Marna M. Tess-Mattner
Marna M. Tess-Mattner graduated cum laude from Marquette University Law School after completing internships with the National Labor Relations Board and the Wisconsin Court of Appeals. She currently is a shareholder with Schmidt, Rupke, Tess-Mattner & Fox, S.C. law firm and maintains a full time law practice in addition to sharing her leadership skills with community nonprofit organizations. Marna received her undergraduate degree from Carroll College (now Carroll University) in Waukesha, Wisconsin, and currently serves on both its Board of Trustees and its Alumni Council.
Marna represents employers in all employment and labor matters, whether consulting or litigating, statewide and nationwide, and has successfully litigated cases in the United States Supreme Court; the United States Courts of Appeals for the Seventh and Eleventh Circuits; the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin and for the Northern District of Indiana; and the Wisconsin Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. She is admitted to practice in all Wisconsin courts and state and federal administrative agencies.
During law school, Marna was Executive Editor of the Marquette Law Review and has published articles in that journal as well as in the Wisconsin Lawyer and other professional publications. As a longtime member and former Chair of the State Bar of Wisconsin's Communications Committee, she serves on the editorial board of the Wisconsin Lawyer, the award winning official publication of the State Bar of Wisconsin. In addition to teaching college level courses in employment and labor law and in business law, Marna has presented countless seminars for employers and attorneys.
A member of the State Bar of Wisconsin since 1983, Marna belongs to the Labor and Employment Law Section and the Litigation Section. She served as the Chair of the State Bar Board of Governors, and received the President's Distinguished Service Award. She also served on the Executive Director Search Committee, Professionalism Committee, Personnel Study Committee, Staffing Committee, and many others. Marna belongs to the Milwaukee Bar Association, the Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association, the Association for Women Lawyers, and the Society for Human Resource Management.
In addition, Marna serves on the Wauwatosa Police and Fire Commission, is Vice-President and a member of the Master Singers of Milwaukee, and is an active member of her church, serving on several of its committees and recently having filled a the maximum term on its governing body.
Admitted to Practice Law - United States Supreme Court, United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Supreme Court and all Wisconsin appellate and circuit courts.
EMPLOYMENT
Schmidt, Rupke, Tess-Mattner & Fox, S.C. –
Attorney & shareholder - 2008-present.
Practice limited to employment and labor law on behalf of management. Representing clients before federal and state courts and administrative agencies. Providing advice and counsel to clients on all personnel and human resource matters.
Brigden & Petajan, S.C. -
Vice-president, shareholder and attorney - 1993-2008.
Practice limited to employment and labor law on behalf of management.
Carroll University -
Adjunct Professor - 2001- 2004.
Taught one evening course per term(spring, summer and fall) on Employment and Labor Law or Business Law.
Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown -
Attorney - 1983-1993.
General practice, with emphasis on employment and labor law as well as appellate practice before federal and state courts and administrative agencies. Successfully briefed an appellate case to the United States Supreme Court, resulting in a change in federal law.
State of Wisconsin -
Probation and Parole Agent - 1976-1980.
Wisconsin Correctional Service -
Court Intervention Services Liaison - 1975-1976.
Education
Marquette University Law School - J.D. cum laude – 1983.
Marquette law review 1981-1983 (Executive Editor – 1982-1983).
Alpha Sigma Nu Honor Society – 1982 - present.
National Labor Relations Board Internship – 1982.
Wisconsin Court of Appeals Internship – 1982-1983.
Women in Law – 1980-1983 (President – 1981-1982).
Patricia Boden Award.
Quarles & Brady Award.
Professional Dimensions Award.
Carroll University - B.S., Social Work – 1975.
Student Senate – 1972-1975
(Chair, Social-Cultural Affairs Committee, 1973-1975).
Academic Affairs Committee – 1972-1975.
Individual Programming Committee – 1972-1975.
Scroll (honor society).
Concert Choir, Chamber Choir – 1971-1974.
Tutored Hispanic high school student – 1972 1973.
Professional Memberships and Offices
State Bar of Wisconsin – Member, 1983-present.
President's Distinguished Service Award – 1998.
Board of Governors (Chair, 1997-1998; District 2 Governor – 1992-1994, 1995-1997, 1998-2000).
Communications Committee Liaison – 1992-1994, 1998-2000.
Lawyer Referral Information Service Committee Liaison – 1992-1993, 1998-2000.
Media-Law Relations Committee Liaison – 1995-1997.
Labor and Employment Law Section Liaison – 1993-1994.
Board of Governors Strategic Planning Committee – 1997-2000.
Communications Committee – 1986-1993, 1994-2007, 2008-2011 (Chair, 1990-1993).
Wisconsin Lawyer Planning Subcommittee .
Advertising Policy Subcommittee.
Editorial Policy Subcommittee.
Reader Survey Subcommittee.
Public Image Committee — 2001-2009.
Executive Director Search Committee — 1999-2000.
Lawyer Dispute Resolution Committee – 1997-2001.
Professionalism Committee – 1999-2001.
Lawyer Referral & Information Service Committee – 1999-2001, 2002-2005.
Programs Committee – 1996-1998.
Personnel Study Committee – 1994-1996.
Staffing Committee – 1995-2000 (Vice-Chair, 1999-2000).
Nominating Committee – 1994.
Labor and Employment Law Section – 1984-present.
Milwaukee Bar Association – Member, 1983-present.
Continuing Legal Education Committee – 1995-2005 (Chair, 1995-1998).
Nominating Committee – 1997.
Law Practice Management Committee – 1993-1998.
Speakers Bureau Committee – 1993-1997.
Court of Appeals Bench/Bar Committee – 1988-1993 (Chair, 1991-1993).
Labor and Employment Law Section – 1984-present.
