Meet Jonathan
Jonathan Ingrisano is a member of the Litigation Practice Group and practices in the firm’s Milwaukee office. He presently co-chairs the firm's Estate, Trust and Fiduciary Litigation practice and its Trust Company Industry Group.
Jonathan concentrates his practice in two areas. The first is Estate, Trust & Fiduciary Litigation. He represents trust companies, other fiduciaries and family members in all manner of disputes arising from the planning and administration of trusts and estates. He has represented clients in proceedings related to fiduciary liability, fiduciary removal, undue influence, lack of testamentary capacity, trust construction, and contracts to make a will. Jonathan collaborates closely with the firm’s highly regarded estate planning attorneys to ensure that clients receive effective advocacy that incorporates sound and efficient wealth planning and preservation.
Jonathan’s second principal area of practice is in the defense of banks and financial services providers. He has litigated a wide variety of disputes for financial institutions, including complex residential and commercial foreclosures, bank and mortgage fraud, consumer claims, lender liability, loan participation disputes, dissent and appraisals, loan repurchases, and negligence claims arising from embezzlements.
In addition to these specific areas, throughout his career Jonathan has also maintained a general commercial litigation practice – litigating, arbitrating and mediating a broad range of commercial business disputes in areas of dealer and distributor terminations, qui tam/whistleblower actions, real estate and construction, sales of businesses, sales and supply contracts, and corporate governance. Jonathan helped form the E-Discovery Working Group at Godfrey & Kahn. He frequently advises clients and speaks on electronic discovery and document retention issues, and he has helped banks and other companies design subpoena and garnishment response policies and procedures.
Before joining Godfrey & Kahn, Jonathan served two years as a law clerk for the Honorable John C. Shabaz, United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.
Education
Juris Doctor, Marquette University Law School, 1999, cum laude
Bachelor of Arts, Loyola University of Chicago, Economics, summa cum laude
Activities
Marquette University Law Alumni Board - Vice President / President-Elect
Marquette Volunteer Legal Clinic - Volunteer
Milwaukee Mid-Winter Estate Planning Clinic - Member
St. Charles Parish, Hartland, Wisconsin - Member
Honors
Recognized as a Wisconsin Rising Star (2006 - 2008, 2010 - 2012)
Recognized as a Wisconsin Super Lawyer (2013 - present)
Admitted To Practice
WisconsinCourt Admissions
United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
United States District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
United States District Court, Western District of Wisconsin
Professional Associations
ABA Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law (Litigation, Ethics and Malpractice Group), American Bar Association, Fiduciary and Investment Risk Management Association, Inc., Milwaukee Bar Association, Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals Bar Association, State Bar of WisconsinEstate, Trust and Fiduciary Litigation
French v. Wachovia Bank, N.A. Defended trustee bank from claims of breach of fiduciary duty by trust beneficiaries arising from an exchange of insurance policies held within the trust. Moved for and won summary judgment, dismissing the beneficiaries multi-million dollar claims in their entirety. Successfully defended the judgment on appeal.
Ulvilden v. Baylake Bank. Defended trustee bank from beneficiary’s claim for breach of fiduciary duty in the management of trust assets. Case settled on favorable terms after substantial discovery and negotiations with trustee’s errors and omissions insurance carrier.
Represented family members in enforcing decedent’s contract to make a will in their favor and recouping their attorneys’ fees.
Represented trustee against his siblings who were attempting his removal as trustee from a family trust.
Defended spouse from claims of undue influence brought by husband’s children.
Brought action on behalf of professional trustee to construe trust agreement.
Represented trustee in removal of co-trustee with a conflict of interest.
Assisted professional trustee in resignation and defended against beneficiaries’ objection to trustee’s fees and accounts.
Financial Services
Bank of America v. Bohringer. Retained as special counsel for foreclosing bank after defendants challenged securitization, assignment, and standing to foreclose. Obtained summary judgment on these defenses, clearing the way for judgment of foreclosure.
Bank of New York v. Harrop. Represented foreclosing bank in opposing debtor’s standing, successfully trying the case to judgment, and defending the judgment on appeal.
