G. Lane Ware

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When G. Lane Ware graduated from law school in 1965, people asked him why he decided to start his legal career in Wausau.

Cities like Milwaukee or Chicago seemed likely destinations for a single attorney interested in corporate law. But Ware, a Green Bay native, elected to take the advice of his father.

“He was in the paper industry and I remember telling him I had the opportunity to go to Ruder & Staples in Wausau,” said Ware. “He had dealt with the firm and encouraged me to go, so that was a big influence on my decision.”

Ware also took the job to work with founders George L. Ruder and Stanley Staples, but Ruder passed away in 1970 and Staples resigned. The losses left the firm in a state of flux and in 1972, Ware was elected president of the firm.

“There I was, only 33 and I had to learn how to manage a firm of four attorneys,” said Ware. “But we survived.”

For 27 years, Ware served as president of what is now Ruder Ware, L.L.S.C., and the firm currently has 40 attorneys on staff. At 69, Ware continues as chairman of the board and says the firm still faces some of the same challenges it did when he came aboard 43 years ago.

“We talk about how we can attract and retain young attorneys to the area,” said Ware.

“It’s okay if got you’re married and have two kids.”

Part of the process is promoting the area, which Ware has done for decades. In the 1970s he formed The Performing Arts Foundation which renovated the Grand Theatre in downtown Wausau and also had a hand in several other entrepreneurial efforts in the area.

Professionally, Ware is a longtime advocate for taking an active role in the State Bar. In addition to serving as State Bar president in 1989, Ware currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Law Foundation.

“The charitable arm of the bar is extremely important and something I remain very committed to expanding,” said Ware.

While he remains active both in and out of the legal profession, Ware admits that he is at an enviable point in his career.

“I really don’t have to retire, per se and I selectively choose what I want to do,” said Ware. “You don’t find that option in a lot of other professions.”