Cathleen Dettmann

Cathleen Dettmann is a shareholder at the firm, 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 has successfully tried several cases to juries and to judges in both state and federal courts. Cathleen has also successfully argued cases before the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, the Wisconsin Supreme Court and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago.

In addition, Cathleen does a considerable amount of work on transactional matters. Cathleen serves as outside general counsel to a number of businesses including those with both a local and national presence. She regularly helps clients who need assistance with buying or selling businesses or in drafting a variety of contracts including service agreements, 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. 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 gives her a deep understanding of the complex problems her clients face. The depth and variety of her business practice makes Cathleen adept at analyzing each client’s situation with a focus on problem-solving and strong business outcomes.

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. She was elected to serve as president of the Dane County Bar Association by attorneys, judges and justices in the county, serving in 2020-2021. 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. While in college, Cathleen studied abroad at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, studying Irish poetry and literature.