistant State's Attorney, Nils prosecuted in some of the busiest courtrooms in the nation, gaining extensive trial work experience and training. In 2014, Nils left the State's Attorney's office for private practice; continuing his experience in...

As an young and energetic attorney at Tracey Wood & Associates, Teuta Jonuzi fights hard for the rights or her clients.

Michael M. Hayes was a founding partner of the Milwaukee law firm of Hayes & Rothstein, 1983-2019.

A Milwaukee native, Mr. Hayes earned his Juris Doctor law degree in 1981 from Marquette University Law School, where he was the Lead Articles Editor on the Law Review. During this time, he also served as a Judicial Intern for Wisconsin Court of Appeals Chief Judge John Decker. His undergraduate studies were completed at the University of Notre Dame and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he graduated in 1977. Within 3 years he was listed in Best Lawyers in America after founding what had...

Raymond M. Dall’Osto is a partner with the law firm of Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown, LLP in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is admitted to practice law in Wisconsin and Illinois. His practice areas are white-collar and criminal defense in federal and state courts, defense of regulatory investigations, professional discipline defense, ethics and licensing matters, civil litigation, personal injury, employment, and constitutional rights. Ray received his law degree from the Marquette University Law School in 1977. He taught there as an adjunct professor of law from 1985 to 1990, and also has lectured at the University of Wisconsin...

Benjamin Van Severen is a criminal defense attorney who practices in Milwaukee and throughout the state of Wisconsin. He has experience handling all types of cases, from misdemeanors and OWI/DUI to serious felonies, including homicide, sexual assault, crimes involving firearms, and drug crimes. Focusing entirely on criminal defense, Attorney Van Severen has achieved an acquittal rate three times the state average. Attorney Van Severen received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Marquette University in 2010, with majors in Political Science and Criminology, and a minor in Music. He then received his Juris Doctor from Marquette...

Sarah concentrates on two areas of practice: criminal and traffic defense and immigration law. In the area of criminal and traffic defense, Sarah has defended clients at all levels - from local municipal courts through the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Sarah handles many circuit court trials every year, successfully protecting client interests. Sarah handles all levels of appeal in criminal and traffic cases and has argued several cases in front of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Sarah frequently handles charges of drunk driving, sexual assault, substantial battery, theft from employer, delivery of a controlled substance, and all types of criminal and...

Nicole M. Masnica is a Partner at Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown, LLP in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Working to serve Wisconsin clients and bettering her community has always been a top priority. Nicole has spent countless hours in circuit courts in Southeastern Wisconsin both as a trial attorney and appellate advocate. Prior to joining the firm, Nicole spent nine years representing countless individuals in all stages of criminal litigation at the Wisconsin State Public Defender’s Office, from pre-charging conferences to appellate representation to administrative revocation proceedings. She has tried multiple cases to a jury with successful outcomes and has achieved relief for...

Before joining Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown, LLP as an Associate, Adam J. Schleis worked for seven years in the Wisconsin State Public Defender’s Office where he did trial-level defense work. His practice later expanded to include cases beyond criminal defense such as those involving mental health, guardianship, child protective services and family law— working with clients from pre-charging all the way through jury trial. In his eight years of experience, Adam has tried plenty of cases in front of a jury. To schedule your initial consultation with the Wisconsin Criminal Defense Attorney, visit online or call 414-271-1440.

Stephen Govin is an experienced and aggressive Criminal Defense Attorney, representing clients in state and federal courts throughout Wisconsin. He is dedicated to providing the highest level of legal services and personal care to clients facing charges from misdemeanors to serious felony offenses.

Stephen received a B.A. in Criminology from Marquette University in 1999. He attended on an athletic scholarship for soccer, where he helped Marquette reach its first NCAA Division I soccer tournament. His J.D. was earned at Marquette University Law School in 2003, focusing on criminal law from his first day. Stephen clerked for the Honorable Victor Manion in...

Atty. Matthew Pinix has represented hundreds of individuals in postconviction, appellate, habeas, and civil rights matters. He has also given several educational talks to lawyers, law students, and the public about criminal appeals and the processes involved.

