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Skilton thrives when helping others

Skilton thrives when helping others

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skiltonJohn Skilton witnessed change firsthand while in college and law school during the 1960s.

“I watched the explosion of civil rights laws and it had a profound impact on me,” said Skilton, a partner with Perkins Coie LLP in Madison.

Known nationally for his work on intellectual property law and patent litigation, Skilton said he believes lawyers need to reach out “beyond the four walls of their office,” to affect change.

As president of the State Bar of Wisconsin in the mid-90s, Skilton led efforts to improve access to legal services for low-income residents. That work led to the creation of the nonprofit Wisconsin Equal Justice Fund.

“I think it should always be a part of a lawyer’s career to provide help to those who cannot pay,” he said.

When it comes to his pro bono work, Skilton focuses on civil rights, winning two national awards for his efforts. In the mid-2000s, he co-chaired the national Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, which worked to protect voting rights and helped with the Hurricane Katrina crisis.

“Civil rights cases have always been important to me,” Skilton said. “I believe so much in helping people who might not otherwise get assistance. …

“I am just keenly interested in helping people resolve their problems.”

Skilton’s passion inspires others, Margaret Raymond, dean of the University of Wisconsin Law School, said.

“John’s leadership is not limited to one realm,” she said. “He is a leader in the Wisconsin legal community and plays a role in the national leadership of the profession.”

Skilton, who clerked for 7th Circuit Judge Thomas Fairchild after graduating from law school, helps the UW plan its annual Fairchild Lecture Series.

“He also mentors younger attorneys,” Raymond said, “and continues to provide extraordinary service to his clients. John’s a brilliant and hardworking attorney.”

When he’s not working on patent and IP cases, representing pro bono clients or serving on committees, Skilton stays busy giving presentations about Abraham Lincoln’s career as an attorney.

“He was an attorney for 24 years, but it’s only been the last 20 years or so that historians and attorneys have looked at it,” Skilton said. “A lot of what he later did as president was formed in those years as an attorney. I think as a lawyer, Lincoln is a model for all of us.”

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