Quarles & Brady LLP
- Founded
- 1892-01-01 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- Headquarters
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- lochoa@quarles.com
- Phone
- (520) 770-8700
Quarles & Brady LLP is a full-service Am Law 200 law firm founded in June 1892 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. With approximately 525 attorneys across 11 offices in the United States, the firm serves clients in industries including technology, energy, financial services, healthcare, insurance, pharmaceuticals, real estate, and manufacturing. Its practice areas span intellectual property, litigation, labor and employment, health and life sciences, corporate transactions, real estate, and estate planning. Quarles & Brady has earned a 100% rating on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index and a spot on the BTI Client Service A‑Team for 2025. The firm is led by Managing Partner Michael Aldana and emphasizes collaboration, client service, and community involvement, reporting over 14,200 pro bono hours in fiscal year 2025.
Detailed Review
History
Quarles & Brady traces its roots to June 1892 when Edgar Liberty Wood and Lawrence A. Owell formed a two-lawyer partnership in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Over more than 130 years, the firm expanded through mergers and organic growth, evolving into a national legal services provider with a strong Midwestern base. The firm’s name reflects later equity partners who joined the original founders.
Business Model and Practice Areas
The firm operates as a traditional law partnership, generating revenue through hourly billing and alternative fee arrangements across a broad spectrum of legal services. Its intellectual property practice is particularly strong, handling patent prosecution in biotechnology, chemistry, high-tech, consumer products, and university technology transfer, as well as trademark and copyright protection and IP litigation. The health and life sciences team advises on regulatory compliance, healthcare transactions, and government program enrollment. The labor and employment group represents employers in workplace disputes, compliance, and collective bargaining. Litigation and dispute resolution covers complex commercial cases, internal investigations, and regulatory enforcement defense.
Market Position and Recognition
Quarles & Brady is consistently ranked among the top U.S. law firms by Am Law 200. It has earned a 100% rating on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index for its diversity and inclusion efforts and has been named to the BTI Client Service A‑Team for 2025. The firm also operates client-facing platforms such as “Federal Policy Watch” for monitoring White House developments and “Merits Review” for analyzing U.S. Supreme Court cases that affect business.
Recent Strategic Developments
In January 2026, Quarles & Brady restructured its recruiting and development functions into a new talent department led by Chief Talent Officer Jennifer Sloop. The firm also added a senior strategic growth advisor to pursue expansion opportunities. Its long-term strategic plan focuses on talent development and client service. The firm’s commitment to pro bono work is evident in its 14,200 hours reported in fiscal year 2025.
Key Products
Intellectual Property
Patent prosecution (biotech, chemistry, high-tech, consumer products, manufacturing, university tech transfer), trademark and copyright protection, IP litigation, and technology transactions.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Complex commercial litigation, internal investigations, regulatory enforcement defense, and appellate advocacy.
Labor & Employment
Workplace compliance, litigation, collective bargaining, and advice for employers across sectors.
Health & Life Sciences
Regulatory compliance, healthcare transactions, provider enrollment, and pharmaceutical/device regulation.
Corporate & Business Transactions
Mergers & acquisitions, corporate governance, securities, and commercial contracts.
Real Estate & Construction
Development, leasing, financing, and land-use permitting.
Estate, Trust & Wealth Preservation
Estate planning, tax strategies, fiduciary administration.
Industry Teams
Focused groups for Technology, Energy, Financial Services, Healthcare, Insurance, Pharmaceuticals, Real Estate, and Manufacturing.
Federal Policy Watch
A client-facing platform monitoring White House and federal policy developments.
Merits Review
A client-facing program analyzing U.S. Supreme Court cases that affect business.
Offices & Headcount
525 employees (approx.)
Key Persons
- Edgar Liberty Wood
Founder (co-founder)
- Lawrence A. Owell
Founder (co-founder)