Melli, Walker, Pease & Ruhly, S.C. has a long tradition of providing effective legal services to businesses in Wisconsin. Melli Walker's history dates back to 1958 when Joseph A. Melli founded the firm. Several years later, Melli joined forces with John Shiels, and the two attorneys became known throughout the area for their expertise in providing labor and employment services to business owners.

In the late 1960s, the current structure of the firm began to take shape, with the addition of Jack Walker, James Pease, Jr., and Jim Ruhly. During the next several years, the firm's focus on labor and employment law continued and its employment litigation, business and construction practices began to develop with the addition of Tom Crone and Phil Bradbury. Melli Walker's business and construction practice grew steadily over the past three decades and is now well established in its own right. In 2005, Crone and Bradbury became co-managing partners of the firm.

Over the years, the firm has been on the cutting edge of many legal issues. Melli Walker was involved in developing the law in Wisconsin regarding public sector labor strikes, and has also been on the forefront of private sector labor law in Wisconsin, helping both nonunion and unionized employers to cope with aggressive union tactics like picketing, strikes, and salting. Melli Walker attorneys have also been involved in shaping issues that affect contractors and businesses, including participating in legislative hearings on revisions to the open records law and working with committees updating Wisconsin's construction lien law.

We pride ourselves on building long term relationships with our clients and our community. Melli Walker continues to provide legal services for a number of clients that first hired Joe Melli in the early 1960s, and the firm's attorneys have been active in the Madison area for years through their involvement in both civic and charitable organizations.

By their hard work and dedication to their clients, the firm's founders developed a reputation for providing high quality legal services. All of our attorneys strive to uphold these high standards by continuing to provide excellent service and effective legal solutions to each of our clients.