Former US attorneys leave Michael Best to start Mequon firm

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Steve Biskupic and Michelle Jacobs, both former U.S. attorneys, opened a litigation firm in Mequon this week.

Biskupic and Jacobs were employed by Michael Best & Friedrich LLP through the end of 2012. Biskupic was chairman of the firm’s litigation practice group, and Jacobs was a partner in the same group.

They left the firm on good terms, Biskupic said.

“I really enjoyed my experience there,” he said, “but wanted to take this opportunity to run our own shop.”

Biskupic & Jacobs SC, which opened Wednesday at 1045 W. Glen Oaks Lane in Mequon, will focus on litigation and, in particular, complex business disputes.

“It’s a lot of what we did at Michael Best,” Biskupic said, “but we’ll focus on smaller clients than Michael Best had.”

Biskupic spent seven years as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin before stepping down and joining Michael Best in 2009. During his time as a federal prosecutor, he worked high-profile corruption cases, including those involving state Sen. Gary George and Mark Sostarich, former chair of The Democratic Party of Wisconsin.

Jacobs worked in the U.S. attorney’s office for 16 years. For eight of those years she held supervisory positions, including three years as first assistant U.S. attorney and one year as U.S. attorney, succeeding Biskupic. She successfully argued before the federal courts of appeals more than 50 cases, including the high-profile case involving former Milwaukee Alderman Michael McGee.

Jacobs will continue to do work in appellate law, Biskupic said, as well as some criminal defense work she did not have the opportunity to do at Michael Best.

The law partners, who have known each other for 20 years, will tackle some cases together and work others individually, Biskupic said.