Our Attorneys

Mary Lee completed her undergraduate degree at Marquette University, graduating magna cum laude, and continued her education at Marquette for law school.  She has over forty years of litigation experience, representing Fortune 500 companies, insurance companies, private individuals and small businesses in a variety of legal matters - both plaintiff and defense work. Mary Lee has tried over 100 jury trials, each involving unique and novel factual and legal issues, and has specialized in trial litigation for most of her career. She has negotiated settlements in over 200 pharmaceutical cases throughout Wisconsin. and has experience with jury trials in many areas, including construction; personal injury and property damage; nursing home litigation; medical, dental and professional malpractice; and product liability cases.  Mary Lee has additional training on Alternative Dispute Resolution through the American Health Lawyers Association, and has a wealth of proven experience as a respected mediation attorney, assisting all sides in assessing risk in order to overcome impasse, and guiding the parties to impartial and effective dispute resolution.  Since 2005, she has served as an Adjunct Professor of Law for Advanced Trial Advocacy at Marquette University Law School. In addition, Mary Lee is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, and a Member of Serjeants' Inn, and has been recognized in Best Lawyers in America..   Law & Politics and Milwaukee Magazine recognized her as a "Super Lawyer" in medical malpractice defense, repeatedly since 2005, and as one of the top 25 women lawyers in the Wisconsin from 2012-2015. She received an award from the Milwaukee Business Journal as one of Wisconsin's outstanding Women in the Law in 2013. 

Jim is a graduate of Hanover College in Hanover, Indiana and the University of Toledo College of Law. While In college, Jim studied at the United Nations and served as a congressional intern in Washington, D.C.  Following law school, he initially was appointed as a Administrative Law Judge for the Wisconsin Worker's Compensation Division. After serving as judge, Jim accepted an appointment as an Assistant United States Attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice. Over the next several years, Jim successfully defended United States and government employees in a variety of civil suits. He was commended by the Veterans Administration for his successful defense of a medical malpractice claim against the V.A. and two of its doctors. Jim also successfully defend the U.S. Department of Commerce in a loan guaranty case that was the first trial of its kind in the country under a new policy of the Reagan Administration.  Jim has successfully conducted over 100 trials in state and federal court and has argued before the Wisconsin Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit. He has been counsel in hundreds of workers compensation hearings. Jim's practice is concentrated in insurance defense litigation. His clients range from small local businesses to Fortune 500 companies. Jim is one of the leading attorneys in the State on 102.29 recovery.  Jim is a frequent speaker to insurance groups and employers, and has been a part-time lecturer at a local university. His past service includes the Governor's Council on Traffic Law Enforcement, and on the Board of Directors of the Civil Trial Counsel of Wisconsin and as Chairman of the CTCW Worker's Compensation Committee. He is a recipient of the U.S. Marshal's Certificate of Distinguished Service.

Linda is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Upon graduation, she taught German and Spanish in elementary and secondary schools and managed restaurants in the Fox Valley. Linda then graduated from Marquette University Law School in 1985, and joined a litigation firm in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Moving on from there, she went on to operate her own law  practice for 15 years before joining Ratzel & Associates, and has been working with our firm for over 20 years.   Linda has extensive trial experience, with concentrations in family law and insurance litigation. She is a highly regarded guardian ad litem and has a reputation for her ability to effectively work with couples and families.  In addition to her Family Law practice, Linda represents buyers and sellers of real estate, drafts Wills, Powers of Attorney for both Financial and Health Care, and Trust documents. She also provides Estate Planning and Probate services.  Linda is currently working as a part-time Court Commissioner for the Waukesha County Court System, where she presides over Circuit Court, Family Law, and Criminal Law matters for the County of Waukesha. She is a member of the Civil Trial Counsel of Wisconsin, the Waukesha Bar Association, the Collaborative Law Council of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Bar Association.  Outside of work, Linda plays golf and is active in her community, and can often be found enjoying entertaining and being entertained by her grand-children.