On multiple occasions, he has been invited by other lawyers to represent individuals or organizations before the Wisconsin Supreme Court in criminal cases.

Every year since 2013, he has been selected by his peers for inclusion in Super Lawyers Magazine as a Rising Star, an award given to no more than 2.5% of the attorneys in Wisconsin.

Prior to becoming a practicing lawyer, Matthew worked as...

An accomplished defense attorney with a background in prosecution.

Attorney Mehlos graduated with honors from the University of Notre Dame and the University of Wisconsin Law School. During law school, Attorney Mehlos participated in the Wisconsin Innocence Project, handling 10 post-conviction homicide and assault cases. That experience provided Attorney Mehlos with the foundation to surgically attack highly-complex cases involving tough facts and tailor creative solutions to achieve outstanding results for his clients. Attorney Mehlos has worked relentlessly to achieve outstanding results for his clients in cases ranging from homicide cases, personal injury lawsuits, to helping families with child protective services. In his first case out of law school, Attorney...

Mr. Chadwick Kaehne graduated from the University of Wisconsin
with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. Shortly after his
undergraduate studies, Mr. Kaehne founded a mental health clinic serving
clients throughout Winnebago, Fond du Lac, Outagamie, and Brown
counties. Mr. Kaehne established his law practice shortly after
receiving his Juris Doctorate from the University of Dayton School of
Law in Ohio. Using the philosophy grounded from his experiences from the
mental health field, Mr. Kaehne believes that not only should a law
firm be both reputable and aggressive in serving the needs of their
clients; but also passionate, with...

Criminal defense attorney Brian C. Nelson earned his Bachelor degree from Indiana University in 2012. He continued his legal education at Indiana University, and earned his Juris Doctorate in 2016. During law school, Mr. Nelson focused on trial advocacy and criminal defense, taking every available course and clinic in those fields. In his second year, he interned at the Marion County Prosecutors Office for a semester before leaving to clerk for a private criminal defense attorney. Mr. Nelson was on the board of his legal fraternity, and competed as a member of his school’s trial advocacy team his last two...

Brian Brophy is a civil litigation and criminal defense attorney. He’s had the benefit of extensive experience both prosecuting and defending criminal and civil actions. The majority of his practice is devoted to defending those charged with crimes and representing people who have been seriously injured in accidents.

Scott McCarthy has been in practice since 1991 and is one of the most experienced trial lawyers in southern Wisconsin. Scott has taken countless cases to trial in Rock County, Dane County, Waukesha County, Jefferson County and more surrounding counties and counties around the State. He has won at every level including the Supreme Court Scott's success was noticed in 2007 when one of the larger firms in Madison asked Scott to join their litigation team. Scott founded the Janesviille branch of Murphy Desmond and was quickly named to the firm's Litigation Executive Committee where he helped guide the...

Ms. Stephanie Rock graduated from Lakeland University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management and Criminal Justice. She then received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Wisconsin Madison. While in law school, Ms. Rock worked for the Legal Assistance to Institutionalized Persons Clinic, assisting Wisconsin prison inmates with post-conviction matters. This experience is what made Ms. Rock passionate about criminal defense work. She was also a student in the Federal Appeals Project which handles direct appeals for federal inmates. This allowed Ms. Rock to enhance her legal writing skills and become a strong advocate for her clients....

Attorney Amy C. Scholz is a former state criminal prosecutor who primarily focuses her practice on providing the best defense to clients with criminal defense, traffic, and drunk driving matters. Amy began her practice in Ohio where she worked for the City of Akron Prosecutors Office. She then returned to Wisconsin where she worked as an assistant district attorney before refocusing her practice to criminal defense. Amy is a zealous advocate for her clients. She has successfully argued motions to the court, negotiated the reduction of felony and misdemeanor charges, prevailed at jury trials, and earned...

Franklyn M. Gimbel founded GRGB after serving as an Assistant United States Attorney from 1963 through 1968. His experience as a federal prosecutor has proven invaluable in developing a successful private criminal defense law practice.

Over the years, Frank has expanded his practice into civil litigation, including complex business, employment, communications, and First Amendment cases. He has represented small businesses and large corporations, as well as individuals ranging from working men and women to judges, CEOs, and other professionals. No person's problem is too insignificant or too complicated.