Association for Women Lawyers – Member, 1983-present.
Speakers Bureau Committee – 1995-2000.
Serjeants' Inn – Member, 2000-present.
Community Memberships and Activities
Carroll University
Trustee – 2004-present and Vice-Chair, 2008-present.
Executive Committee - 2005-present.
Trustee Committee - 2006-present (Chair, 2007 - present).
By-Laws Revision Ad Hoc Committee - 2005-2006.
Academic and Student Affairs Committee - 2004-present.
Compensation Committee - 2006-present.
Facilities Sub-Committee - 2006-present.
Alumni Council – 1994-present (Chair-Elect, 1996-1997; Chair, 1997-2001).
Adjunct Professor, Employment and Labor Law – 2002-2004.
Adjunct Professor, Business Law – 2001-2004.
Career Day presenter – 2001, 2004.
Alumni Representative to Board of Trustees – 1997-2001.
WorkScape panelist – 1997, 1998.
Guest Lecturer, Business Law class – February 2000.
City of Wauwatosa
Police and Fire Commission – Commissioner, 1998-present (Secretary, 1998-2002).
Civil Service Commission – Commissioner, 1994-1998 (Secretary, 1995-1997; Chair, 1998).
Master Singers of Milwaukee, Inc. – Member, 1994-present.
Board of Directors – 1996-present; Vice-President, 1998-present.
High Notes (Newsletter) Editor – 1994-1996, 1999-2001, 2005-2006.
West Granville Presbyterian Church – Ruling Elder
Session Member – 1/2005-12/2007.
Personnel Committee – 2000-2007 (Chair, 2005-2007).
Choir – 2002-present.
Mission Committee – 1995-present.
Open Circle – 1990-present.
Vacation Bible School Director – 1994.
Lutheran High School Association of Greater Milwaukee
Personnel Committee – 1994-present (Chair, 1996-present).
Compensation Task Force – 1993-1996.
It's Not About the Book Club - Member, 2000-present.
Seminars and Classes Presented
Disabilities, Worker's Compensation & FMLA: Putting It All Together – Brigden & Petajan, S.C., 2008 [multiple dates and locations].
Update: A One Day Labor & Employment Law Seminar for Wisconsin Employers – Brigden & Petajan, S.C., 1994 - 2008 [multiple dates and locations].
Wisconsin labor & employment law: The basics – Brigden & Petajan, S.C., 1993 - 2007 [multiple dates and locations].
Back to the Basics: Family/medical Leave and Related Issues – Brigden & Petajan, S.C., 2006 [multiple dates and locations].
Preventing Employee Lawsuits Through Compliance With Wisconsin Human Resources Law – National Business Institute, 2005 [Milwaukee & Madison].
Wage & Hour Law 2004: The New Standards for White Collar Exemptions – Brigden & Petajan, S.C., 2004 [multiple dates and locations].
"Employee Privacy in the Workplace," Practical Applications of Employment Law – Sterling Education Services, 2004.
Wisconsin Wage and Hour Law Update – Lorman Education Services, 2001.
It Could Happen To You: Dos and Don'ts For Attorneys Under the ADA – State Bar of Wisconsin Law Practice Section and Solo and Small Firm Practice Committee, 2000.
Compensation Law Compliance in Wisconsin – Lorman Education Services, 2000.
Stirring the Alphabet Soup: How the ADA, FMLA and WC Laws Interact and Conflict – Brigden & Petajan, S.C., 1999 [multiple dates and locations].
A Closer Look At Summary Judgment Motions – State Bar of Wisconsin, 1999.
Duty Disability Under Wisconsin Statutes Section 40.65 – State Bar of Wisconsin Administrative and Local Government Law Section, 1998.
Federal Civil Litigation – Lorman Education Services, 1996.
Employment Law Update – State Bar of Wisconsin, 1996.
Family and Medical Leave for Wisconsin Employers – Brigden & Petajan, S.C., 1995 [multiple dates and locations].
Discharge and Documentation in Wisconsin – Lorman Education Services, 1994.
Labor & Employment Law Update for Wisconsin Health Care Facilities – Brigden & Petajan, S.C., 1994 [multiple dates and locations].
Appellate Practice in Your District (District I) – State Bar of Wisconsin, 1990.
[Also numerous in-house seminars for various employers and educators.]
Published Materials
Eight Danger Areas for Employers: Advising Your Business Clients on Employment Issues, GPSolo Magazine, April-May 2004.
Interlocutory Appeals in Wisconsin, 66 Wis. Law. Vol. 7, at 16 (July 1993).
Book review, Reversal of Fortune: Inside the von Bülow Case, 33 Fed. B. News & J. 395 (1986).
Contempt of Court: Wisconsin's Erasure of the Blurred Distinction Between Civil and Criminal Contempt, 66 Marq. L. Rev. 369 (1983).
Note, 65 Marq. L. Rev. 281 (1981).Updated December 2008
Vacation Bible School Director – 1994.
Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra
Chaperoned high-school-aged youth symphony members on trips to Spain and Italy (1997) and to Montréal and Québec (1999).
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Youth Wind Ensemble
Chaperoned high-school-aged youth wind ensemble members on trip to Germany and Scandinavia (1996).
Wauwatosa East High School Band
Chaperoned numerous band and jazz band trips (1996-1999), including to San Antonio, Texas (1999).
Longfellow Middle School - Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
Co-chaired eighth-grade graduation dinner and dance for approximately 200 students – 1995.
Washington Highlands Association - Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
Coordinated annual Highland Fling, a formal dinner and dance attended by approximately 120 Washington Highlands residents, as committee member and co-chair – 1990, 1991, 2005.
Girl Scouts
Girl Scout Cookie Sale Coordinator for two troops – 1991, 1992.