Milwaukee attorney suspended for misconduct

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A Milwaukee attorney is suspended from practicing law for four months after failing to participate in discipline proceedings brought against him.

According to the Office of Lawyer Regulation, Michael Steinhafel is the subject of seven charges for professional misconduct while representing clients in two cases, according to a state Supreme Court opinion released Tuesday. The court’s decision also took into consideration that Steinhafel in September 2010 was convicted of his third OWI and failed to notify the OLR for nearly a month.

After the OLR charges were filed, Steinhafel missed several court dates, and a referee ruled in the OLR’s favor. In its opinion, the state Supreme Court found Steinhafel in default and affirmed the referee’s four-month suspension recommendation.

Steinhafel, who was admitted to the State Bar in 1989 after graduating from Marquette University Law School, could not immediately be reached for comment. The opinion states that Steinhafel told OLR employees “he has not practiced law in years and has no intention of practicing law again.”