Powerlist – J.D. Tripoli – Littler Mendelson

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No two days in the office are the same for J.D. Tripoli, a shareholder in Littler Mendelson’s Milwaukee office.

“Every day is different. Every case is different,” he said. “Employment law is constantly evolving, so defense lawyers must constantly adapt. There are no templates for defending and counseling employers. You need a firm grasp of the law, company culture, facts at play, industries involved and the ability to communicate those elements crisply to avoid litigation or win the day at trial.”

Tripoli represents employers facing any number of employment claims at trial and appellate levels, including class action, discrimination, wage and hour, restrictive covenant and misclassification claims. He has accrued several precedent-setting victories along the way, including wins at the U.S. Supreme Court, Wisconsin Supreme Court, and federal appellate and district courts nationwide.

Tripoli described himself a “litigator first” and said he enjoys taking on arguments and helping his clients be successful.

“Like a mechanic taking apart a busted engine, I enjoy deconstructing arguments, diagnosing the flaw and putting the argument back together in a way that serves my clients and the law. That’s my approach with cases.”