Pines Bach LLP

04/06/2026

Westerberg/Freehill Best Appellate Brief Winners

The team of Christa Westerberg and Leslie Freehill (former Pines Bach attorney) was one of two teams awarded the State Bar of Wisconsin's Appellate Practice Section Appellate Best Briefs award during its sixth biennial competition. The winning brief was their response brief in Kohler v. Wis. Dept. of Nat.

Thirty-six briefs were anonymously submitted. The 36 entries were narrowed to nine, and then reviewed by a panel of three judges: Former Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Patience Roggensack, Judge Michael Fitzpatrick, and Judge Jeffrey Davis.

The reviewers noted that "This brief followed appellate practice rules to a 'T,' used concise sentences, well-organized paragraphs, and clear legal arguments. It was respectful in tone, with no unnecessary attacks on the opposing party or counsel." "It is a compelling statement of facts that uses subtle persuasion even in reciting witness testimony."

The sixth biennial Best Briefs competition comprised briefs filed between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2025.
Christa Westerberg Pines Bach LLP

03/27/2026

LESTER PINES, RETIRED FOUNDING PARTER, NAMED A 2026 FELLOW OF THE WISCONSIN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES ARTS & LETTERS

The Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters has named Lester Pines, a Pines Bach founding partner, as “one of sixteen Wisconsinites who have demonstrated a lifelong commitment to intellectual discourse and public service to receive the 2026 Fellows Award which recognizes educators, researchers, mentors, artists, and civic or business leaders from across Wisconsin who have made significant accomplishments in their fields and substantial contributions to the cultural life and welfare of the state and its people.”

The Academy notes that “since its founding in 1870, it has been dedicated to the belief that the health of our state depends on the free exchange of ideas”. It describes its Fellows program, which it established in 1982, as “the heartbeat of this mission, serving as the common ground where Wisconsin’s most influential thinkers, creators, and problem-solvers meet. These individuals are the modern stewards of the Wisconsin Idea.”

Fellows are selected by committee through a rigorous process every two years. In its announcement of this year’s Fellows, the Academy described Lester as “a titan of the Wisconsin legal community whose career has been defined by a fierce commitment to constitutional rights and the public good” and highlighted that ‘upon his retirement in 2025, The Capital Times described him as a ‘great guardian of the Constitution, the rule of law and justice’. ”

Notably, in addition to Lester, a practicing attorney for his entire 50-year career, there are only five other attorneys previously inducted as Fellows: Wisconsin Supreme Court Justices Shirley Abrahamson & Janine Geske; UW law professors R. Alta Charo & Willard Hurst; and long-time elected member of Congress, Rep. Henry Reuss. Lester Pines

02/23/2026

Labor & Employment Attorney (0–3 Years)
Pines Bach LLP – Madison, WI

Pines Bach LLP, one of Madison’s most trusted and respected law firms with deep Wisconsin roots and over four decades of service, is seeking a passionate Labor & Employment Attorney with 0–3 years of experience to join our growing team.

What You’ll Do:
• Public and private sector labor law (40%): advise unions on legal matters; represent union members in grievance hearings; assist with litigation before the National Labor Relations Board and Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission.
• Employee-side employment law (40%): advise employees on hiring and separation agreements as well as other employment-related issues; assist with the evaluation, negotiation, and litigation of discrimination and whistleblower claims, including before the Wisconsin Equal Rights Division and U.S. Department of Labor; represent state employees in grievances.
• Civil litigation (20%): assist in all aspects of general civil litigation (trial and appellate).

Qualifications:
• J.D. and Wisconsin Bar admission or eligibility
• 0–3 years of relevant experience and/or demonstrated interest
• Strong interest in labor and employment law

Why Pines Bach:
• Award‑winning attorneys and collaborative culture
• Excellent mentorship and long-term growth opportunities
• Competitive compensation and benefits
• Located in downtown Madison

How to Apply:
Send a cover letter, resume, and writing sample to Donna V. Moreland, Firm Administrator at [email protected], on or before April 1, with subject line: Labor & Employment Attorney – [Your Name].

01/09/2026

Pines Bach is honored to announce that 9 of our attorneys have been named to the 2025 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars list. To be recognized on the Super Lawyers list, attorneys are evaluated according to 12 indicators of professional achievement, including their verdicts/settlements, honors and awards, professional activity in the legal community, and experience. In each state, only 5% of lawyers achieve this recognition, and only 2.5% of attorneys under 40 or in practice for 10 years or less are recognized as Rising Stars.

11/21/2025

Attorney Elisabeth Bach-Van Horn was bestowed the 2025 Kathleen M. Baird Dolphin award by the Collaborative Family Law Council of Wisconsin.

The award, named after the late Milwaukee attorney Kathleen M. Baird, who served as Chair of the Council in 2005, recognizes outstanding service to the Council.

Attorney Bach-Van Horn is a past president of the organization.

Liz is a Family Law attorney and partner with Pines Bach.

11/21/2025

Congratulations to Diane Welsh, who accepted the Wisconsin Law Journal's Women in the Law, Legal All-Star award today at the Jan Serr Studio in Milwaukee, WI.

The Legal All-Star award is a recognition of the best in the legal profession.

Diane was joined at the luncheon by Attorney Christa Westerberg.

10/22/2025

10/07/2025

https://wislawjournal.com/2025/09/29/environmental-law-attorney-christa-westerberg-pines-bach/

Christa Westerberg’s diverse client base, including non-profits, municipalities and renewable energy developers, are united by a shared interest in environmental protection.

10/06/2025

Diane Welsh Selected as a 2025 Wisconsin Law Journal Legal All-Star!

Pines Bach is pleased to announce the selection of Diane Welsh as a 2025 Wisconsin Law Journal Legal All-Star in the category of Women in the Law.
The Wisconsin Law Journal Legal All-Stars awards celebrate Wisconsin’s legal professionals who demonstrate outstanding performance in leadership, mentorship, community service, and other areas.
Diane Welsh is a partner at the firm and a member of both the Litigation Practice Group and the Transactional Practice Group.

10/03/2025

​Madison, Wisconsin, law firm Pines Bach LLP seeks an experienced family law attorney to join our firm’s family law group. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of five to ten years of experience and an established practice in family law. We provide a collegial and supportive working environme...

10/03/2025

We're looking to expand our bench!

​Madison, Wisconsin law firm Pines Bach LLP seeks an experienced criminal defense attorney to join our firm. The ideal candidate will have at least ten years of experience and an established practice that is fifty percent or more criminal defense. Attorneys seeking to transition to private practic...

09/10/2025

Protecting workers’ rights since 1979 with trusted guidance and results that matter.

We are dedicated to fair workplaces.