Law Firm Overview

Our firm formed in 1975 under the name, Thompson & Coates, Ltd., as a merger of two smaller firms which trace their roots back to the early part of this century. The firm changed its name to its present name in 1993.

While each of the lawyers at Hostak, Henzl & Bichler tends to concentrate in specific areas of practice, the firm, as a whole, covers almost all areas of legal practice other than criminal law and patent law. We have attorneys practicing in litigation, municipal law, real estate, estate planning, corporate law, divorce and employment law, among others.

We pride ourselves in not only offering high quality legal services but also encouraging our lawyers and other employees to volunteer in many ways to serve our community. Some of the boards that Hostak, Henzl & Bichler attorneys currently serve on are:
 
                          Racine Community Foundation
                          Homeward Bound of Racine
                          Family Service of Racine
                          Center for Community Concerns
                          Conflict Resolution Center
                          Careers Industries
                          The Prairie School
                          Les Aspin Center, Marquette University
                          Health Care Network, Inc.
                          Racine County Food Bank
                          American Planning Association
                          City of Racine Board of Appeals
                          City of Racine Plan Commission
                          Racine County Bar Association
                          Rotary Club of Racine
                          Racine Public Library Board of Trustees
                          Racine Dominican Ministries
                          Board of Directors of The Prairie School
                          Board of Directors of the Real Property, Probate,
                              and Trust Law Section of the State Bar of WI.
                          Southeast Wisconsin Professional Baseball Park 
                              District Board.
                          Board of Directors of Renquist Design, Inc.

Hostak, Henzl & Bichler attorneys commit themselves to provide the highest level of legal assistance in all areas of the law. With the incorporation of the best technology available for law firms and our law firm location in Racine, Wisconsin, Hostak, Henzl & Bichler merges top service with lower rates as compared to full-service firms in larger metropolitan areas.

Martindale-Hubbell law directory recoganized Hostak, Henzl & Bichler for its high professional legal standards and ethics in the 1999 Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. The Bar Register of Pre-Eminent Lawyers lists only those select lawyers and law firms that have earned the AV Rating in the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, and have therefore been designated by their colleagues as preeminent in their field. The "A" signifies the highest level of legal ability, while the "V" denotes "very high" adherence to the professional standards of conduct, ethics, reliability and diligence.

Hostak, Henzl & Bichler proudly received the Family Friendly Workplace Award in 1998. The firm received the award for its commitment to all employees by providing full paid medical and dental plan, profit-sharing plan, 401K plan and paid seminars and memberships. The firm works individually with employees to help employees reach flexible solutions their family and workplace challenges.

Areas of Practice

• Litigation
• Municipal Law
• Real Estate
• Estate Planning
• Corporate Law
• Divorce
• Employment Law

Representative Cases

• Castellani v. Bailey, 578 N.W. 166, 218 Wis.2d 245 (Wisconsin Supreme Court 1998)
• Gorton v. American Cyanamid Co., 533 N.W.2d 746, 194 Wis2d 203 (Wisconsin Supreme Court 1995)
• Stern v. Thompson & Coates, Ltd., 517 N.W.2d 658, 185 Wis.2d 220 (Wisconsin Supreme Court 1994)
• Gonzales v. City of Franklin, 403 N.W.2d 747, 137 Wis.2d 109 (Wisconsin Supreme Court 1987)
• Theama by Bichler v. City of Kenosha, 344 N. W.2d 513, 117 Wis.2d 508 (Wisconsin Supreme Court 1984)
• Disciplinary Proc. against Marcus & Tepper, 320 N.W.2d 806, 107 Wis.2d 560 (Wis. Supreme Court)
• Hammes v. First Nat. Bank & Trust Co., 255 N.W.2d 555, 79 Wis.2d 355 (Wisconsin Supreme Court)
• Leatherman v. American Family Mut. Ins. Co., 190 N.W.2d 644, 52 Wis.2d 644 (Wisconsin Supreme Court)
• Rausch V. Buisse, 146 N.W.2d 801, 33 Wis.2d 154 (Wisconsin Supreme Court 1966)

West Practice Categories

Administrative Hearings & Adjudication, Arbitration, Contracts, Construction Law, Construction Contracts, Construction Liens, Housing & Construction Defects, State & Municipal Bonds & Financing, , State & Municipal Contracts, State, Local & Municipal Law, Land Use & Zoning, Municipal Corporations, Municipal Liability, Federal Claims Court, Real Estate Law, Probate & Estate Administration, Estate Planning, Taxation Law, Ethics, Professional Responsibility, Hospital Law, State Appellate Practice, Insurance Malpractice, Motor Vehicle, Title Insurance, Medical Malpractice, Litigation & Appeals, Employment Discrimination -- Employee, Employment Discrimination -- Employer, Personal Injury -- Defense, Personal Injury -- Plaintiff, Business & Commercial Law, Creditors' Rights, Guardianships & Conservatorships, Business Organizations, Health & Health Care Law, Divorce, Elder Law, Adoption, Family Law, Trusts, Disability & Illness Discrimination, Gay & Lesbian Rights, National Origin Discrimination, Race Discrimination, Religious Discrimination, Sex Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, Collections, Consumer Protection, Debtor/Creditor, Lemon Law, Age Discrimination, Municipal Employment -- Employee, Wage & Hour Laws -- Employee, Wrongful Termination -- Employee, Americans with Disabilities Act -- Employee, Employee Rights -- Employee, Employment Contracts -- Employee, Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) -- Employee, Sexual Harassment -- Employee, Americans with Disabilities Act -- Employer, Employee Rights -- Employer, Employment Contracts -- Employer, Employment Law -- Employer, Municipal Employment -- Employer, Sexual Harassment -- Employer, Wage & Hour Laws -- Employer, Wrongful Termination -- Employer, Municipal Employment, Federal Appellate Practice, Federal Trial Practice, State Trial Practice, Alimony & Spousal Support, Child Support, Childrens' Rights, Custody & Visitation, Domestic Violence & Neglect, Juvenile Law, Paternity, Prenuptial Agreements, Collaborative Law