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Overview

A formidable advocate with years of experience, Jon helps guide business, education and healthcare clients through a broad range of labor and employment matters.

Jon focuses his practice on assisting business, education and healthcare clients through complex labor and employment matters such as leadership transitions, collective bargaining, policy and personnel administration. He also helps clients proactively comply with local, state and federal regulations including Title VII, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and resolve discrimination and wage/hour claims when they occur.

Clients appreciate Jon’s deep experience in collective bargaining matters, mediation proceedings, grievance arbitrations, hearings and National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) issues in both union and non-union settings, and his ability to advocate, negotiate and reach effective agreements that work for all parties even in the toughest settings.

Jon understands that every industry has unique labor and employment challenges. In education and healthcare, where labor and service delivery is at the forefront, it is crucial to anticipate and address legal details before they become problems. Jon enjoys the challenges of resolving labor and employment issues for clients so they can get back to the business of educating students and caring for patients.

Jon serves as the Office Managing Partner for Husch Blackwell's Madison office.

Industries

Services

Recognition

  • Wisconsin School Attorneys Association (WSAA) George Tipler Award for Distinguished Service in School Law, 2019
  • The Best Lawyers in America®
    • Education Law, Employment Law–Management, Labor Law–Management, Litigation–Labor & Employment, 2006-2025
    • Best Lawyers® Labor Law - Management "Lawyer of the Year," Madison, 2021, 2025
    • Best Lawyers® Employment Law-Management "Lawyer of the Year," Madison, 2012
    • Best Lawyers® Education Law "Lawyer of the Year," Madison, 2015, 2018 and 2020
    • Best Lawyers® Labor Law "Lawyer of the Year," Madison, 2016
  • Wisconsin Super Lawyers, 2005-2020
  • Who's Who in American Law
  • In Business Magazine, Top Executive in Dane County, 2018
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent
  • Martindale-Hubbell, Top Rated Lawyer in Healthcare, 2013

Education

  • J.D., Marquette University Law School
    • Alpha Sigma Nu
  • B.A., University of Wisconsin-Madison
    • Behavioral Science and Law

Admissions

  • Wisconsin
  • Illinois
  • Minnesota
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. Supreme Court

Professional Memberships and Certifications

  • American Bar Association
  • American Health Law Association (AHLA)
  • American Society for Health Care Human Resources Administration (ASHHRA)
  • Education Law Association, Co-chair, Outreach and Partnership Committee
  • Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
  • State Bar of Wisconsin, Labor & Employment Law Section
  • Wisconsin School Attorneys Association (WSAA), Past President


*By appointment only.
2024 Pro Bono Contributor
Experience
  • Negotiated community agreement for major sports development and entertainment project that established wage goals, preserved employee choice to organize and fostered initiative of first-source hiring from most economically challenged demographic areas of city.
  • Advised and represented numerous colleges and universities on sensitive transition and governance issues, including dismissal of president. Also provided counsel and representation to administrators in various phases of internal disciplinary and grievance proceedings. Successfully resolved numerous complex personnel matters.
  • Negotiated for management on collective bargaining and labor contract administration issues in 300+ labor contracts in variety of industries, collaborating with Teamsters, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU), International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), and United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), among others.
  • Counseled numerous educational institutions in developing policies, procedures and training regarding operational compliance with federal, state and local laws, including Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and Section 504 of Rehabilitation Act of 1973, among other regulatory laws.
  • Regularly guided schools at all levels in responding to U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights complaints.
Blog | September 06, 2022
NLRB Mandates National Dress Code
Legal Updates | November 16, 2021
Vaccine Mandates May Require Collective Bargaining

Vaccine mandates present interesting issues for the unionized employer.

Legal Updates | April 21, 2020
2019 Wisconsin Act 185: K-12 Education Provisions
Media Mentions | October 2020
Best Lawyers® 2021: The Midwest Issue
News Releases | January 13, 2020
Husch Blackwell Lands Two Healthcare Groups in Wisconsin

“That two prominent groups of lawyers from two different firms see the same potential and opportunity at Husch Blackwell speaks volumes about our firm’s commitment to Madison and the larger Wisconsin market,” said Paul Eberle, Husch Blackwell’s Chief Executive.

Outside the Office

Jon follows Wisconsin sports and enjoys spending time with his grandchildren.

Jon and his wife, Lori, both University of Wisconsin graduates, are avid UW football fans. They also love watching the Milwaukee Bucks and the Green Bay Packers. Jon and Lori have travelled the world together but now focus their travel on nearby Minneapolis, where their children and their grandchildren live. Jon enjoys home renovation projects, listening to live music and collecting watches.

Community Leadership

Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, Past Chair, Board of Directors, Executive Committee