Boucher’s passion for business shines through

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Joseph Boucher sees himself as a businessman and an attorney.

“Business comes to me naturally and I really understand it,” said Boucher of Neider & Boucher SC, Madison. “My father owned a business, a bakery, and we all worked there. It’s just part of who I am.”

In addition to his law degree, Boucher has a master’s in business administration is a certified public accountant.

“I feel like the equivalent of a family practice doctor for a business; handling a bunch of different functions for them whether it’s entity structuring, buying and selling businesses, or anything else they need,” he said. “I’ve been practicing for 38 years and I’ve had some clients who have been around for just about that long.”

Boucher’s influence extends beyond his clients. He played an instrumental role in drafting Wisconsin’s legislation regarding how limited liability corporations are formed. Since the rules became law in 1994, new entities forming in Wisconsin select LLC as their choice of organization more than 80 percent of the time.

“I’m proud of the work I’ve done with the LLC rules since so many people have benefited,” said Boucher, who also teaches at the UW’s Wisconsin School of Business and has written several books and articles on LLCs.

Gerald Everard, senior vice president and wealth management advisor with U.S. Bank, said Boucher’s passion and energy for his work and clients is easy to see.

“Joe’s enthusiasm off the charts,” Everard said. “He goes the extra mile for his clients, most of whom become good friends. His work for many years on leading the legislation for LLCs has been tremendous.”

Boucher left a larger law firm 20 years ago to form the business-focused Neider & Boucher with Charles Neider.

“We just wanted a firm that was all business and we’ve just grown organically through the years,” Boucher said. “It’s been great how it’s taken off.”

Boucher said the firm’s growth has come in unexpected ways. For example, on a rafting trip in Colorado a few years ago, he got talking to a fellow traveler and soon Boucher was doing work for him.

“We just hit it off. Being successful is all about connections and who you meet,” he said. “Few people realize that running a successful practice requires business sense, too. I really love what I do, but to succeed as an attorney, you need to be a healthy business.”