MELINDA A. BIALZIK

A graduate of Harvard Law School, Melinda returned to her native Wisconsin to establish her law career. Melinda has developed a practice focused on trial and appellate representation of businesses and business leaders faced with critical litigation challenges. Her experience encompasses all phases of the litigation process, from investigation through discovery, motion practice and trial and appeal as well as alternative dispute resolution.

Melinda has successfully litigated trial and appellate cases in federal courts, most notably the Seventh Circuit, in Wisconsin state courts and also courts in other states under pro hac vice admission, for the duration of the legal proceeding.

In addition to her general trial and appellate litigation practice, Melinda has represented railroads in a number of litigation actions involving the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA), crossing accidents, and in related federal preemption litigation.

Melinda also represents commercial landlords in eviction proceedings, lease negotiations and documentation, as well as in wider landlord/tenant counsel and litigation concerning the issues that arise in the course of operating a commercial property portfolio.

Her accomplishments include:

Selected by BizTimes Media, Notable series, Notable Women in Law for 2020.
Winning a jury verdict defeating an eight-figure counterclaim after an 11 day trial.
Selected as a 2019 Women in the Law Honoree by the Wisconsin Law Journal.
Successfully representing Wisconsin businesses in a recent appeal of antitrust cases at the United States Supreme Court involving hundreds of millions of dollars in controversy.
Successfully representing a Wisconsin business in the Wisconsin Supreme Court to obtain a ruling based on the Court’s exercise of its supervisory powers that parties have a constitutional right to have cases heard by elected judges, rather than appointed referees.
Representing a major interstate railroad in defense of multi-million dollar Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) claims.
Successfully litigating multiple defenses of premises liability claims on behalf of commercial property owners.
Successful defense of a corporation against a seven figure Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) claim.

Bar Admissions

Wisconsin
United States Supreme Court
Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals
Eastern District of Wisconsin
Western District of Wisconsin
Northern District of Illinois

Legal Education

Harvard Law School, J.D. (1999)
- Member, Harvard Defenders, a student practice organization providing free representation to low-income defendants in criminal show-cause hearings before clerk-magistrates. 1996-1997

Undergraduate Education

Lawrence University, B.A., magna cum laude (1996)
- Phi Beta Kappa
- Wristen Merit Scholar
- Kimberly Clark Merit Scholar
- Wristen Merit Scholar

Representative Published Works

"Legislature’s Changes to Rules of Civil Procedure," Wisconsin Lawyer Magazine, June 2018 (vol. 91, no. 6) (co-author, with R. Billings and R. Gegios).
"New Changes to Wisconsin Civil Procedure," Wis. Law Journal, Apr. 2018 (co-author, with R. Gegios and R. Billings).
"Mitigation of Damages," Ch. 30, The Law of Damages in Wisconsin, Vol. III; 5th Ed., Pinnacle Books, State Bar of Wisconsin, 2010 – Current.
"Accepting a Litigation Client," Ch. 1, Wisconsin Civil Procedure Before Trial, 8th Ed., Pinnacle Books, State Bar of Wisconsin, 2023 - Current.
"Bad Faith Actions," Ch. 28, The Law of Damages in Wisconsin, 10th ed., Pinnacle Books, State Bar of Wisconsin, 2025 - Current.

Professional Associations

State Bar of Wisconsin
Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association
Fairchild Inns of Court
Serjeants’ Inn

Leadership Positions

Prior Member of the Board of Directors, the Eastern District Bar Association
Past Co-chair of the Civil Practice Committee, the Eastern District Bar Association
Member, Wisconsin Bar Association Solo and Small Firm Practice Committee 2005-2007
Current Member, Wisconsin Bar Association Insurance and Member Benefits Committee
Board Member, Primerus, 2024 – present
Chair, Law Practice Management Group, Primerus, 2026 – present