Waukesha, WI

Mark L. Thomsen

I was born in Blair, Nebraska, during the winter of 1954. I grew up in Nigeria, Africa, until 12 years old, dropped out of high school at age 17, and when the Inland Steel mill department in East Chicago, Indiana, shut down in 1984 (where I had proudly worked as a steelworker for nearly eight years and was elected as a Local 1010 USWA union representative), I moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin with my wife, Grace, and our daughter, Sonja. I started law school at Marquette University and after graduating cum laude in 1987, served as law clerk to the Hon. John L. Coffey, Circuit Judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. My 35 years as a practicing lawyer, in both state and federal courts, have been, and remain, primarily devoted to personal injury (e.g. car and truck crashes), civil rights (Sec. 1983 claims), medical malpractice, nursing home abuse and legal malpractice claims. I strive to create a legal infrastructure designed to expand justice and protect people and their individual rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. During my tenure, whether by settlement or trial whenever necessary, I have successfully obtained millions of dollars for those individuals, families and clients I’ve been honored to represent. I am a member of the American Association for Justice, past-president (2009) and board of directors member of the Wisconsin Association for Justice (WAJ), member of the WAJ Amicus Committee, Wisconsin Chapter member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) (2019 - present), and a member of the American Bar Association, Milwaukee Bar Association, and Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association. I have also been recognized by Super Lawyers (2005 - present), a distinction awarded to a handful of outstanding attorneys; Best Lawyers (2009 - present), recognized for excellence in legal practice; and Martindale-Hubbell, AV rated, the highest rating for professional ethics and legal ability. Additionally, I was honored as the 2022 WAJ Robert L. Habush Trial Lawyer of the Year, the 2023 Marquette University Law School Alumnus of the Year, and the 2023 Milwaukee Bar Association Lawyer of the Year. In addition to my extensive involvement in the legal community, I served on the board of directors for the Southeast Wisconsin Professional Baseball Park District (2004-2022) and was the organization’s board secretary. I’m also a commissioner on the Wisconsin Elections Commission (2016 - present), the agency charged with maintaining the integrity of voting in state and federal elections in Wisconsin, serving as the agency’s first chairperson from 2016 to 2017. Additionally, I’m a board member and president of the Ascension Lutheran Church Endowment. Grace and I have been married for 45 years. Our daughter Sonja is a brilliant artist and our son, Jens Theodore Thomsen, was born on December 4, 1987 and died on October 31, 2015 (at the end of the second week of my three week medical malpractice trial). Grace and I have been blessed with five beautiful grandchildren - Orjan, Sienna, Aiden, Michael and Liv. Favorite Book: “The Savage Detectives” by Roberto Bolaño Favorite Quote “Never give in-never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.” -Winston Churchill

Don C. Prachthauser

Don C. Prachthauser has a remarkable record of success in the courtroom, having presented nearly 100 cases to juries, judges, and arbitrators. He is known for his diligent and skilled approach to personal injury law, handling cases involving automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, product liability, medical negligence, unsafe premises, and insurance coverage disputes. He is highly respected by peers, judges, and past clients, and has been recognized with numerous awards including Best Lawyers' Lawyer of the Year, membership in the American College of Trial Lawyers, International Society of Barristers, and American Board of Trial Advocates. He is also a frequent presenter and speaker for legal organizations.

Robert J. Welcenbach

Robert Welcenbach is licensed in Wisconsin and California and specializes in the areas of personal injury, wrongful death, semi-truck accidents, auto accidents, motorcycle accidents, consumer class actions, and civil litigation. He is a passionate trial attorney dedicated to helping injured individuals and has tried over 30 trials, prosecuted over 40 appeals, and had 7 cases before the Wisconsin Supreme Court. He has been nominated and selected as a Milwaukee Personal Injury and Class Action Super Lawyer every year since 2008.

Dana J. Wachs

I am a lifelong resident of Eau Claire. I am proud to be following in the footsteps of my father, Ray Wachs, a former Eau Claire City Manager and City Attorney who also practiced law in the Eau Claire area for many years. Throughout my career, I have focused my law practice on helping injured people. I spent three terms representing Eau Claire in the state legislature and was a candidate for governor in 2018. My wife (who also is an attorney) and I have three children. I am a fanatical Green Bay Packers fan (and shareholder!) and never miss a chance to watch or attend a game. When I am not working to get justice for my clients, I also enjoy downhill skiing, hunting, boating, fishing, playing the trumpet, reading, astronomy and listening to music. If you weren’t a lawyer, what would you do? I would like to be a doctor. What is your greatest accomplishment? My greatest personal accomplishment is having raised three healthy, well-adjusted children to adulthood. My proudest legal accomplishment was the work I did at trial and in the appellate court in the case of Johnson v. Kokemoor. This case set a national precedent in medical malpractice informed consent law and is being taught and discussed in the legal and medical community throughout the United States.

Paul E. Bucher

Paul E. Bucher, a former Waukesha County District Attorney for nearly 20 years, specializes in complex litigation, criminal defense, personal injury, and government law. He graduated from Marquette University School of Law in 1981 and is admitted to practice in Wisconsin and federal courts.

Christopher J. MacGillis

Christopher J. MacGillis is a founder and partner at MacGillis Law Group, LLC. Chris focuses his practice on personal injury and representing first responders, including police and firefighter unions. He has represented police officers, firefighters, labor unions, and those injured by the acts of others throughout the State of Wisconsin. Chris earned his law degree, cum laude, from Marquette University Law School. Prior to entering law school, Chris received his B.A. in Economics from Lawrence University. While at Lawrence, Chris was a member of the men’s basketball team, serving as team captain and earning all-academic and all-conference honors. He was recently inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at Pius XI High School. Chris has tried cases in both state and federal court. He prides himself on protecting his clients and working aggressively to obtain the best potential outcome. Chris serves on the WAJ Board of Directors and currently serves as Regional Officer for District Six. Chris has authored several articles for the WAJ publication The Verdict and regularly speaks on current trends in law and litigation. Chris was requested by the Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court to serve as District Committee Member for the Wisconsin Office of Lawyer Regulators. Chris currently serves as the Chair for his OLR District.

Thadd J. Llaurado

Thadd J. Llaurado is a senior partner at Murphy & Prachthauser, known for successfully prosecuting various personal injury cases, including multi-million dollar automotive and industrial product liability, trucking, construction, and automobile accident cases across multiple states. He is an active member of numerous prestigious legal organizations and has been recognized as a Super Lawyer and listed in The Best Lawyers in America and Who’s Who in American Law. He was honored as the 2024 Robert L. Habush Trial Lawyer of the Year.