Practice areas: Criminal Defense, DUI-DWI, White Collar Crimes; view more
Licensed in Wisconsin since: 2004
Education: William Mitchell College of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2018 - 2025 
Selected to Rising Stars: 2007 - 2012, 2014 Call today:
608-571-6279
Coad Law Office, S.C.
10 E. Doty Street, Suite 513Madison, WI 53703 Visit website
Richard A. Coad is a Madison-based criminal defense attorney with more than 20 years of experience defending cases throughout Wisconsin. Since establishing Coad Law Office, S.C. in 2011, he has focused his practice on providing a rigorous defense for individuals facing OWI/DUI, domestic violence, drug offenses, serious state felonies, and federal court.
While his practice has carried him to the U.S. Supreme Court and federal courts throughout the Midwest, Rick focuses his daily practice on trial work in Dane County and south-central Wisconsin, including Columbia, Sauk, Rock, Iowa, and Jefferson Counties. Peers across the state frequently refer matters to Rick because of his reputation for his stubborn insistence on getting the best possible result for his clients.
In recognition of the consistent quality of his work, Rick has been recognized as a Wisconsin Super Lawyer 14 times, most recently in 2025, and was selected to the 2026 edition of Best Lawyers in America for Criminal Defense. He represents clients in courtrooms throughout the state of Wisconsin.
Practice areas
Criminal Defense, Criminal Defense: DUI/DWI, Criminal Defense: White CollarFocus areas
Assault & Battery, Criminal Domestic Violence, Criminal Fraud, Criminal Law, Criminal Law - Federal, DUI/DWI, Debt, Drug & Alcohol Violations, Expungement, Failure to Pay Child Support, False Accusations, Felony, Juvenile Delinquency, Misdemeanor, Motor Vehicle Offenses, Murder, Overdrawn Bank Account, Parole, Probation, Prosecution, Sex Offenses, Tax Evasion, Theft, Traffic Violations, White Collar Crime
- 60% Criminal Defense
- 30% Criminal Defense: DUI/DWI
- 10% Criminal Defense: White Collar
First Admitted: 2004, Wisconsin
Professional Webpage: https://coadlawoffice.com/attorney-richard-a-coad/
Bar / Professional Activity
- U.S. District Court Western District of Wisconsin
- U.S. District Court Western District of Michigan
- Supreme Court of Wisconsin
- Dane County Bar Association, 2007-Present
- Supreme Court of the United States
- United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, 2005-Present
- The Dane County Bar Association
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2004-Present
- United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, 2005-Present
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, 2004-Present
- The Dane County Criminal Defense Bar Association
- Board of Directors for the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2012, 2013 and 2016
- Dane County Criminal Defense Bar, 2008-Present
- Wisconsin State bar
- Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member since 2004
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- United States v. Rozek, Western District Wisconsin Case No. 2006-CR-71 - Bankruptcy Fraud. Case dismissed., 2006
- State v. Dorneanu, Dane Co. 2016CF1771 - Felony Threats to Injure Business Reputation - felony dismissed., 2017
- State v. Owen, Dane Co. 2016CF156 - Felony Substantial Battery - Case dismissed., 2016
- United States v. Mau, Western District Wisconsin, Case No. 16-CR-53, 2016
- United States v. Hurreon Walker, 673 F.3d 649 (7th Cir. 2012), 2012
- State v. Hayes, Dane Co. 2016CF2132 - Felony Intimidation of Witness, battery - case dismissed., 2017
- State v. Pink, Dane Co. 2016CF784 - Felony Possession of Narcotics - Case dismissed., 2016
- Logan v. United States, 552 U.S. 23 (2007) (Ginsburg, J.); 453 F.3d 804 (7th Cir. 2006) (Easterbrook, J., Evans, J., Rovner, J.); W.D. Wis. Case No. 05-CR-88 (Shabaz, J.)(2005), 2007
- United States v. Tran, Western District Wisconsin, Case No. 16-CR-9, 2016
- United States v. Dye, Eastern District Wisconsin, Case No. 2011-CR-205, 2012
- State v. Ohmer, Dane Co. 2016CF838 - Felony Possession of Narcotics - felony case dismissed., 2017
- United States v. Lloyd Waupoose, Eastern District Wisconsin, Case No. 2005-CR-83 - Sexual Assault of a Child - Case dismissed, 2005
Pro bono / Community Service
- Coach Youth Soccer and Basketball, Madison WI
Educational Background
- Gettysburg College, B.A., 1996
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- What to Do When the FBI Comes Knocking, Guest Speaker, Madison Area Corporate Counsel Network, 2015
- Rick was selected to the prestigious Best Lawyers in America list for criminal defense in 2026., Best Lawyers in America, 2026
- Dane County Bar Association: Supreme Court Update, 2009, 2008
- Dane County Bar Association Meeting: United States Supreme Court Update, 2011
- Speaker, Dane County Bar Association: Supreme Court Update, 2010
- Speaker, The Basics of Internal Investigations, WHDU, 2015
- Speaker, Litigating Firearms Cases, Wisconsin State Public Defender Conference, 2010
- Wisconsin State Public Defender Conference, Litigating Motions in Concealed Carry and Other Firearms Cases, September 26, 2008
Other Outstanding Achievements
- Argued Logan v. United States, 552 U.S. 23 (2007) in the United States Supreme Court.
Honors
- Top 10% in the United States, Lawyers of Distinction, 2016
- Super Lawyers, Super Lawyer, 2018- 2025, 2025
- Recognized as Super Lawyers Rising Stars, Milwaukee Magazine and Madison Magazine 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2014
Industry Groups
- 7th Circuit Bar Association
- Dane County Bar Association
- National Association Of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Wisconsin Association Of Criminal Defense Lawyers
These comments were made by fellow attorneys during the annual nomination process.
“Rick is an extremely capable lawyer that gets amazing results for his clients.”
“Rick is one of the best criminal defense lawyers in the state.”
“Richard is a thoughtful defense lawyer. He works hard for his clients and obtains very good results for them.”
“Rick is a dedicated attorney who gets great results for his clients. He can be tough when he needs to, but is still able to maintain great relationships with prosecutos, judges and other defense lawyers.”
Office location for Richard A. Coad
10 E. Doty Street, Suite 513
Madison, WI 53703
Phone: 608-571-6279
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2018 - 2025
- Rising Stars: 2007 - 2012, 2014
