For Baudhuin, success means avoiding litigation

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Danielle Baudhuin’s brand of service involves helping her clients avoid another lawsuit.

Baudhuin handles civil-law matters at Axley Attorneys in Madison, doing work involving commercial litigation, insurance defense and contract disputes. She routinely works with various litigators at her firm, and this year served as first chair for the defense in a weeklong trial concerning a personal-injury claim. Last year, she was the second chair for two trials and has also prepared summary-judgment briefs.

Because much of her work involves litigation, Baudhuin believes her most important task is to show clients how to ward off future lawsuits.

“A lot of my work is with municipalities, and by the nature of the game, they are often involved in various types of litigation,” she said. “By working through the lawsuits with the clients and advising them of the real-world implications along the way, I hope that I can help them avoid similar situations.”

The University of Wisconsin Law School graduate began gaining court experience while participating in the consumer-law clinic offered at her alma mater’s Economic Justice Institute. She represented clients in both state and federal courts on issues such as Internet scams, debt-collection harassment and foreclosures.

Baudhuin, who has been practicing for three years, builds clients’ confidence in her as an attorney by keeping them informed of every aspect of cases, said Maggie Jensen, Axley’s marketing coordinator.

“She engages with everyone and takes an interest in their lives and the things they have to share,” Jensen said. “This trait of Danielle’s often leads her to being the last one to leave client events, ensuring clients feel valued by both Danielle and the firm.”

Outside the office, she helps raise money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, a nonprofit organization that advances research on multiple sclerosis and assists people affected by the disease.

This year, Baudhuin and her family took part in a cycling event in which they raised $15,000 for the society.