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The attorneys at Pfeil, Millonzi &
Curran, S.C.
have the knowledge to assist you in a wide range of legal matters. We focus
our practice in the following areas:
Agricultural Law
Agricultural law deals not only with plants and animals but also with
real estate, leases, environmental rules and the use of food products. We
assist the family farmer and agribusiness with a variety of legal matters
pertaining to the agricultural industry. With the increasing sophistication
of farming processes, issues of intellectual property, trade, finance,
credit, commercial transactions and estate planning often arise. A firm
grasp of the economic context within which the agribusiness client operates,
beyond that of the legal rules, is necessary to advise
on the creation of business organizations, restructuring of debt and the
limitations placed on the inheritance process.
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a uniform, federal court-supervised procedure to relieve
individuals and businesses from debts while protecting the rights of both
secured and unsecured creditors. Bankruptcy law is federal statutory
law contained in Chapter 11 of the United States Code. Bankruptcy proceedings are supervised
by and litigated in the United States Bankruptcy Courts which are part of
the District Courts of the United States.
There are essentially two types
of Bankruptcy proceedings. A
petition under Chapter 7 is called a liquidation. It is the most common type of
bankruptcy proceeding and the one most people think of when they hear the
term Bankruptcy. A petition
under Chapter 7 involves the appointment of a trustee who collects
non-exempt property of the debtor, sells it and distributes the proceeds to
the creditors. In most Chapter
7 cases, there are insufficient proceeds for the trustee to collect because
of certain exemptions each debtor is entitled to. In these cases, the trustee finds
that there are no assets and the debtor’s debts are discharged. Proceedings under Chapter 11, 12 and
13 involve the rehabilitation of the debtor to allow him or her to use
future earnings to pay off creditors. Whether Bankruptcy is the right
option for you and determining whether you qualify for a Chapter 7, 11, 12
or 13 petition is something we will assist you with. We will also work with you to
determine whether non-Bankruptcy alternatives exist for you, including whether
the filing of a Chapter 128 petition under Wisconsin
law would be a better alternative. Pfeil, Millonzi
& Curran, S.C.
is one of the few small town law firms in Southwestern Wisconsin
with a Bankruptcy practice.
Business Law
We will assist you in determining the appropriate business entity for
your business concept. Whether operating as a corporation, partnership,
sole proprietor or limited liability company, the choice will be one of the
more important decisions you will make. We not only assist our clients with
on-going issues pertaining to director and officer duties and liabilities,
shareholder rights, asset and stock sales, franchising, joint ventures and
business succession, but focus on assisting the business owner in operating
its business. From formation of the business entity to advising on
employment, labor, insurance and risk management issues our lawyers have
the experience to provide proactive legal advice to allow the business
owner to efficiently and economically operate a business.
Construction Law
The uniqueness of construction law is a product of the work undertaken
by the parties to a construction project. This extends not only through
numerous contracts among many parties (from conception of the project
through warranty periods and applicable statutes of limitation) but also
involves such other areas of the law as creditors’ rights, collective
bargaining principles, employment law and real estate. Thus, a working
knowledge and understanding of the construction industry is essential to
providing accurate and timely legal advice. We have the experience in
construction law and the construction industry to handle your issues. As
former in-house counsel for a national heavy and highway general contractor
and the State of Wisconsin’s
largest homebuilder, we have a unique understanding of the construction
industry.
We represent general contractors, subcontractors, specialty contractors,
suppliers, construction managers, developers, engineers and architects
engaged in the construction industry. Our services include all aspects of contract
negotiating, drafting and review, bid disputes and protests, review and
negotiation of collective bargaining agreements, formation of joint
ventures and design-build teams, payment and performance bond claims,
mechanics and material men liens, preparation and resolution of
construction claims and alternative dispute resolution.
Contracts
We not only review, negotiate, and draft contract documents for a
variety of business and individual needs but when necessary, pursue and
defend a wide range of contractual matters including business and real
estate sale agreements, construction contracts, purchase agreements and
employment contracts, including non-compete, and severance agreements.
Employment Law
Employment law consists of local, state and federal statutes,
administrative regulations, and judicial decisions pertaining to employment
discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age,
disability, sexual preference and other protected classes. Additionally,
minimum wage regulations, overtime regulations, child labor regulations,
unemployment compensation, substance abuse policies, employment contracts,
company handbooks and hiring/firing decisions fall under employment law. We
have experience assisting clients in all aspects of employment law
including drafting of employment contracts and employee handbooks,
discrimination investigations and representing businesses in administrative
hearings, mediation, arbitration and litigation.
Estate Planning
We handle a variety of estate planning matters, including planning for
the distribution of an individual's property at his or her death and taking
into account wills, taxes, insurance, property, and trusts so as to gain
the maximum benefit of all laws, while, at the same time, carrying out the
person's wishes. Our estate planning services include drafting of wills,
spousal and children trusts, insurance trusts, revocable living trusts,
irrevocable trusts, advance medical directives and powers of attorney
(general, special and medical).
Real Estate
We represent commercial clients and individuals in all proceedings and
transactions that deal with real property including purchase and sale,
construction, mortgages, leases, easements, zoning, title examinations,
closings, and environmental issues.
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