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About Jim

Experienced legal counsel on financial and business matters across varied industries

Jim Friedman provided legal counsel to clients in challenging legal, financial and business matters for more than 40 years. He represented clients with diverse businesses including a nationally recognized health care system, the independent directors of a Major League Baseball franchise, a German auto parts manufacturer, an educational opportunity foundation and one of America's most recognized universities, to name a few.

He was well-known for his representation of banks in Wisconsin and for his experience in dealing with federal and state bank regulators. His in-depth knowledge of the banking industry and his creative approach to navigating legal issues resulted in several first-of-a-kind transactions for his bank clients. Jim represented clients in a vast array of industries such as:

  • Financial institutions of all types and sizes and their holding companies, in all aspects of their business, including regulatory, merger and acquisition, corporate and securities matters
  • Manufacturers, service businesses and health care providers in a full array of corporate, transactional and international matters
  • Businesses, boards of directors and independent directors or committees of directors in corporate governance, audit or transactional matters
  • Family-owned businesses and successful entrepreneurs, ranging from the auto industry to the banking industry

Whether the client was a multi-billion-dollar, publicly owned bank holding company, a community bank or a family business, his clients received responsive, reliable advice to guide them through their legal needs.

Jim was chair of the Quarles Financial Institutions team and a director and past member of the executive and audit committees of the Wisconsin Association of Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC).

Professional Recognitions

  • Best Lawyers® "Lawyer of the Year" (2016: Milwaukee Litigation - Banking and Finance) 
  • Best Lawyers® "Lawyer of the Year" (2014: Milwaukee Financial Services Regulation Law)
  • State Bar of Wisconsin – Pro Bono Honor Society (2013, 2015, 2018)
  • Wisconsin Law Foundation Charles L. Goldberg Distinguished Service Award "Lifetime Achievement in the Legal Profession" (2012)
  • Wisconsin Super Lawyer® (2006-2018: Banking)
  • Wisconsin Law Journal "Wisconsin Leader in the Law" (2006) 
  • Best Lawyers In America® (1995-2020: Banking and Finance Law / Financial Services Regulation Law / Litigation - Banking & Finance / Closely Held Companies and Family Business Law)
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rated for Highest Level of Professional Excellence

Professional & Civic Activities

  • Wisconsin Supreme Court referee (2020-present)
  • American Bar Association (Banking Law committee and Corporate Governance committee of the Business Law Section (1985-present); member, House of Delegates (1980-1982)
  • Wisconsin Bankers Association, associate member (1972-2019)
  • Director: Wisconsin Association of Manufacturers and Commerce (2008-2018); Finance Committee (2011-2018); executive and audit committees (2012-2018)
  • Wisconsin Supreme Court Office of Lawyer Regulation, member and vice chair Preliminary Review committee (2000-2007)
  • State of Wisconsin, Department of Financial Institutions, Task Force on Financial Competitiveness 2005, member (2000)
  • State of Wisconsin, Member Legislative Council Special Study Committee on the Regulation of Financial Institutions (1986-1987)
  • Governor's Advisory Council on Judicial Selection of the State of Wisconsin for Ozaukee County, (2002)
  • State Bar of Wisconsin, director, Senior Lawyers Division (2017-2019); member, Emeritus Task Force, (2019); chair, board of governors (1999-2000); member, board of governors (1996-2000); member, executive committee (1998-2000); member, Finance and Investment committees (1997-1998); director, (1984-1999), chair (1989-1990) International Practice section)
  • Center for the Study of Entrepreneurship, Marquette University, member, board of visitors (1987-1995)
  • Alderman, City of Mequon, Wisconsin 4th & 7th Districts, (1979-1983); president, common council, (1980-1982); Chair (2008-present) and member, board of ethics (1996-1998 and 2000-present); chair, Blue Ribbon Visioning committee (1998-2000)
  • Cristo Rey Jesuit Milwaukee High School, director (2015-2018)
  • Weyenberg Public Library Foundation, Inc., director (1983-present; president 1983-present)
  • Concours Motors, Inc., director (1998-2018)
  • Partners Advancing Values in Education, Inc. now known as City Forward Collective, Inc., director (1982-2018); finance committee (1987-2018); governance committee (1987-2018), secretary (2014-2018)
  • Wisconsin Law Foundation, director (1998-2014); president (2007-2008); executive and finance committees (1998-2014)
  • Wisconsin’s Equal Justice Fund, Inc., director (1998-2008); president (2006)
  • American Bar Foundation, life fellow
  • Wisconsin Law Foundation, life fellow

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