Charged in Milwaukee? Here are 10 firms that try cases.
Milwaukee criminal cases run through Milwaukee County Circuit Court Criminal Division at the Safety Building (821 W. State Street) and the Milwaukee County Courthouse (901 N. 9th Street). Federal indictments are heard in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin (517 E. Wisconsin Avenue). OWI (operating while intoxicated - Wisconsin's term for DUI) cases run through municipal court for first offenses and criminal court for repeat offenders. The firms below appear in all of them.
Milwaukee criminal practice is local. The Milwaukee County District Attorney's career trial team, the Federal Public Defender for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and the Milwaukee Police Department detective rotations all matter. The firms below know them.
Below are 10 of the most respected Milwaukee criminal defense firms - from board-certified DUI specialists to former Milwaukee County prosecutors who flipped to the defense side.
How we picked these 10: We reviewed published verdicts and settlements, peer rankings (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, Justia), bar association recognition, AILA / state-bar specialty certifications, and client review patterns. Firms that appeared consistently across at least two independent sources made the list. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
Practice focus: OWI / DUI, drunk driving, felony OWI, criminal defense
Voted the #1 OWI/DUI law firm in Wisconsin. Andrew Mishlove and Lauren Stuckert are the only board-certified DUI law specialists in Wisconsin. Mishlove has practiced since 1981 and is rated as one of the top DUI defense attorneys in the United States.
Practice focus: Felony defense, OWI / DUI, drug crimes, white-collar, federal criminal
Julius Kim (former Milwaukee County Assistant District Attorney) and Jonathan LaVoy have been recognized for 7+ consecutive years as two of Wisconsin's top-rated criminal defense attorneys in surveys of judges, prosecutors, and lawyers.
Practice focus: Federal criminal defense, white-collar, OWI, complex litigation
More than 50 years of criminal law experience. Long-running Milwaukee criminal defense bench with substantial federal practice in the Eastern District of Wisconsin. Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers recognition.
Practice focus: OWI / DUI, drug crimes, felony defense, firearm charges
Wisconsin-focused criminal defense firm with deep Milwaukee County OWI/drunk-driving practice. Attorney Tom Grieve is recognized in Wisconsin OWI/DUI defense circles.
Practice focus: OWI / DUI, criminal defense
Attorney Patrick Schiro has 40+ years of Milwaukee criminal defense experience focused on OWI work.
Practice focus: OWI / DUI defense (exclusive focus)
Decade+ of exclusive OWI/DUI defense focus. Useful for clients who want a lawyer whose entire docket is drunk-driving defense.
Practice focus: OWI / DUI, federal criminal defense, felony defense
Tracey Wood is one of Wisconsin's most recognized criminal defense and OWI attorneys. National Trial Lawyers and Super Lawyers recognition. Practice covers Milwaukee, Waukesha, and Madison.
Practice focus: Felony defense, federal criminal, state criminal, OWI
Long-standing Milwaukee criminal defense boutique with substantial Milwaukee County and federal Eastern District practice. Reddin is a former Assistant United States Attorney.
Practice focus: Federal criminal defense, white-collar, state felony, complex litigation
Milwaukee criminal defense boutique with a heavy federal indictment practice in the Eastern District of Wisconsin. Named partner Michael Hart is a recognized federal criminal defense practitioner.
Practice focus: Felony defense, OWI / DUI, federal criminal, drug crimes, firearm charges
Wisconsin criminal defense boutique with offices in Milwaukee and Sheboygan. Tom Birdsall is recognized in Wisconsin criminal defense circles for OWI and felony work.
Tell us about your situation and we will match you with vetted criminal defense attorneys in Milwaukee. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Milwaukee criminal cases follow a clear path. After arrest you have an initial appearance (typically within 48 hours) in Milwaukee County Circuit Court. Misdemeanors are tried in Circuit Court, generally 4 to 8 months from initial appearance. Felonies run through preliminary examination, arraignment, motion practice, and trial - typically 9 to 18 months from filing. Federal indictments out of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin typically reach trial 12 to 24 months from indictment under the Speedy Trial Act. First-offense OWI in Wisconsin is a civil forfeiture handled in municipal court; second and subsequent offenses are criminal cases in Circuit Court.
