Reinhart’s Cameli melds public-private experience into successful career

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Mark Cameli successfully blends his 13 years of government experience when working with his clients at Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren.

Co-chair of the firm’s litigation practice, Cameli handles a broad range of cases from white-collar cases to defending individuals and businesses from Securities and Exchange Commission enforcement actions.

“I have definitely used my previous experience with the U.S. Attorney’s office in what I’ve done in the private sector,” he said. “The cases are very interesting and challenging.”

As Cameli finished law school, he was drawn to prosecution and joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Wisconsin. He worked there for 13 years, rising to chief of district’s civil division.

“I got to the point where I felt I couldn’t advance anymore unless I moved to D.C. or entered politics and neither held a lot of interest, so I thought I would give the private sector a try,” Cameli said. “I am glad I took the leap. My experience with the district court provided me with a great base for what came next.”

What came next was a broad practice at Reinhart that covers complex litigation, representing businesses and organizations that are targets or victims of fraud and representing companies accused of wrongdoing by whistleblowers.

“While the cases have similarities to what I did previously, the private sector adds an additional dimension to every case. Clients are engaged in a calculus gauging the risk and expense of litigation,” Cameli said. “In the public sector we did not have the added dimension of that economic analysis when deciding to try a case.”

In the private sector, he said clients often decide to settle cases because of economics.

“In the public sector it’s more justice-focused, while my clients may now feel like they need to compromise because of economics.”

Wisconsin Law Journal: What makes your work important to you?
Mark Cameli: Being privileged to participate in identifying and addressing a law or enforcement initiative that is misguided, if not patently wrong. Doing such work in the company of brilliant colleagues is an honor and makes me a better lawyer and person.

WLJ: Who is your hero in the legal field?
Cameli: There is no one person, but I find the work of those who risk their lives and livelihoods to promote principles of equality and justice — particularly in the face of oppressive governments — to be especially heroic. One such example was the lawyers’ movement in Pakistan during 2007 to 2009 in which tens of thousands of attorneys put aside their political divides to join in the common cause of reinstating independent judicial officers, including the supreme court chief justice, who had been summarily removed by President Musharraf. Those attorneys heroically marched in the streets against violent government efforts to repress their voice.

WLJ: What do you do outside of work to deal with stress from the office?
Cameli: I’m a new grandfather. I never tire of seeing my grandson and any stress seems to evaporate in his presence.

WLJ: What’s one thing many people get wrong about what you do?
Cameli: I think many lay people don’t understand that to do this job well, the work always remains on your mind (except see previous answer).

WLJ: What’s your favorite memory from law school?
Cameli: I met some extraordinary and dedicated faculty. I enjoyed remaining in touch with them.

WLJ: Is there a certain case that stands out to you?
Cameli: I was involved with several civil rights cases while practicing in the public sector. In the private sector, I’ve had a few cases against the government where I believed they were exceeding their authority constitutionally. All of these cases have been particularly important to me and have cumulatively occupied many years of my professional career.