Russ Wilson has substantial experience in environmental law and litigation, commercial litigation, corporate compliance, and regulatory compliance involving environmental, energy, natural resources, and food safety.  As a result of his background, he provides important support in due diligence transactions.

Through his environmental work, Russ has the opportunity to work with agricultural professionals, specifically growers and producers, on various compliance issues.  Russ is a member of the executive committee for the 2011 Wisconsin Farm Technology Days in Marathon County, also serving as liaison to the show’s youth committee. 

Russ’ civil litigation experience is also wide-ranging and includes insurance coverage, property rights, public access, contract disputes and business torts, employment discrimination, ERISA subrogation, construction, and estate/fiduciary litigation, special assessments and valuation assessment.  He represents clients before state and federal agencies, in administrative proceedings, and in civil courts.

Recent activity includes:

• Participating in an annual corporate compliance assessment for a publicly traded company that included evaluation of dam operations, dam surveillance and safety, public safety, environment, natural resources, invasive species, threatened and endangered species, cultural resources, land use, and public recreation.
• Working with federal agencies, such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the U.S. Department of Interior, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, other state environmental regulatory agencies, and local governmental units.
• Counseling clients in land use matters including zoning, special exceptions, conditional uses, and variances.
• Advising a local nonprofit on general regulatory compliance issues in addition to property boundaries and employment law issues.
• Serving as a commissioner on the Wausau Community Development Authority, a quasi-municipal entity, which provides for safe, decent, and sanitary public housing and which redevelops blighted properties.

Education:
B.A. (magna cum laude), University of South Carolina - Columbia (1974)

Honors: Phi Eta Sigma and Phi Beta Kappa

J.D., University of Wisconsin - Madison (1978)

Admitted to Practice:
Wisconsin Supreme Court
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin

Bar Associations:
American Bar Association

Section Member: Environment, Energy and Resources; Litigation; Business Law

State Bar of Wisconsin

Section Member: Environmental Law; Litigation; Agribusiness; Administrative and Local Government

Marathon County Bar Association, President 2005

Professional Recognition:
Best Lawyers in America® , Workers' Compensation Law, and

Commercial Litigation (1995 - present)

Professional Activities:

State Bar of Wisconsin, Environmental Law Section

Director (1990 - 1994), Vice Chair (2001 - 2005), Secretary (1994 - 1998),  Treasurer (1998 - 2001), Board of Directors (2007 - 2010)

Civic Activities:
First Universalist Unitarian Church,

Director (1989 - 1992), President (2002 - 2005)
Marathon County Historical Society, Director (1994 - present)
Woodson Y.M.C.A., Director (2000 - 2005)
Wausau Community Development Authority Citizen Member (2006 - present)
2011 Wisconsin Farm Technology Days Executive Committee, Director