Lester Pines is a Senior Partner in the firm. In practice since 1975, he leads the Civil Litigation area. He also concentrates in Criminal Defense, Labor and Employment and Business and Commerce.
Professional Activities and Experience
A Fellow in the American
College of Trial Lawyers, Mr. Pines is a highly respected civil
and criminal litigator who has appeared in courts throughout Wisconsin
and litigated federal matters in Wisconsin, Iowa, Ohio and New York.
His criminal defense work has involved many high profile cases, especially involving teachers, police officers and other public employees. His civil trial practice encompasses constitutional and civil rights claims, employment, personal injury and commercial disputes. He is counsel for Madison Teachers, Inc., which represents the employees of the Madison Metropolitan School District.
Mr. Pines has been appellate counsel before the Wisconsin Court of Appeals and Supreme Court and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Among the cases he successfully argued in the Wisconsin Supreme Court is Thompson v. Craney, 199 Wis. 2d 674 (1996), an original action in that court, which has been described as one of the Court's most significant interpretations of the Wisconsin Constitution.
He argued another original action in the Wisconsin Supreme Court, Wisconsin Professional Police Association v. Lightbourn, 243 Wis. 2d 512, 627 N.W. 2d 807, 2001 WI 59 (2001), which challenged the constitutionality of legislation requiring certain distributions from the trust funds of the Wisconsin Retirement System.
Mr. Pines is a Master in the James E. Doyle Chapter of the American Inns of Court. He maintains membership in the American Bar Association, Litigation Section, Wisconsin Association for Justice, Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the American Association for Justice, and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Mr. Pines is an Adjunct Faculty Member at the University of Wisconsin Law School teaching Civil Trial Advocacy.
Publications and Achievements
Wisconsin "Super Lawyer," Milwaukee Magazine 2005-2007
"Best Lawyers in America" for White Collar & Non-White Collar Criminal Defense and for Labor & Employment.
"Top Lawyers In Madison," Madison Magazine 2003, 2005, and 2007
Ben Minkoff Volunteer Service Award, Madison Jewish Community Council 2004
President, Madison Jewish Community Council , 2007-2009
President, James E. Doyle Chapter of the American Inns of Court, 2002-2007
Member, Federal Criminal Rules Committee of the American College of Trial Lawyers
Member, Downtown Madison Rotary