Helping people is Frank's passion and the cornerstone of his practice. As he so...

Attorney John K. Smerlinski has over 20 years of experience practicing criminal, divorce, and personal injury law in the state of Wisconsin. Attorney Smerlinski specializes in criminal law and can help you with DUI charges, drug charges, misdemeanor charges, and felony charges just to name a few. Smerlinski Law Office S. C. has extensive experience in divorce/family law and personal injury law. The firm has secured over 50 acquittals for clients over the years, and will work hard to get you the best results possible with your case. Contact Smerlinski Law Office today, for a free consultation, to discuss...

Jason D. Baltz is primarily a criminal defense attorney in Mikwaukee, but he also takes on cases for family law, personal injury, and business law. To contact Attorney Baltz about your legal matter, visit his website, or call his office today!

Admitted to practice law in Wisconsin since 1995, I have had my own law practice since 1997. Based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, my practice concentrates on litigation in the areas of criminal defense (all levels, state & federal), family law (divorce, child custody/support, paternity), personal bankruptcy (and alternatives), state & municipal licensing and other areas. I am admitted to practice in Wisconsin and in both the U.S. District Courts of the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin. I earned my B.A. at the University of New Orleans in 1991 and my J.D. from Marquette University Law School in 1995. I am...

Eric Schanowski is an Associate with Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown, LLP in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Prior to joining the firm, Eric worked as a prosecutor at the Cook County State's Attorney's Office and as an employment litigator. Eric is admitted to practice in Wisconsin. Eric graduated from the University of Michigan in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies and a minor in Spanish. He received his JD from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law in 2018. While in law school, Eric was the Online Managing Editor for the Northwestern University Law Review and a member of the Moot Court Society....

As a respected former federal prosecutor, Tom joined Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown, LLP in 1978. His superlative understanding of the federal court system is highly praised among the Wisconsin Law community; however, he prides himself on tailoring his legal expertise to meet the unique needs of each client and each case. In his own words, Tom suggests that he is "not a lawyer, but rather an advocate for the client." Tom's experience in the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin has given him the tools needed to build a highly successful white-collar criminal defense...

Breanne Bucher joined the firm in April, 2014. She previously was an associate attorney at a general practice law firm in Waukesha County. Breanne graduated from Valparaiso University School of Law in 2010 and passed the Wisconsin Bar Examination on her first attempt.

In law school, she was a member of the Valparaiso Law Criminal Law Clinic, in which she represented indigent clients charged with both low-level misdemeanors and violent felony offenses. She also interned with the Lake County Public Defender’s Office in Lake County, Indiana and continued to gain experience in criminal defense. Although passionate about criminal law, she discovered...

Attorney Tom Grieve founded Grieve Law, LLC in October of 2013 that now ranks among the largest and most award-winning criminal defense and drunk driving firms in Wisconsin. The attorneys at Grieve Law are both proud and honored to be trusted by the citizens of Wisconsin to represent them in difficult times around the state.

Beyond the courtroom, Tom has served as a speaker at the University of Wisconsin Law School on behalf of the Federalist Society concerning the 2nd Amendment, appears frequently on the national broadcast panels of the United States Conceal Carry Association, serves as a guest legal commentator...

Paul was born in Milwaukee, WI and grew up on the south side of Milwaukee. Paul has five brothers and was raised by a single mom. Growing up on the south side of Milwaukee, Paul attended the local Catholic grade school and worked his way through school by working at gas stations, having a paper route and doing whatever he could to raise money to pay for tuition and books. Paul attended Pius XI high school and, once again, worked to pay all costs of his education, as did his five brothers.

Upon graduating from high school, Paul took a year...

My first trial after graduating law school was a homicide case and we achieved a not guilty verdict. Since then, our firm has achieved innumerable dismissals and acquittals. We have won cases that seem unwindable. We have won cases when clients have confessed to crimes. In one very remarkable case, one of our clients confessed to a crime and pleaded guilty with another lawyer. After coming to us for a second opinion we were able to withdraw his guilty plea, go to trial, and convince a jury of his innocence despite the fact that he confessed his guilt to the...