MASTANTUONO COFFEE & THOMAS - Key Persons
Claude-Allan Milhomme joined Mastantuono Coffee & Thomas from the State Public Defender's Office in Racine County, where he represented people accused of misdemeanor and felony crimes. He also represented individuals in probation revocation hearings, emergency mental health detention hearings, and in emergency probate litigation, gaining experience in litigation and client advocacy. He understands the stress that his clients often experience, and utilizes a unique and personable approach in addressing clients' concerns.
Claude-Allan Milhomme focuses on defending people accused of crime in municipal and state courts. Brining his experience as an attorney with the State Public Defender's Office in Racine County, Claude-Allan is an effective advocate for his clients. Consistent with our team approach, he also works with the partners on cases, providing support, research, and discovery analysis. Claude-Allan received his law degree from Marquette University and his undergraduate degree in Criminology and Public Administration from Florida State University.
Craig is well respected and recognized across Wisconsin as an aggressive criminal trial lawyer and effective negotiator. He understands the benefits of positive outcomes for clients and uses a strategic, imaginative approach to defending individuals accused of a crime in Wisconsin.
As the son and grandson of immigrants, Craig is a former President of Wisconsin Hispanic Lawyers Association (WHLA), and currently chairs the WHLA Scholarship Committee for Latino Law Students. Craig is on faculty at Marquette University Law School, where he teaches Criminal Practice with MULS Professor Daniel Blinka. He has received recognition from the Milwaukee Business Journal, which profiled him as a dynamic young business leader in its annual 40 Under Forty edition, and is a frequent expert legal commentator for TV Channel 12 WISN/ABC News Milwaukee.
Recognized in the Milwaukee community as a leading criminal defense lawyer, Craig Mastantuono relies on extensive experience to generate positive outcomes for his clients. His practice is focused on defending clients facing criminal charges across Wisconsin with an aggressive approach to litigation, and bringing a problem-solving perspective to negotiations. Craig's dedication to his clients and to helping them through their cases is unrivaled: he is well-known for taking the time to get to the root of client issues, referring clients for treatment, and effectively representing their experiences to prosecutors and judges. Craig has been recognized in Wisconsin Super Lawyers as a top criminal defense lawyer, voted by his colleagues each year for over a decade, and serves as an adjunct professor at the Marquette University Law School. He received his law degree from DePaul University of Chicago and his undergraduate degree cum laude from Loyola University of Chicago.
Job Titles:
- CLIENT SERVICES COORDINATOR
Because our approach at Mastantuono Coffee & Thomas is to help people overcome their problems, we invest extensive resources and staff time counseling our clients and guiding them through the unfamiliar process involved in a court case or investigation. As a client services specialist, Jada works directly with our clients and the attorneys to ensure there is open communication, and follow through with case goals. She assists our clients with referrals for treatment services, monitoring deferred prosecution and diversion agreements, and connecting clients with resources necessary to achieve the best case results.
Prior to joining Mastantuono Coffee & Thomas in 2023, Jada worked as a Probation and Parole agent for the Wisconsin Department of Corrections for 25 years. She brings a deep knowledge of not only how probation and parole works, but also the prison system and various resources for AODA treatment, anger management, and Domestic violence treatment providers.
I enjoy working with people and helping them to the best of my ability. It puts a smile on my face knowing that I was able to help someone successfully meet their goals.
PRACTICE AREAS
Federal Offenses
Job Titles:
- ATTORNEY
- Co - Chair of the Criminal Law Section of the Milwaukee Bar Association
Leah has earned distinction working with Mastantuono Coffee & Thomas Law clients accused of crimes in state, federal and municipal courts throughout Wisconsin, winning jury trials and getting charges dropped or reduced to non-criminal violations.
Leah earned her law degree from Marquette University Law School in 2011, while working for the firm as a paralegal. She earned her undergraduate degree in Sociology and Criminal Justice magna cum laude from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where she also completed paralegal certification. Leah has worked with the firm continuously since 2006, and as an attorney she has developed deep practice experience in areas ranging from OWI (drunk driving) cases to Federal Sentencing Guidelines issues. She uses this broad experience and a commitment to the firm's approach of helping each client to develop an individual strategy suited to the particular case.
Leah also serves as the co-chair of the Criminal Law Section of the Milwaukee Bar Association, as well as co-chair of the Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association Membership Committee.
Practicing in state, federal, and municipal courts, Leah Thomas has earned a reputation as a tough and relentless courtroom lawyer who fights hard for her clients. She invests time with her clients to listen, to explain the legal process, and to set outcome goals. Representing clients facing all criminal charges, Leah specializes in vehicular crimes, drunk driving and criminal traffic defense. She is the co-chair of the Milwaukee Bar Association's Criminal Law Board, as well as the Eastern District of Wisconsin Membership Committee. Leah received her law degree from Marquette University Law School and her undergraduate degree in sociology/criminal justice magna cum laude from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Job Titles:
- INVESTIGATION
- INVESTIGATOR
Using his experience as a U.S. Marine Corporal from 2003 to 2009, including two tours of active combat duty in Iraq, Marcus Ruiz assists the attorneys with all investigation needs. He spent five years as part of the Mastantuono Coffee & Thomas team while he completed his degree at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Marcus then spent five years in an auditing position with a Fortune 500 company, while retaining his role as the firm's emeritus investigator.
As of June 2021, Marcus has returned to the team part-time, and provides his expertise on cases involving firearms and self-defense, bringing his experience as a firearms expert and marksman during his Marine service. He also uses his fluency in Spanish to dig deeper into our cases for better results.
I'm able to combine two things I enjoy - combing a case for details that were missed, and talking with people. Helping them is a bonus.
Rebecca has litigated cases before the Wisconsin Court of Appeals and the Wisconsin Supreme Court, winning cases before both. The Wisconsin's Super Lawyers publication included her in the Rising Stars' category from 2008 to 2012 and as a Super Lawyer in 2014 through 2021, in addition to making the Top 50 Attorneys in Wisconsin list in 2018 and 2019, and the Top 25 Women Lawyers in Wisconsin from 2017 to 2021. She was also chosen by the Wisconsin Law Journal to receive the 2015 Women in the Law Award as a leader in the criminal defense bar. She was also voted Best Criminal Lawyer in the Milwaukee Shepherd Express Readers' Poll in 2018.
Rebecca previously served as a staff attorney at the American Bar Association Death Penalty Representation Project in Washington, D.C., and was board chair of the State Bar of Wisconsin's criminal law section from 2012 through 2014. She has given numerous presentations at conferences and meetings held by the State Bar of Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. In 2012, she co-authored an article published in the Wisconsin Lawyer entitled SOS: Defendants' Right to Counsel.
Rebecca Coffee has earned a reputation as an aggressive and skilled criminal defense attorney, consistently winning trials and creating positive results for her clients. She has extensive experience in a variety of criminal defense cases, including gun-related charges, domestic violence accusations, and drug-related charges. Rebecca spends time working with and listening to her clients, and she works hard to fight for the best outcome from day one. She is a Board Chair of the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (WACDL), and she received her law degree from Marquette University Law School and her undergraduate degree in criminal justice from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Because our approach at Mastantuono Coffee & Thomas is to help people overcome their problems, we invest extensive resources and staff time in helping to guide our clients through the unfamiliar process of a court case or investigation. William brings his customer service skills to these efforts, ensuring consistency and attention to our client service. We understand that questions and concerns arise outside of attorney meetings. If an attorney is unavailable when you call, William will do his best to assist you and route a message directly to your attorney. This connection to our clients produces better case results.