PINES BACH - Key Persons
Ann T. Davies is a Partner in the firm, and leads the firm's Family Law Practice Group.
With a legal career committed exclusively to family law, Ann brings extensive, comprehensive experience to her clients in these challenging, complex and highly personal legal matters.
Ann is rated "AV Preeminent®" by Martindale-Hubbell. She has taught Divorce Proceedings in the Lawyering Skills Program at the University of Wisconsin Law School, and has presented at various continuing legal education seminars on family law topics. Ann is pleased to have also served on the Executive Committee, and as Chair, of the State Bar of Wisconsin Family Law Section Board of Directors.
Practice Areas
Divorce/Legal Separation
Christa Westerberg is a Partner with the firm's Litigation Practice Group.
While experienced in a variety of civil litigation, Christa concentrates her practice in environmental and land use law, as well as open government law. She has represented individuals, non-profit groups, businesses, municipalities, and others in their efforts to protect environmental resources. Christa has obtained judgments and settlements for her clients in venues ranging from administrative agencies to federal court, and she has handled numerous appellate cases on a range of issues.
Christa also uses her expertise in regulatory and zoning matters to help non-profits, homeowners, and renewable energy developers navigate rules for solar and wind projects, and to obtain permits and approvals where needed.
Christa's work on open government issues on behalf of media, individuals, and others has resulted in published court decisions protecting the public's right to know. Wis. State Journal v. Blazel, 21AP1196; Lueders v. Krug, 2019 WI App 36; Juneau County Star-Times v. Juneau County, 2013 WI 4; State ex rel. Citizens for Open Government v. City of Milton, 2007 WI App 114. Christa has also represented clients experiencing violations of their civil rights in public accommodation and free speech contexts.
Christa frequently presents on environmental and open government issues. She is Vice President of the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, and Chair of the State Bar of Wisconsin's Administrative and Local Government Section.
Diane Welsh is a Partner in the firm, and a member of the Litigation Practice Group and the Transactional Practice Group.
Diane has more than twenty-five years of experience in government, administrative, and health law. Her substantial experience advising top-level state officials allows her to evaluate regulatory and legal problems and recommend and implement strategic, pragmatic solutions for her clients, which includes health care providers, organizations, and individuals.
Diane is an experienced litigator, having handled matters ranging from administrative hearings to judicial appeals. She has litigated hundreds of cases before the Wisconsin Court of Appeals and the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Diane served as a United States Supreme Court Fellow with the National Association of Attorneys General. She has practiced in the United States Supreme Court, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, federal district courts, state courts, and the Division of Hearings and Appeals.
Prior to joining Pines Bach LLP, Diane served as Chief Legal Counsel for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and as assistant attorney general at the Wisconsin Department of Justice.
Diane is an active member of the community. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, Domestic Abuse Intervention Services, and Wisconsin Women in Government. She is currently a member of the Dean's Advisory Board for the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater College of Letters and Sciences.
Practice Areas
Appellate Litigation
Elise Clancy Ruoho is a Partner in the firm's Family Law Practice Group. Elise joined the firm in 1996, and focuses exclusively on family law.
Family law cases are unique from one case to next, with each having its own set of challenges. Elise's problem solving skills, approach, and substantial legal experience provides her clients with high quality representation in these matters. Listening carefully to first understand her client's individual circumstances and priorities, Elise then develops strategic solutions to her client's individual needs.
Elise was honored to serve as the 2014-2015 Chair of the State Bar of Wisconsin Family Law Section Board of Directors. While on the Board, she served on its Executive Committee, as well as its Legislative, Door County Workshop and Grant Committees.
Practice Areas
Divorce and Legal Separation
Holly Slota is a Partner with the firm's Family Law Practice Group. She has been practicing law since 2003 and joined the firm in 2016.
Holly concentrates her practice in divorce litigation, collaborative divorce, appellate practice, international child abduction cases, and estate planning. She also serves as a Guardian ad litem in family law matters. Holly volunteers at the Dane County Family Law Assistance Center. Ms. Slota is licensed to practice in the State of Wisconsin.
Holly was recognized as a Rising Star in Wisconsin Super Lawyers in 2010, 2011, and 2013 and was selected to Super Lawyers 2019-2022. Recent publications include Eckhardt's Workbook for Wisconsin Estate Planners (coauthor, 2014 and 2016) and Preventing and Responding to International Child Abduction, American Journal of Family Law, Vol. 23, No. 2 (Summer 2009). She also served as the Wisconsin delegate at the 20th Annual Symposium of the Family Law Council of Community Property States in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she presented a paper entitled "Back to the Basics: Overview of Community Property in Wisconsin." She has served as faculty for the Divorce Proceedings section of the UW Law School's Lawyering Skills Program and has been a guest presenter at the law school's Family Law I course and Domestic Violence Seminar. She has also trained domestic violence advocates about the role that guardians ad litem play in family law cases involving domestic violence at the Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence's Family and Immigration Law Training.
Holly's extensive appellate practice in the area of family law has yielded several published decisions including Chen v. Warner, 2005 WI 55, 280 Wis. 2d 344, 695 N.W.2d 758, and Wright v. Wright, 2008 WI App 21, 307 Wis. 2d 156, 747 N.W.2d 690. In 2015, she presented at the State Bar of Wisconsin's Guardian ad Litem training regarding the role and duties of guardians ad litem on appeal.
Practice Areas
Family Law
Jordan Loeb, a Partner in the firm, believes in the power of personalized attention for every single client. He knows it takes more than just aptitude, especially when handling criminal defense. No matter the size of the case, Jordan's multifaceted approach involves in-depth strategic planning, resulting in creative settlements and beneficial long-term solutions.
