Kevin J. Palmersheim

Shareholder / Managing Attorney

Kevin Palmersheim is the founding shareholder of the firm as well as its managing attorney. In addition to the knowledge and experience that Kevin brings to legal issues as a highly-experienced business attorney, he is also adept at being creative and flexible in representing clients’ interests both in court and in negotiations. He excels at finding cost-effective strategies to resolve business disputes and execute complex transactions, and is solicited by judges and lawyers to act as a mediator in business disputes. In his work as a business attorney, Kevin routinely represents clients on a variety of business litigation matters and advises on a broad range of business transactions, such as contracts or clients buying and selling businesses. Kevin also acts as outside general counsel for a number of Wisconsin businesses.

One area where Kevin’s skills and creativity are frequently utilized is in business break-ups and dissolutions, often resulting from shareholder and partnership disputes. Kevin regularly represents clients in family business disputes, and is also called upon by other lawyers and law firms to advise them on law firm formations and break-ups. He has successfully argued business law cases in the state and federal courts, including a substantial number of jury trials, and appeals before the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and the United States Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

Kevin has been recognized by his peers as one of the top business lawyers in Dane County in surveys by Madison Magazine, and also in surveys conducted by Thompson Reuters of the best Wisconsin “Super Lawyers.” In addition to being named one of the best business lawyers in Wisconsin, in 2010 Kevin received a Leader in The Law Award by the Wisconsin Law Journal, recognizing outstanding contributions to the state’s legal profession and to the development of the law.

Kevin is past president of the Dane County Bar Association and has served on their board of directors since 1997. He is also active in the Western District Bar Association and the State Bar of Wisconsin. He has served on the Wisconsin State Bar’s Board of Governors and has been appointed to chair of several of its committees. In addition to his legal practice, Kevin is a writer and editor on a variety of legal and non-legal topics and lectures frequently to lawyers, professional groups, and college classes on topics such as entrepreneurship, business law, and legal rights and responsibilities.

Kevin graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1992, earning a masters degree in Business from the University of Wisconsin at the same time. He also has an undergraduate degree in Political Science and Business from UW-River Falls.

Kevin also serves on the board of directors of a number of for-profit corporations and non-profit organizations. Madison has been his home since 1989, but he has previously resided in Illinois, Minnesota, and was born in Iowa.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Education

University of Wisconsin Law School, Madison, Wisconsin, 1992
University of Wisconsin School of Business
Master’s Degree
Major: Business
University of Wisconsin-River Falls
Major: Political Science and Business

Professional Associations

Dane County Bar Association; Past President
Western District Bar Association, 1997 – Present; Past member Board of Directors
American Inns of Court, James E. Doyle Chapter, 2011 – Present
Wisconsin State Bar; Past member of Board of Governors, Past Chair of Public Image Committee, Past Chair of Editorial Board and Communications Committee, Past Chair of Public Education Committee

Honors and Awards

Recognized by his Peers as One of the Top Business Lawyers in Dane County in Surveys by Madison Magazine
Wisconsin Super Lawyer, 2007, 2010-present
Wisconsin Law Journal, 2010 Leader In The Law Award

Published Works

Final Thought: Open Ses@me! (or Fluffy Gets It With a Toyota) Wisconsin Lawyer Magazine
Final Thought: Watch Out for Whitecaps Ahead to Avoid Rough Water Wisconsin Lawyer Magazine
Final Thought: The Economics of Practicing Law: It’s the “Principal” of the Matter Wisconsin Lawyer Magazine
Final Thought: Red Velvet Jacket or Navy Suit? Be Yourself (Within Reason) Wisconsin Lawyer Magazine
“Protecting The Minority Shareholder”, Wisconsin Lawyer Magazine
“Avoid a Nasty Business Breakup”, Capital Region Business Journal

Classes/Seminars Taught

Arbitrators Falling Asleep, Tradenames and Business Sales, And Other Business Law Cases That May Induce Drowsiness
Avoid Shareholder/LLC Member Litigation: Incorporate Preemptive Advice and Beware of the Long Arm of the Bylaw
Wine Isn’t an Intoxicating Liquor, Business Sellers May Decline to Work for Free, and Other Sobering Decisions by Wisconsin Courts
Trademark Rights and Remedies Under State Law, and the Impact of Madison Reprographics v. Cook’s Reprographics
City Golf Courses Covered by Wisconsin Fair(way) Dealership Law, and Other Mulligans Granted by Wisconsin Courts
Social Media and Accounting Ethics: Don’t Get All A-Twitter And Tumblr Down The YouTube
Developing a Practice & Becoming a Better Lawyer Via The Big Picture (hint: it’s not a selfie, but may require focus)
Manure is Not Liquid Gold; The Business Judgement Rule is Not an Oxymoron; And Other Business Law Matters Wisconsin Courts Have Recently Stepped Into
Vampires, Exculpatory Contracts, Zombies, Economic loss, Ghouls, The Statute Of Frauds, And Other Issues That Have Risen From The Dead In Recent Business Law Cases
Working With Family Business Clients: Striking a Balance of Heir Conditioning and Covering Your Own Assets
Wisconsin’s Business Law Climate: Sometimes Warm and Sunny; Occasionally Cold and Rainy; With Case Law Just Clear Enough That Lawyers Can Weather The Storm
Noncontrademarcononi-closism — And Other More Coherent, If Slightly Longer, Summaries of Recent Business Law Cases in Wisconsin
Navigating by Star Direct: Traversing Wisconsin’s Current Law on Noncompetition Agreements Without Falling Into a Black Hole
Understanding Accounting Bias, Conflicts of Interest, and Other Ethical Issues That Should Not Be Resolved With Denial Or A Paper Shredder
Exercising Good Judgment, Avoiding Conflicts of Interest, and Abiding By All Other Ethical Rules to Avoid Disgruntled Clients and Even More Annoying Legal Professionals

Pro Bono Activities

Board of Directors, Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation, a nonprofit agency that collects and distributes funding for legal services for low-income persons, 2012 – 2018
Board of Directors, Canopy Center, a nonprofit child abuse treatment and prevention agency, 2003 – Present
Board of Directors, Center for Families, a nonprofit agency providing child crisis care, child development and parenting support services, 2006 – 2009
Board of Directors, Work Opportunities in Rural Communities, providing job coaching and professional assistance for adults with developmental disabilities, 1995 – 2007

Contact Information

Phone: (608) 836-6400
Fax: (608) 836-9697
Send us a message

1424 North High Point Road
Middleton, WI 53562
Map & Directions

Super Lawyers

Email Kevin:
palmersheim@pdbusinesslaw.com

Practice Areas

From Our Blog

The Corporate Transparency Act: Government’s Orwellian Way of Saying “If You Want to Keep a Secret, You Must Also Hide it From Yourself”*

By Kevin J. Palmersheim

The Federal Corporate Transparency Act goes into effect on January 1, 2024, requiring all business owners and managers to electronically report certain personal information.

[read full post]

Make Your New Year Happy By Getting Out Of Unhappy Business Partnerships

By Kevin J. Palmersheim

I often hear colleagues who practice family law describe how the new year brings an increase in new clients seeking […]

[read full post]

Cathleen Dettmann honored with a Women in the Law Award

By Kevin J. Palmersheim

We at Palmersheim Dettmann, S.C. would like to brag about Attorney Cathleen A. Dettmann, because she won’t do it herself […]

[read full post]

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