KEITH F. ELLISON
My name is Keith F. Ellison, and I have been trying cases in the Central Wisconsin area for over 33 years. I have tried hundreds of jury trials during my practice in both civil and criminal courts.
I began my litigation experience as an Assistant District Attorney in Wood County and then was elected District Attorney for Wood County. During that time I was responsible for all types of criminal prosecution from white-collar crime to murder. Following my work as District Attorney, I was employed by American Family Insurance where I worked as in house trial counsel. There I obtained the unique perspective of both seeing the files before they were sent to outside counsel as well as cases in which I would be the assigned counsel to defend the action. I also worked on the American Family fraud and arson investigation unit for two-thirds of Wisconsin. I was a member of the National Association of Insurance Fraud Investigation involved in a number of property claims.
I subsequently joined the law firm of Ellison & O'Connor, LLC where I have practiced since 1987. My main focus during this time has been insurance defense, but I have engaged in many types of litigation including business, worker's compensation, and administrative hearings. I also do a substantial amount of subrogation work for my insurance clients. I have been before the Supreme Court of Wisconsin during the course of my work. I have also tried family law cases, which include divorce actions as well as post-divorce matters.
I enjoy working with clients and recognizing the individual needs and concerns of each. It is that attention to each case that makes my practice beneficial for my clients and rewarding to me personally.
AREAS OF PRACTICE
Insurance Defense
Workers' Compensation Law
Family Law Including Divorce, Adoptions
Criminal Law
Business Litigation & Practice
General Practice Including Wills, Trusts, and Guardianships
Personal Injury
BAR ADMISSIONS
Wisconsin, 1977
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin, 1977
U.S. District Court Western District of Wisconsin, 1977
U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit
EDUCATION
Marquette University Law School, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
J.D.
Honors: Patents Moot Court Team, 1976-1977
Honors: Best Brief Moot Court Patents Appeal 1977
Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
B.A. - 1974
Honors: Dean's List 1973-1974
REPRESENTATIVE CLIENTS
Rural Insurance
1st Auto & Casualty
State Farm
GMAC/National General
Grand River Insurance
CLASSES/SEMINARS
In-house American Family Trial Counsel Presentations, 1983 - 1987
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS
Wisconsin District Attorney Association, 1977 - 1982
State Bar of Wisconsin, 1973 - Present
Wisconsin Defense Research Institute, 2000 - Present
Wisconsin District Attorney Association, Vice President, 1981 - 1982
Wisconsin State Bar Committee, 1995 - 2003
Marathon County Bar Association, 1983 - Present
National Association of Subrogation Professionals, 1998 - Present
PAST EMPLOYMENT POSITIONS
Wood County District Attorney Office, Assistant District Attorney, 1977 - 1978
Wood County District Attorney Office, District Attorney, 1978 - 1982
American Family Insurance, Trial Counsel, 1983 - 1987
Wood County Assistant Corporation Counsel, 1978 - 1982
PRO BONO ACTIVITIES
YMCA Board of Directors, 2001 - 2004
YMCA Board of Directors, 2009 - Present
Wausau Area Youth Soccer Association, 1996 - Present
Secretary, Wausau Senior League Basketball, 1993 - 1995
Teacher, St. Michael's Catholic Church CCD, 1996 - 2008
Liaison, Wausau Area Youth Soccer Association, 2000 - 2009
Liaison, Wausau Soccer Club, 2000 - 2009
FRATERNITIES/SORORITIES
Sigma Phi Epsilon