The Great Lakes Legal Foundation is a non-profit legal foundation providing legal and policy expertise to advance economic growth and increase job opportunities in the upper Midwest. We work with our partners to develop sound policies or challenge the ill-conceived.
Legislative Policy Development
Foundation lawyers and staff support sound environmental, energy, and civil justice legislation with our policy expertise, research capabilities, and legislative drafting. Our legislative policy experience was called upon to help develop recent civil justice and regulatory reform legislation, including 2011 Wis. Act 2 and 2011 Wis. Act 21.
National organizations have recognized Foundation staff expertise on tort reform legislation.
Regulatory Compliance
Foundation lawyers diligently monitor, assess, and provide comments on state and federal regulatory initiatives. Our key focus is assuring agencies act within their statutory authority and follow proper rulemaking procedures. Foundation lawyers are in a good position to assess compliance issues given our role in developing the key, underlying statutory provisions relating to agency authority and the administrative review process.
Most recently, the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board repealed an outdated total suspended particulate (TSP) standard in response to the Foundation’s petition for rulemaking. The petition was drafted on behalf of Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce. We successfully argued state law required such repeal.
To support our regulatory program, we developed The Great Lakes Legal Foundation Regulatory Watch to provide timely updates and analyses of federal and Wisconsin regulatory programs.
Foundation attorneys are investigating the impact federal regulatory developments have on Wisconsin rules. For example, our staff is currently investigating the nexus between the proposed federal Utility MACT standards and Wisconsin’s mercury standards.
Our in-depth focus on the proposed federal rules constituting the “EPA’s regulatory train wreck” includes source documents, research studies, and commentary. No other organization provides access to as much information all in one place.
Judicial and Appellate Program
Court Watch
Under the Wisconsin Court Watch initiative, Foundation lawyers monitor Wisconsin Court of Appeals and Supreme Court decisions for allied groups such as Wisconsin Civil Justice Council (WCJC) and Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce.
Amicus Briefs
In a related effort, Foundation lawyers make recommendations on potential amicus curiae briefs to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The goal is to assure the most meaningful cases are identified and acted upon. Briefs are drafted by Foundation lawyers or outside counsel under Foundation supervision.
Judicial Evaluations
Foundation lawyers also support WCJC’s Judicial Evaluation Project to provide analysis of upcoming judicial elections for WCJC members and the entire business community. The 2011 Guide to the Wisconsin Supreme Court highlighted the most important cases decided over the past two terms (from 2008 through 2010). The 2011 Guide describes the Supreme Court’s decision in each selected case, WCJC’s position, and how each justice decided the case.
Board of Directors
Chairman – James A. Buchen
Senior Vice President, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce
Vice Chairman – Raymond P. Taffora
Michael Best & Friedrich LLP
President & General Counsel – Robert I. Fassbender
The Hamilton Consulting Group, LLC
Secretary and Treasurer – Nickolas C. George
President, Midwest Food Processors Association Inc.
Legal Staff
Robert Fassbender – President and General Counsel
Bob is an administrative law expert and has played a major role in enacting regulatory reforms. He previously was a partner with the Godfrey & Kahn law firm, Director of Environmental Policy for Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, and in-house environmental counsel in California for McDonnell Douglas Corporation and the U.S. Air Force. Bob received his law degree from the University of San Diego and has a Civil Engineering degree from Michigan Technological University.
Andrew Cook – Director of Legal Services
Andy is an attorney with substantial experience on energy, environmental, and civil justice issues. He worked as in-house legal counsel and lobbyist with the Building Industry Association of Washington and was staff attorney with the Pacific Legal Foundation where he was involved in policy development and litigation. Andy received his law degree from The John Marshall Law School in Chicago and his Bachelor of Science degree from University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
Jim Hough – Of Counsel
Jim has spent his entire 40-year career in government relations and law, including bar association and judicial organizations. He focuses on civil justice policy and has served as Executive Director of the State Bar of Wisconsin, as well as the Judicial Council. Jim has degree in government and international relations from University of Notre Dame, as well as a law degree from the University of Wisconsin.
Emily Kelchen – Staff Attorney
Emily is a recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School. Among other activities and awards, Emily was a Law-In-Action Merit Scholar, member of the Wisconsin Journal of Law, Gender & Society, and President of the Federalist Society. She interned with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the Federal District Court of the Eastern District of Missouri, the Honorable Judge E. Richard Webber, and for President Pro Tem Mike Gibbons, Missouri State Senate. Emily received her B.S. in Political Science from Truman State University, Kirksville, MO, where she graduated magna cum laude with departmental honors, and served as a student representative on the Board of Governors.
Andrew Bassan – Intern
Andrew is a second year student at the University of Wisconsin Law School. A member of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, the Jewish Law Student Association, and UW Mock Trial Team, Andrew has been active in the Madison Law Community since moving to Wisconsin from Maryland in 2010. His previous experience includes internships with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in Washington this past summer, as well as positions with smaller law firms in both Baltimore and New York. Andrew also served as Deputy Field Director for Maryland State Senator Bobby Zirkin’s 2006 successful political campaign. He additionally served as a legislative intern in Mr. Zirkin’s Office in Annapolis, MD. Andrew holds a B.S. in Marketing from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, College Park.
