Green Bay attorney keeps eye on creditors’ rights

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Michele McKinnon doesn’t mind if you say she’s anal.

In fact, she welcomes it.

An almost irritating attention to detail is necessary for her work on creditors’ rights cases, said the attorney with Conway, Olejniczak & Jerry SC in Green Bay.

“I’m definitely anal and like organizing things, putting them in a box and prioritizing – and that kind of personality is perfect for what I do,” McKinnon said.

Earlier this year, McKinnon became the first attorney in Brown County to be certified by the American Board of Certification in creditors’ rights law.

“These cases are like a puzzle,” she said. “Everyone is knocking on the door and wanting their money. The trick is to figure out who gets it.

“There’s a priority structure and you need to follow that.”

McKinnon started her career in employment law, but one day a fellow attorney handed her a bank file, and she was hooked.

“As a new lawyer, people throw a lot at you,” she said, “and you’re trying to find what kind of law is the best fit for you and your skills. This was it for me.”

McKinnon said she pursued her recent certification as a way to set herself apart from other attorneys in the field. There are fewer than 10 attorneys in the state with the creditors’ specialist certification.

She filled out a detailed application documenting her experience in different creditors’ cases and then sat for a day-long exam. She took the exam in October, and in March, got word that she had succeeded.

But while her focus on the details has been an asset in her career, McKinnon admitted it drives her husband a little crazy.

“He’s the direct opposite – very laid back,” she laughed.

Wisconsin Law Journal: What was your least-favorite class in law school?
Michele McKinnon: Real Estate. I still worry that someone will ask me to explain the rule against perpetuities. It’s ironic, since I enjoy working on real estate disputes now.

WLJ: If you hadn’t become an attorney, what would you have done?
McKinnon: I would have been a flight attendant and spent my life sightseeing around the world.  I guess that explains why I travel every chance I get.

WLJ: What is your most memorable case?
McKinnon: I had a case involving a real estate developer who obtained numerous loans for the improvement of buildings. He took the money but forgot to do any of the work. The case was ultimately investigated by the Department of Justice, and the borrower was criminally convicted. Although it was not a good result for my client — there can be no good outcome in such a situation — it was a fascinating study of human behavior.

WLJ: If you could have one super power, what would it be?
McKinnon: The ability to read minds. I would love to know what other people are really thinking. I’d start with my husband.

WLJ: What quality do you most admire in others?
McKinnon: The willingness to teach others what they know. Being a mentor is a time commitment that does not result in any immediate return; other than the feeling of having done something good. I am impressed by people who give their time to teach others, whether it is teaching Little League baseball, volunteering to judge a mock trial competition or mentoring a new associate.

WLJ: What is your most favorite thing to do in Wisconsin?
McKinnon: Seeing the fall colors in northern Wisconsin. At peak season they are a beautiful sign of the upcoming change in season. Oh yes, and eating fresh cheese curds.

WLJ: What living person do you most admire?
McKinnon: My parents, who still live on a small farm in rural Iowa. They have no cable television, no internet service and, would you believe, they still have a rotary phone! But they are perfectly content. I hope to find that same contentment in life. But that will have to wait until my student loans are paid.

WLJ: Who is your favorite Green Bay Packer player?
McKinnon: Growing up, my family was not a football family. The first time I ever watched a football game was after I met my husband, Scott. Given my limited football background, Donald Driver comes to mind. First, he is a regular at many local charity events, which shows that he has a big heart. Second, he had the courage to take off his shirt on Dancing with the Stars, which shows he has a lot of guts. Both qualities are inspiring – regardless of whether he plays football on Sunday.

WLJ: How would your mother describe you in one or two words?
McKinnon: Challenging. Out of three children, I was the one who definitely tested her patience. Thankfully, mom had patience to spare!

WLJ: What was your favorite toy as a child?
McKinnon: Barbie dolls. My mom made homemade dresses and furniture, so my sister and I had tons of accessories to play with. We used the downstairs sink as their private pool and the bookcase as their penthouse apartment. We threw some wild parties with Ken and the whole gang.