Jerome R. Kerkman

Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Phone: 800-645-9064
Fax: 414-277-0100

Jerome R. Kerkman is a shareholder with the firm. He has a business litigtion practice with an emphasis in commercial financial transactions, business restructuring in court or out-of-court, mergers and acquisitions, personal planning and complex business litigation involving wrongful competition and trade secrets.

A sample of his significant case involvement include:

Great Western Publishing, Inc. v. A.T. Mallad Enterprises, Inc. Represented plaintiff in breach of contract dispute seeking lost profits; defendant counterclaimed seeking millions of dollars for unfair competition and theft of trade secrets under California law; result: jury verdict of $500,000 for plaintiff.

Princeton American Corporation (Holding company for real estate and other business; Phoenix, AZ) Lead attorney for major unsecured creditor of NASDAQ company; result: obtained Chapter 11 trustee within 1 month after filing.

Prange Way, Inc. (Large discount department store chain-Green Bay) Major role in representing large Chapter 11 debtor; result: confirmed liquidating plan with equity receiving significant distribution.

Great Western Publishing, Inc. ($40 million publishing company; Phoenix, AZ) Lead attorney for Chapter 11 debtor; result: confirmed plan in 7.5 months with owner retaining control.

Datacare, Inc. (Hospital software company – Tampa, FL) Represented one of the largest Milwaukee hospitals and took lead role for hospital clients of debtor; result: Chapter 11 trustee appointed and confirmed plan allowed hospitals to smartly migrate to new software systems.

P.A. Berger & Co. / Carson Pirie Scott & Company ($1 billion department store company-Milwaukee) Major role in representing large Chapter 11 debtor; result: confirmed operating plan issuing stock on NASDAQ.

Andrae Electric Co. (Oldest electrical contracting firm in the country – Milwaukee) Represented acquiring party of Chapter 11 company proceedings; result: purchased company.

Winjak, Inc. & Jack Winter Apparel, Inc. (Apparel manufacturer-Milwaukee) Co-counsel representing NYSE Chapter 11 debtor; result: confirmed plan which sold the company.

Patrick Cudahy, Inc. (Large food processor-Milwaukee) Co-counsel representing major partially secured lender; result: cash payment.
You can reach him by phone at 414.277.8200

Areas of Practice

Bankruptcy Litigation
Chapter 11/Out of Court Restructurings
Commercial Law/Contracts/UCC
Creditors’ Rights
Copyright Infringement
Cyber Law
Fraud
Fraudulent Transfers
Mergers & Acquisitions
Noncompetition Agreements
Trade Secrets
Unfair Competition

Bar Admissions

Wisconsin, 1984
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin, 1984
U.S. District Court Western District of Wisconsin, 1984
U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit, 1986

Education

University of Wisconsin Law School; Madison, Wisconsin
J.D. cum laude – 1984
Lawrence University; Appleton, Wisconsin
B.A. – 1979
Major: Music

Published Works

The Debtor in Full Control: A Case for Adoption of the U.S. Trustee System #, 70 Marq. L. Rev. 159, 1987
Collecting the Uncollectable Debt:The Underutilized Involuntary Petition, 10 The Milwaukee Lawyer 4, 1987

Representative Cases

Giotis v. Apollo of the Ozarks, Inc., 800 F.2d 660 (C.A.7 1986)
Matter of Adventist Living Centers, Inc., 52 F.3d 159 (C.A.7 1995)
In re National Structures, Inc., 74 B.R. 986 (Bankr. E.D. Wis. 1987)
The Bostwick-Braun Company v. Szews, 645 F. Supp. 221 (W.D. Wis. 1986)
The Bostwick-Braun Company v. Owens, 634 F. Supp. 839 (E.D. Wis. 1986)
Matter of All-Way Services, Inc., 73 B.R. 556 (Bankr. E.D. Wis. 1987)

Classes/Seminars

Covenants Not to Compete in Wisconsin, 2001 – Present
Fundamentals of Bankruptcy Law and Procedure, 2001 – Present
1999 Annual Bankruptcy Update, State Bar of Wisconsin, 1999
The Interface Between Intellectual Licenses and the Bankruptcy Code, Wisconsin Intellectual Property Association, 1992

Honors and Awards

Featured in the 26th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America for his work in Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
“AV” Rated Lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell
Outstanding Volunteer Lawyer Award by Milwaukee Young Lawyers Association, 1992 – Present
Volunteer Lawyer of the Year Award by Milwaukee Young Lawyers Association, 1990 – Present
Professional Associations and Memberships
Milwaukee Young Lawyers Association, Director, 1988 – 1992

Past Employment Positions

Maier McIlnay & Kerkman, Ltd., 1997 – 2001
Quarles & Brady, Lawyer, 1991 – 1997
Minahan & Peterson, Lawyer, 1989 – 1991
Kravit, Waisbren & De Bruin S.C., Associate Lawyer,  1987 – 1989
Cook & Franke, S.C., Associate Lawyer, 1984 – 1987
Hon. C.N. Clevert, U. S. Bankruptcy Judge (now E.D. Wisconsin Federal district court judge), Intern, 1984

Pro Bono Activities

MYLA/Legal Action of Wisconsin Volunteer Lawyers Project, 1989 – Present
Interests include Downhill Skiing, Scuba Diving, and Tennis
Fraternities/Sororities
Delta Tau Delta

Speaking Engagements