Stephen P. Hurley

Steve P Hurley defends business organizations and individuals who are the subject of investigation or who have been accused of an offense. He has successfully represented clients with matters investigated by the SEC, FTC, OCC, FDIC, IRS, HHS, EPA, OSHA, FBI, DOT, DOD, USFWS, DEA as well as by state law enforcement agencies.

He has been repeatedly recognized as being among the best defense attorneys and trial lawyers in Wisconsin. His firm, of which he is a founding member, is rated Tier 1 for its criminal defense practice by U.S. News and World Reports. Among many recognitions, Steve was elected a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and each year, since 2006, his peers have selected him one of the Top Ten lawyers in Wisconsin for Superlawyers® magazine. His defense work has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® since 1995.

Practice Areas

• Criminal Defense in State and Federal Court
• Complex Civil Litigation in State and Federal Court
• Employment Law – Counsel Management in Employment and Labor Matters

For 33 years, as an adjunct professor at the University of Wisconsin Law School, and at law schools in Japan, China and Thailand, he has taught students and judges evidence and trial advocacy.

As Steve explains to the lawyers he trains and counsels: “The greatest accomplishment is to avoid your client being charged; and, if charged, to make the matter go away without a trial. But the only way to avoid a charge or a trial is to make the government fear it will lose. That can’t be accomplished if it’s been a while since you tried a case.”

In addition to his teaching, Steve has served on many professional and philanthropic boards. In 2015 he was awarded the Wisconsin Law Foundation’s Charles I. Goldberg Distinguished Service Award for his long-standing record of service to both the legal profession and to the public. Steve is active on non-profit boards and has served as President of two organizations. He has also been deeply committed for over 25 years to the University of Wisconsin Law School, having served as an adjunct professor and on various committees.