Attorneys and Support Staff > Partner Profile: Greg Strasser

Partner Profile: Greg Strasser

Greg Strasser began practicing law in 1988. In July of 1997, he and Matthew Yde formed the partnership of Strasser & Yde.

He has presented and won cases in courtrooms at the state and federal level. This experience has also helped his clients achieve desired results during pre-trial negotiations by providing a strong position at administrative hearings, arbitrations, mediations, and courtroom jury trials.

On Having Appellate Experience

"I think you have to have appellate experience to represent someone fully. You always have to be looking down the road. Either something goes wrong and you appeal it or the other side makes an appeal and you have to be ready for it. You've always got to be able to spot where things are going wrong in a case and know how to prepare for it on appeal. Many lawyers have less trial experience than you'd expect, and far fewer have appellate experience. When you engage the appellate process, that experience is extremely important."

On Having Experience Representing Both Plaintiffs and Defendants

"When you have experience on both sides of issues involving personal injury, you know how to take advantage of weak positions or reinforce yours. It's kind of like when a football player goes to a rival team and has knowledge of the tendencies, strengths, and weaknesses of their opponent from their point of view…We have a wealth of experience on both sides is personal injury cases. That experience means we're able to represent our clients very well."

On Being Able to Be Selective About Taking Cases

"We don't want to take cases that are about a grudge, or about getting even. We want to help people and feel good about what we do. The merits are crucial...Our ideal client is someone who knows what they want, understands the risks and benefits, and is willing to invest the time and money to go through an imperfect system to get it. No lawyer has magic pixie dust that they can sprinkle on a case and win it. An individual who knows they are hiring a professional and understands the value of professional advice and is ready to put their faith in us is going to get great service...But someone who's just been in an accident and comes to see us instead of a doctor, well, we tell them that the doctor is the professional they should be seeing at that point, not us. We're not going to take a case and try to build it into something it's not."

On the Importance of Trial Experience

"You have to have trial experience. When you're up against a tough opponent in court, they're concerned with whether or not you're represented by a firm that tries cases. It gives the insurance company a substantially better negotiating position when they know that the lawyer representing you lacks courtroom experience. They know they can ‘lowball' the case if the attorney is not likely to take the matter to trial. They know settlement demands are very likely to drop dramatically if the case approaches going to court."

On Being a Tough Trial Lawyer

"To me, tough means that you are tried, true, and ready to go. It can't just be an image you put on. It's about being steady, having nerves of steel, and being prepared to present your case to a jury. Even more importantly, a tough trial lawyer has to have the courage of his or her convictions. If you never lie to the client, jury, or the other side, and you can stand tall, you're always ready to handle things in a professional, honest, and ethical manner."

Areas of Practice

  • General trial practice
  • Insurance litigation (commercial and personal lines)
  • Business and Real Estate disputes
  • Mediation/arbitration
  • Family law (divorce)

Trial Experience

  • Representation of clients in litigation throughout Wisconsin in state, federal, and administrative courts.

Education

Legal: Hamline University of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota

  • Graduated 1988
  • Jessup International Law Moot Court Team
  • Moot Court Chairman

College: University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin

  • Graduated 1985
  • Distinction in Major (History)

Admitted to Practice

  • All Wisconsin State Courts
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

Bar Associations

  • State Bar of Wisconsin
  • Marathon County Bar Association

Professional Activities

  • Civil Trial Counsel of Wisconsin
  • State Bar Free Arbitration Panel Member
  • State of Wisconsin Bar Leaders Committee
  • Collaborative Family Law Council of Wisconsin
  • Vice President, Marathon County Bar Association (2005-2006)
  • President, Marathon County Bar Association (2006-2007)

Civic Activities

  • Special Olympics team captain, Polar Plunge
  • Coaches the D.C. Everest High School Mock Trial Team
  • Coached a community youth football league
  • Salvation Army bell ringer