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Case variety keeps Fetherston hopping

Case variety keeps Fetherston hopping

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Ryan Fetherston (Staff photo by Kevin Harnack)
Ryan Fetherston (Staff photo by Kevin Harnack)

No two days are the same for Ryan Fetherston.

A litigator with Peterson, Johnson & Murray S.C. in Milwaukee, he handles a variety of commercial cases that definitely keeps him on his toes.

“Litigation was how I envisioned the law and it was always interesting to me,” Fetherston said. “Getting up in front of a judge and jury, making your case and having to think on your feet is what I always wanted to do.”

And it’s something he gets to do frequently.

“Not very many cases make it all the way to a full trial, but I’ve had my fair share along the way,” Fetherston said. “The pinnacle for any litigator is a court trial, but even if it doesn’t go all the way I still get a great deal of courtroom involvement.”

The assortment of commercial litigation cases means Fetherston is always learning something new.

“I have to know the law, of course, but I get to delve into different areas and am constantly learning new things, whether it’s about accounting procedures or maybe a medical procedure,” he said. “It’s all stuff that helps me help my client.”

Research plays a pivotal role in Fetherston’s work. He gathers information about the different areas the cases are focused on and then uses his knowledge of the law to make his case for the client.

“It never feels like I’m doing the same old thing. It’s always different, but it’s the same process — it’s just different facts and information,” Fetherston said.

Wisconsin Law Journal: What makes your work important to you?
Ryan Fetherston: It is always satisfying to help those in need. Being involved in litigation — no matter what side you find yourself on — is an unpleasant and often intimidating position to be in. For me, being able to guide my clients through that process and to minimize that burden is what makes my work rewarding.

WLJ: Who is your hero in the legal field?
Fetherston: Denny Crane (of ‘Boston Legal’) although I think he has been out of work for some time. He may have even been cancelled.

WLJ: What do you do outside of work to deal with stress from the office?
Fetherston: I enjoy spending time with my wife, Brooke, and four kids — Liam, Penelope, Beatrice and Archibald. My two boys are hockey players, so at this time of the year in particular, as we head into the fall, I enjoy getting out on the ice with them and coaching their teams.

WLJ: What’s one thing many people get wrong about what you do?
Fetherston: For a long time, Peterson, Johnson & Murray S.C. has had the reputation of being strictly an insurance defense firm. While we certainly do represent a number of insurance companies, and value those relationships, as time has gone on, the firm has diversified its practice to the point where we handle a wide variety of litigation in virtually every area.

WLJ: What’s your favorite memory from law school?
Fetherston: It was the first day of class watching one of my fellow classmates getting subjected to the Socratic method. He was told to stand up, recite facts of a particular case and then answer questions posed by the professor. Everyone hears stories of this heading into law school, but I had no idea it was actually still done. It probably wouldn’t be my favorite memory if I had been that poor sap who got torn to shreds that day.

WLJ: Is there a certain case that stands out to you?
Fetherston: Every litigator remembers their first jury trial. This holds true for me as well. It was a relatively simple personal injury case, but I will never forget the nerves, adrenaline and excitement of the process and getting exposed to it at such an early stage in my career.

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