Francis W Deisinger

Francis W. Deisinger

Of Counsel

Milwaukee
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Francis W. (Fran) Deisinger is of counsel in the firm's Litigation Practice. During more than 40 years in practice, Fran became a persuasive advocate and legal strategist for his clients who drew upon his extensive knowledge and experience to obtain successful solutions in difficult disputes. Over the course of his career, Fran represented a wide spectrum of plaintiffs, defendants and petitioners in litigation matters throughout the country involving trust, estate, fiduciary and donor issues, professional liability, product liability, insurance, intellectual property infringement, business acquisitions and sales, and even maritime accidents. Fran successfully tried cases to juries, judges and arbitrators in numerous federal and state jurisdictions. He has also acted as a mediator in complex civil disputes.

Fran is known as a trusted advisor to Wisconsin lawyers and judges. His practice regularly involved counseling and representing other attorneys, judges and law firms in ethics, licensure and liability matters. For many years, Fran served as Reinhart's General Counsel, and he is a profession leader recognized and relied upon by his peers. He is a past president of the State Bar of Wisconsin and of the Milwaukee Bar Association, and is currently serving on the board of the State Bar’s Seniors Lawyers Division, which focuses on activities and content specifically designed to serve the needs and interests of senior lawyers.

Fran's clients appreciate his calm disposition, effectiveness and dedication to their legal matters, and he considers himself fortunate to be able to rely on the intelligent, accomplished and ethical professionals with whom he works at Reinhart.

Education

  • J.D., cum laude, University of Wisconsin Law School (Represented the University of Wisconsin Law School in the National Moot Court Competition in 1981)
  • B.A., with distinction, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (Classics and Mass Communication); Phi Beta Kappa
  • Completed the STAR mediator training program of the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution of the Pepperdine School of Law and the Center for Dispute Resolution of the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law

Bar Admissions

Wisconsin

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals
  • U.S. Supreme Court
Practices
Services

Matters

  • Fran has tried cases to juries, judges and arbitrators in numerous federal and state jurisdictions, including in Wisconsin, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Tennessee.
  • Fran regularly presents seminars on legal ethics and professional responsibility both to private practice attorneys and to in-house counsel.

Honors & Affiliations

Honors

  • Best Lawyers in America (Commercial Litigation Law; Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law), 2011-present
  • Best Lawyers in America (Bet-the-Company Litigation), 2022-present
  • Best Lawyers in America – "Lawyer of the Year" (Bet-the-Company Litigation), 2023
  • Wisconsin Top Rated Lawyer Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rated
  • Recognized by the Wisconsin Law Journal as one of Wisconsin's Leaders in the Law, 2014
  • Selected for inclusion in Wisconsin Super Lawyers

Affiliations

  • State Bar of Wisconsin (President, 2016-2017; Board Member, Senior Lawyers Division, 2023-2025)
  • Wisconsin Law Foundation (Board Member 2017-2026)
  • Milwaukee Bar Association (President, 2009-2010)
  • Milwaukee Bar Association Foundation (President, 2011-2016)
  • Milwaukee Bar Association Professionalism Committee (Chair 2003-2007)
  • American Bar Association
  • Fellow of the American Bar Foundation (membership limited to one percent of lawyers licensed to practice in each jurisdiction)
  • Fellow of the Wisconsin Law Foundation (membership limited to 2.5% of State Bar of Wisconsin members)
  • Volunteer Lawyer, Milwaukee Justice Center
  • Governor’s appointee, Wisconsin Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (2019-)

News & Insights

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Publications

Movies About Lawyers and Lawyering: Fran Deisinger's Messenger Reviews A collection of Fran's movie review essays published in the Milwaukee Bar Association's quarterly magazine, The Messenger, since 2010