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Change for the better: Dombrowicki enjoys switch to in-house work

By: Jane Pribek//July 22, 2013//

Change for the better: Dombrowicki enjoys switch to in-house work

By: Jane Pribek//July 22, 2013//

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Chris Dombrowicki Michels Corp., Brownsville (Photo by Kevin Harnack)

Chris Dombrowicki said he is 100 percent satisfied with the 180 he made in 2010, leaving civil litigation after eight years to go in-house at Michels Corp.

“I spent so many years down in the trenches in the adversarial process,” he said. “What’s interesting to me about what I do now is: When I pick up the phone to call a lawyer on the other side, both of us are trying to get it done. Both of the clients, and so both lawyers, have a goal: to finalize the transaction and accomplish the deal.”

Dombrowicki, a Madison native, said his construction law emphasis was not deliberate. But the more he worked on the cases, the more his interest grew.

“In private practice, the work your boss gives you is the work you do when you’re an associate,” he said. “I kind of grew to like it. And soon, more of those files found their way to my desk.”

Michels Corp. is privately held and among the largest utility and infrastructure contractors in North America, Dombrowicki said. As one member of a four-attorney law department, Dombrowicki said, he’s “an in-house generalist.”

As such, there is no such thing as a typical day.

“I always go into the day hoping to accomplish A, B and C,” he said, “and usually by the time 10:30 rolls around, I’m working on D, E and F.”

The Daily Reporter: What is the No. 1 legal issue construction firms need to be aware of today and why?

Chris Dombrowicki: I think most contractors should spend some time, whether it’s at the time of the bid or before signing the contract, reviewing the contract and making sure that they’re comfortable with it, as well as having a lawyer look it over so they can mitigate or try to control some of the risks that are often passed on to contractors.

TDR: What is one thing attorneys should know that they won’t learn in law school?

Dombrowicki: In law school, you spend so much time on theory, black-letter law and learning how to apply facts to law, and coming up with what the right answer should be. But often, that isn’t necessarily the practical or business answer that will work for your client. So you need to learn to think creatively, look at different legal avenues and try to figure out what the best practical or business solution is.

TDR: Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

Dombrowicki: I had a lot of really good mentors early in my career who helped me get rid of some of the words I had a tendency to overuse. Words like “clearly” and “simply,” trying to persuade people with those kinds of words instead of just letting the facts speak for themselves. I like to think I don’t overuse them anymore.

TDR: If you hadn’t become a lawyer, what career would you have chosen?

Dombrowicki: I kick myself every morning for not becoming a movie star. But really, I think I’ve fallen into the right career. Although as an undergrad, I think I had four or five majors.

TDR: What is your definition of success?

Dombrowicki: When I get in the car to drive home, or when I’m going to bed at night, when I can look back on my day and feel like I’ve helped my client get a step closer to solving a problem with a creative solution, moving them toward their ultimate goal. That’s how I define success as a lawyer.

 

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