Cathleen A. Dettmann

Cathleen Dettmann is a shareholder at Palmersheim Dettmann, S.C., and concentrates her practice on business litigation, including franchise disputes, copyright and trademark issues, business break-ups, non-compete and trade secret litigation as well as general contract disputes. Cathleen is an experienced trial attorney and is adept at advising clients through the court process, from filing a complaint to a jury trial. She also does a considerable amount of work on transactional matters: Cathleen represents clients who are buying and selling businesses, and works with business clients in drafting various kinds of contracts including licensing agreements and operating agreements, among others.

Cathleen’s work as a business attorney also includes providing estate and succession planning for both businesses and individuals. She particularly enjoys working with family farms to resolve the complex planning issues presented by the farming business. Cathleen works regularly with individuals and families to help achieve their planning goals, including advanced tax and trust planning for families who need these services.

Prior to joining Palmersheim Dettmann, Cathleen worked for several years as a lobbyist and public policy analyst, representing a variety of clients’ interests before the Wisconsin State Legislature. As a lobbyist and attorney, Cathleen has gained a great deal of experience in analyzing complex issues, in resolving multifaceted disputes efficiently, and in advocating for the best interests of her clients and their businesses. Cathleen is a talented business attorney whose experience in both business litigation and transactional matters makes her adept at analyzing a client’s situation and determining a strategy that can range from forceful advocacy to a delicate balancing of issues requiring a collaborative approach.

Cathleen graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School cum laude and achieved Order of the Coif. Since 2016 Cathleen has been recognized as a rising star by Super Lawyers, a selective recognition awarded to only 2.5% of Wisconsin lawyers each year. In law school, she was active on the Moot Court Board and co-produced the school’s popular annual comedy sketch show, Stuart’s Law Revue. She also obtained her undergraduate degree from UW-Madison, graduating with a bachelor of arts in political science. While in college, Cathleen studied abroad at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, studying Irish poetry and literature.