Attorney Marna M. Tess-Mattner

For over thirty years, Marna represented employers in all employment and labor matters, whether consulting or litigating, statewide and nationwide, and successfully litigated cases in the United States Supreme Court; the United States Courts of Appeals for the Seventh and Eleventh Circuits; the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin and for the Northern District of Indiana; and the Wisconsin Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, as well as government agencies such as the National Labor Relations Board and the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. She is admitted to practice in all Wisconsin courts and state and federal administrative agencies.

During law school, Marna was Executive Editor of the Marquette Law Review and published articles in that journal as well as in the Wisconsin Lawyer and other professional publications.

As a longtime member and former Chair of the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Communications Committee, she served on the editorial board of the Wisconsin Lawyer, the award-winning official publication of the State Bar of Wisconsin.

In addition to teaching college-level courses in employment and labor law and in business law, Marna presented countless seminars for employers and attorneys and worked with employers to develop training programs tailored to the needs of their employees.

As a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin (Labor and Employment Law Section; Litigation Section), Marna served as the Chair of the State Bar Board of Governors and received the President’s Distinguished Service Award. She also served on the Executive Director Search Committee, Professionalism Committee, Personnel Study Committee, Staffing Committee, and many others. Marna has been a member of the Milwaukee Bar Association, the Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association, the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA), the Association for Women Lawyers, and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

Marna received her undergraduate degree from Carroll College (now Carroll University) in Waukesha, WI and served as Chair of its Board of Trustees for three years after eleven years as a board member. She taught evening classes at Carroll for several years; served as a member and Chair of its Alumni Council for many years; chaired the Carroll University Pre-Law Advisory Council; and is a member of the President’s Advisory Council.

Marna also is a member of Serjeants’ Inn, a member of the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company (WILMIC), a board member of the Fellows of the Wisconsin Law Foundation, a member (and former Vice-President) of the Master Singers of Milwaukee, and a ruling elder at her church. She was a member of the Wauwatosa Police and Fire Commission for 20 years, including serving as President and Secretary.

Professional and academic recognition:

• Top Rated Lawyer in Labor & Employment
• Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers™
• Top 15 Labor & Employment Attorneys – Wisconsin Law Journal – 2008
• President’s Distinguished Service Award – State Bar of Wisconsin
• AV Preeminent Rating – Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™
• 10.0 Avvo Rating (www.avvo.com)
• Phi Kappa Phi
• Distinguished Alumna Award (Carroll University)
• Fellow of Wisconsin Law Foundation