Milwaukee criminal defense fees track case complexity. A first-offense OWI runs $2,500 to $7,500 flat fee through trial. A state misdemeanor (theft, simple assault, possession) typically $2,500 to $7,500. A state felony (drug delivery, robbery, serious assault, firearms) typically $7,500 to $35,000. A federal indictment in the Eastern District of Wisconsin runs $25,000 to $200,000+ depending on whether the case goes to trial. Hourly rates for boutique counsel sit at $300 to $600/hour.
The directory listings on Google have thousands of Milwaukee criminal defense firms. Most are competent. A few are problematic. The patterns to avoid:
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can guarantee a result. If a firm promises a specific recovery, dismissal, or court outcome before reviewing your file, walk away.
The disappearing partner. You meet a senior partner at intake, then never speak to them again. The case is handled by an unsupervised junior or paralegal. Ask in writing who will be your day-to-day attorney.
Pressure to sign immediately. Reputable firms give you the retainer agreement in writing, time to read it, and the option to take it home. High-pressure intake is almost always a sign of a volume mill, not a careful practice.
No verifiable track record. The firm should be able to point to verdicts, settlements, peer rankings, or bar association recognition. "We have helped thousands of clients" is marketing copy. Specific numbers, named cases, and third-party rankings are evidence.
Vague fee terms. "Do not worry about cost" is a red flag. Every legitimate Milwaukee lawyer will give you a written engagement letter with the fee structure, what is covered, what triggers extra charges, and what happens if you fire them.
Most Milwaukee firms on this list offer a free or low-cost initial consultation. Use it. Bring a list of questions and write down the answers. Compare across at least two firms before you sign.
Milwaukee is its own market. The procedure, the courts, and the strategy are city- and state-specific in ways that matter to your outcome.
Local courthouses matter. The Milwaukee state and federal courthouses have judges, calendars, and procedures that shape how cases move. A firm that knows the local courthouse has an advantage.
Filing deadlines are strict. Notice-of-claim windows for cases against the City or County, statute-of-limitations periods, and pre-suit certification requirements vary by case type and are unforgiving. A missed deadline often means a lost case — full stop.
Local procedure rules matter. Each court has its own forms, motion practice, and judge preferences. The right Milwaukee firm will know not just the law, but the unwritten rules of the courthouse you will be in.
Local plaintiffs and defendants do well in front of local juries. Verdict patterns vary by venue, and a trial-capable firm uses venue strategically.
OWI is 'operating while intoxicated' - Wisconsin's term for what most states call DUI. Wisconsin Statute 346.63 governs the offense. First-offense OWI is a civil forfeiture (no jail) and handled in municipal court. Second-offense OWI within 10 years is criminal and carries mandatory jail time. Third and subsequent OWI offenses carry significant prison exposure.
No - first-offense OWI in Wisconsin is a civil forfeiture, not a crime. It does not result in a criminal record. However, the license consequences (revocation, IID, alcohol assessment) are real and a conviction permanently counts as a 'prior' for future OWI offenses, which are criminal.
Under Wisconsin Statute 970.03, every felony case is entitled to a preliminary examination - a hearing in front of a Court Commissioner or judge to determine whether there is probable cause to bind the case over for trial. Prelims happen 10-20 days after the initial appearance. A successful prelim challenge can end the case at that stage.
Milwaukee County operates several diversion and deferred prosecution programs - including the Early Intervention Program, Drug Treatment Court, and Veterans Treatment Court. Eligible defendants who complete the program successfully have charges dismissed or reduced. Eligibility is gated by charge, criminal history, and DA discretion.
Yes. The Wisconsin State Public Defender's Office, Milwaukee Trial Office, represents defendants who cannot afford private counsel. Wisconsin's SPD eligibility threshold is strict, and many working-class Milwaukee defendants do not qualify. The Milwaukee SPD trial lawyers are well-regarded - but caseloads are heavy, which is why many defendants who qualify still retain private counsel where possible.
The Eastern District of Wisconsin is headquartered in Milwaukee at 517 E. Wisconsin Avenue. Cases are heard by U.S. District Judges and Magistrate Judges of the District. Sentencing is governed by the federal Sentencing Guidelines and 18 U.S.C. section 3553(a). Federal trials are jury trials with 12 jurors.