Hollnagel v. M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank, et al. Defended withdrawing lender from claims by seller of commercial property for tortious interference after the buyer was unable to close the transaction. Obtained summary judgment and dismissal of the case.
Heim Manufacturing Corp. v Marshall & Ilsley Corp. Defended bank from negligence and UCC claims by third-party defrauded by its embezzling employee. Obtained a favorable settlement after substantial discovery.
Layton State Bank v. Maloney, et al. Represented dissenting shareholders in bank dissent and appraisal action pursuant to Chapter 221 of the Wisconsin statutes. After significant discovery, obtained a favorable agreement as to the fair value of the shares at issue.
Charter Bank of Eau Claire v. Johnson. Represented bank against dissenting shareholders in dissent and appraisal action pursuant to Chapter 221 of the Wisconsin statutes. Prevailed at trial, obtaining the desired valuation of the bank’s stock.
Kallin v. Marshall & Ilsley Corp., et al. Defended bank in an action alleging misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, and conspiracy in connection with a commercial mortgage. Settled the case on favorable terms after significant discovery.
Palm Beach Liquidating Trust v. BMO Harris Bank N.A. Defended financial institution from fraud-related claims by bankrupt investor in one of the largest Ponzi schemes in U.S. history. Responsible for discovery management and anti-money laundering related defenses.
Unfair Competition and Trade Secrets
Share Corporation v. Momar, Inc. Defended sales company in its hiring of eight salespeople from claims by prior employer of tortious interference and trade secret misappropriation. Defeated plaintiff’s motions for expedited discovery and preliminary injunction before achieving dismissal of substantially all claims on a motion to dismiss. Remaining claim was voluntarily dismissed after defendants’ service on plaintiff of a Rule 11 motion.
Waukesha Wholesale Foods v. Fischer. Brought action to enforce a non-compete agreement against a former employee. Obtained a TRO prior to settling matter.
Delta Education v. Carolina Biological Co., et al. Represented plaintiff in pursuit of theft of trade secrets claim against a competitor and former employees. After obtaining a TRO, the matter was settled on favorable terms.
Raabe Co. v. Sterling Colors, Inc., et al. Defended former employee and his new company from claimed violations of a non-compete agreement and trade secret statutes. After substantial discovery and motion practice, the case settled at mediation on favorable terms.
Midwest Machinery, Inc. v. Meridian Machinery, Inc. Prosecuted claims of trade secret theft and obtained return of materials taken by former shareholder. Matter settled on favorable terms.
Counseled client on employees’ theft of information and establishment of competing entity.
Referred matter to, and liaisoned with, federal law enforcement resulting in former employees’ indictments, guilty pleas, and payment of seven-figure restitution judgment related to their trade secret theft.
Miscellaneous
Quincy Financial Services, Inc. v. SupplyOne, Inc. Represented plaintiff seller of packaging company in a post-closing earnout dispute with the defendant buyers. Defeated buyers attempts to compel arbitration and obtained a favorable settlement after significant discovery.
Wallace v. Heritage Christian Schools, et. al. Defended private school from claims by a former student of negligent supervision of a teacher. Obtained summary judgment and dismissal of the claims.
Gilson v. Mettler-Toledo. Assisted in defense of a medical supply manufacturer in a federal trade dress action. After defeating the motion for preliminary injunction, the case was settled on favorable terms.
Creative Concepts v. EFS Transportation. Represented plaintiff film distributor against competitor in federal action for Lanham Act trademark violations. After winning a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction, the case was settled at mediation on favorable terms.
Aztek Communications, Inc. v. SBC Global Services, Inc. Assisted in representation of SBC in federal court action against plaintiff distributor claiming unlawful termination under the Wisconsin Fair Dealership Law. Won summary judgment dismissing the multi-million dollar WFDL claim and settled the remaining contract claim on favorable terms.
Advised Fortune 500 Company as to Wisconsin Fair Dealership Law implications of terminating Wisconsin distributorships after the client’s acquisition of new product line.
Negotiated the alteration of a Wisconsin distributorship on behalf of a Fortune 500 Company.