Milwaukee attorney faces 2-year license suspension for felony convictions

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A Milwaukee criminal-defense attorney could lose his law license for two years as a result of his felony convictions for stalking and threatening an ex-girlfriend.

The Office of Lawyer Regulation filed a complaint on July 15 against Matthew Meyer, a lawyer at Meyer Van Severen in Milwaukee.

In 2020, Meyer was sentenced to 18 months of initial confinement and two years extended supervision for stalking and threatening his ex-girlfriend. Initially, he was charged with four felonies, including battery, but two of the charges were dismissed.

The criminal complaint in his case said he beat the woman so severely that she had to take two weeks off work, threatened to use his criminal defendants to hurt her family and friends, called her more than 120 times a day and threatened to sue her.

“Meyer repeatedly told (the woman) he was insulated from legal consequences because of his position as a criminal defense lawyer,” the OLR’s July 15 complaint said.

The OLR complaint also charged Meyer for submitting a fabricated character reference during plea discussions in his case. A packet sent to the district attorney and deputy chief district attorney included references from someone who worked at Meyer’s apartment building and Meyer’s friend. However, a criminal investigation concluded that Meyer wrote the two letters.

The OLR is asking the Wisconsin Supreme Court to suspend Meyer’s license for two years and impose the following list of conditions on his reinstatement:

• Provide the OLR with signed releases for any mental-health and AODA treatment provider who has treated Meyer in within the last four years prior to the filing of his reinstatement petition.
• Provide proof of participation in mental-health counseling.
• Comply with the terms of his probation.
• Provide documentation of the completion of an anger-management program.
• Provide documentation of completion of a certified batterers-treatment program.

The Wisconsin Law Journal left a message with his law firm on Monday seeking comment on the OLR’s complaint. He has not responded. According to State Bar of Wisconsin records, he’s an active member who’s in good standing. Follow @“WLJreporter”