Cari Anne is a proven leader, an accomplished lawyer and a former general counsel with a unique set of personal and professional skills ranging from policy development and analysis, negotiation and dispute resolution, media relations and crisis management, to litigation and litigation management. She enjoys and excels at navigating complex legal and policy matters to effectuate sound decision-making and is a skillful communicator. Her unique experience includes being both a former government regulator as well as an attorney and advocate for clients whose operations are highly regulated by the government. She is a savvy relationship builder who manages diverse people and projects, which sometimes have competing priorities and constituencies.
As general counsel for the governor’s top cabinet member and chief administrative agency, she was responsible for directing and coordinating the provision of legal services to the governor’s office, the department and sixteen other cabinet agencies in the executive branch. Cari Anne also served as Chief of Staff to Wisconsin’s transportation department where she directed all external affairs including media relations, crisis management, legislative matters, federal, state and tribal partnerships, and communications with key stakeholders.
Clients
Cari Anne’s focus is to proactively assist businesses and associations as they interpret and comply with state and federal statutory schemes and regulations. Her unique experience in policy development gives her a rare "insider's" advantage when it comes to navigating complex regulatory affairs.
Government Relations and Public Administration
- Served as counsel in regard to co-ownership and operation, including complex dispatch and cost concerns, of an electric generating facility that was co-owned with a local utility.
- Successfully managed the development of a controversial package of legislative rules by negotiating between multiple levels of government, state agencies, industries and consumer groups.
- Provided counsel related to central state government functions including the state budget, legislative initiatives, state and federal constitutional matters, facilities management and construction projects, contract negotiations, procurements, environmental compliance, protests and appeals, administrative rules and public records.
Transportation
- Represented large and small corporations with regard to broker/carrier/shipper contracts, compliance, and dispute resolution.
- Served as lead counsel to Wisconsin’s transportation department for the $800 million Marquette Interchange reconstruction project to deliver the project on time and under budget.
- Directed all activities related to the implementation of Wisconsin’s High Speed Rail Program that included contract negotiations, inter-governmental affairs, media relations and policy development.
- Provided legal counsel to the department secretary, administrators and staff related to construction, maintenance, finance, and regulation of transportation facilities and infrastructure.
- Drafted, negotiated and enforced highway construction contracts and resolved related disputes.
- Provided advice in regard to the department’s regulatory authority and responsibilities, including antitrust rules, public bidding, construction contracts and labor law compliance.
Environment and Renewable Energy
- Represented large and small corporations with environmental permitting and defense of enforcement actions and citizen suits.
- Represented Kennecott Exploration (Australia Ltd.) and Flambeau Mining Company in defense of a citizen suit brought under the Clean Water Act relating to the Flambeau Mine -- the only metallic mine to be planned, permitted, operated and reclaimed under Wisconsin's modern mining laws.
- Represented a small chromium electroplating facility in enforcement action brought by state regulatory agency for alleged Clean Air Act violations.
- Worked with citizen groups and state and federal regulators to develop a consent decree to resolve environmental compliance (Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act) violations at the largest state-owned heating plant.
- Member of executive leadership team that coordinated a $250 million engineering, design and construction project. The project included managing staff and consultants as well as negotiating with agencies, companies, utilities and key stakeholders to replace the largest state-owned coal-fired heating plant with one capable of burning 100% biofuels.
Litigation
- Defended various enforcement actions initiated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, and citizen groups.
- Managed the state’s successful defense, through the Wisconsin Supreme Court, of a challenge to the procurement of a multimillion dollar redevelopment and construction contract.
- Achieved summary judgment disposition of multi-claim public records enforcement case in circuit court.
- Obtained Wisconsin Supreme Court review of a municipal enforcement action on behalf of a small, family-owned business.