Jordan has over 20 years of practice experience. His breadth of knowledge and dynamic problem solving abilities contribute to his tremendous record of success both in and out of court. From winning a not guilty verdict in a homicide trial against a Sheriff's Deputy to prevailing in federal criminal appeals before the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, Jordan has an impressive record in both civil and criminal jury trials. In fact, Super Lawyers have recognized Jordan for his tireless work in criminal defense.
Practice Areas Include
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Receive the Trusted Counsel You Deserve. Contact Us for a Consultation
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Leslie Freehill, a Partner in the firm's Litigation Practice Group, helps clients achieve quality and cost-effective results in civil litigation, political and election law, environmental law, employment, and administrative matters. She also represents clients in the area of reproductive rights, and frequently speaks on the topic throughout the state. She has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Star each year from 2018 through 2023.
Leslie has experience in state and federal litigation and appeals, before administrative agencies, and in private arbitration proceedings. She has successfully represented citizen groups seeking enforcement of environmental laws, employees challenging termination, health care professionals defending their licensure before state boards, and citizens seeking governmental records through open records requests.
With a Master of Science degree in Environment & Resources, Leslie brings a scientific, technical approach to helping her clients navigate complex legal issues. She has worked at various levels of government, from the Madison City Attorney's Office to the USDA Office of General Counsel and at nonprofits. Prior to joining Pines Bach LLP, she was a staff attorney for the Dane County Circuit Court. Leslie is admitted to practice law in Wisconsin and Illinois, and in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.
Practice Areas
Civil Litigation
Job Titles:
- Senior Counsel
- Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers
Lester A. Pines is Senior Counsel and one of the founders of the firm.
A Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, Lester is a respected advocate who concentrates his practice on civil and criminal trials, arbitrations, and civil appeals. For decades he has appeared in state and federal trial courts and before the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. Wisconsin governors have relied on him for legal advocacy and advice, as did President Obama who sought his assistance for a friend in need of legal counsel in Wisconsin. In 1976 at the request of Wisconsin's governor, Lester, who had been an attorney for just over a year, negotiated the resolution of a prison uprising, ensuring the release of over a dozen hostages who were being held by armed prisoners in a barricaded building. Throughout his career, he has displayed that same level of confidence, skill, and courage on behalf of his clients.
Lester has tried and resolved numerous personal injury and commercial claims. He has represented clients in significant civil cases about the interpretation of Wisconsin's constitution and amendments to it, in race, sex, and LGBTQ discrimination matters, about restrictions on the right to vote, in defense of employees' rights, and to protect women's access to reproductive health care. In his criminal law practice, among many other cases, he has regularly defended public employees. For over 30 years he has been counsel to Madison's teachers' union and also represents the Service Employees International Union (SEIU Wisconsin), the Milwaukee Teachers Education Association (MTEA) and the Office & Professional Employees Union, Local 39 (OPEIU).
A host of Lester's Wisconsin appellate cases have addressed high-profile public policy matters. In 2020, representing Governor Tony Evers, he convinced the Wisconsin Supreme Court in SEIU v Vos (2020 WI 67) that the legislature's attempt to disrupt the executive branch by imposing onerous burdens on the Governor's provision of advice and guidance about statutes, rules and regulations to Wisconsin's citizens was unconstitutional.
For many years he was an adjunct professor at the University of Wisconsin Law School, teaching pre-trial civil advocacy. Lester is often called upon to speak before a variety of audiences on a host of legal issues and is one of the most written about and quoted attorneys in Wisconsin. National media as well, including the New York Times, have quoted him. In September 2017, he was featured in cover story in the Isthmus, a Madison weekly paper which you can read here: https://isthmus.com/news/cover-story/lester-pines-draws-on-faith-and-family-in-his-practice-and-b/
Practice Areas
Criminal Defense 10%
Job Titles:
- City Dive Meet, Co - Chair, 2016
Job Titles:
- Family Law / Family Law - Appellate
Steven A. Bach has been practicing family law since 1974 and helped establish the firm's preeminence in this area.
Mr. Bach is a member of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, The Fellows of the Wisconsin Law Foundation, and the Collaborative Family Law Council of Wisconsin.
Mr. Bach has published articles in various professional publications and is a contributing author to the State Bar of Wisconsin's Guardian ad Litem Handbook.
Practice Areas
Divorce
Will Kramer, an Associate in the firm's Litigation Practice Group, advises clients and litigates in areas including whistleblower law, labor and employment law, environmental law, and health law, and offers services related to regulatory compliance and crisis management. He practices in state and federal court, as well as before administrative agencies including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Wisconsin Equal Rights Division (ERD). Will draws upon his unique background as an investigator, risk management consultant, and whistleblower to develop and implement comprehensive and innovative legal strategies for his clients.
As an investigator on a U.S. Senate oversight committee, Will acquired an acute understanding of governmental operations and a keen eye for uncovering misconduct. His experience as a risk management consultant to businesses around the country has provided him with insights into the multifaceted challenges and competing priorities faced by organizations and individuals alike, fostering an adaptable and pragmatic approach to legal problem-solving. As a whistleblower himself, he has personal experience navigating the fear, uncertainty, and risks that his clients often face during the legal process.
When Will learned that a multinational corporation was illegally disposing of hazardous waste and putting its own workers as well as broader communities at risk, he made the difficult decision to blow the whistle. Over the next several years, Will worked successfully with investigators, elected representatives, and the media to help ensure the company changed its practices. From these experiences, Will developed his approach to legal representation on a foundation of empathy, open and honest communication, and a passion for justice.
Practice Areas
Civil Litigation