Michael Best’s José Olivieri dies at 66

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José Olivieri, a partner at Michael Best, died on Sunday at the age of 66.

Olivieri, a civic and business leader across Milwaukee’s Hispanic communities, spent 43 years at Michael Best and led the firm’s Higher Education Industry Group. He was its longest-serving chair.

Olivieri founded Michael Best’s immigration law practice and shaped it with his deep knowledge and experience, according to his In Memoriam page on Michael Best’s website.

His leadership roles also extended to the Milwaukee office managing partner, a job he took in September 2017, and the Labor and Employment Relations chair roles.

Olivieri graduated from Marquette University Law School in 1981 and also held leadership positions in numerous organizations, including serving as chair of the Board of Directors for over 20 years at the United Community Center, as well as leadership positions with the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Milwaukee Public Library Foundation, Milwaukee Art Museum, United Way of Greater Milwaukee, Lutheran Social Services, and Froedtert Health System boards.

He was also a founding member and past-president of the Wisconsin Hispanic Lawyers Association and had served on several additional boards over the years, including the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents, the Mount Mary University Board of Trustees, past chair of Carroll University’s Board of Trustees and the National Association of College and University Attorneys.

He was also a recipient of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s President’s Leadership in Racial Equity and Social Justice Award, and was named a Top Latino Lawyer by Latino Leaders magazine. In 2015, Olivieri was named a Leader in the Law by the Wisconsin Law Journal.