Mark Budzinski

For more than 25 years, Mark Budzinski has litigated hundreds of cases in Wisconsin state and federal courts, including more than 70 jury trials. There is a difference between a “litigator” and a “trial lawyer,” and Mark is a trial lawyer above all else. Facing the uncertainty of a jury trial is one of the most unnerving experiences for clients, which is why they turn to him when everything is on the line. His integrity and intensity resonate with juries, delivering strong results for his clients.

He has represented a broad range of clients, from individuals and small businesses to Fortune 500 companies and Am Law 100 firms, handling cases involving catastrophic injuries, quadriplegia, wrongful death claims and contract disputes.

A Manitowoc, Wisconsin native, Mark enlisted in the United States Marine Corps infantry at age 17, following a long family tradition of military service. He served six years in the Marine Corps Reserve while earning his undergraduate and law degrees at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

After law school, Mark began his career as a trial lawyer at a Wisconsin civil litigation defense firm, ultimately serving as managing partner in both the Green Bay and Madison offices. In 2004, he re-enlisted and deployed to Al Anbar Province, Iraq, in February 2005, leading his Marines in combat at the height of the insurgency. He returned home in October 2005 and resumed his law practice. These experiences shaped his leadership, discipline and commitment to clients facing high-stakes trials.

Mark has been designated a Board Certified Trial Attorney by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a member of both the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel and the American Board of Trial Advocacy. Underscoring his distinguished career as a trial lawyer, he has received peer recognition from several leading legal ranking publications.

Representative Experience and Outcomes:

• Has tried dozens of cases with an exposure over $1,000,000 including medical malpractice, product liability, and catastrophic personal injury cases.
• Obtained a defense verdict after a three- week jury trial involving a brain damaged baby, with more than $35,000,000 in alleged damages.
• Obtained a defense verdict after a three-week jury trial involving a brain damaged baby allegedly caused by hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, with more than $30,000,000 in claimed damages.
• Obtained a defense verdict following a four-week jury trial in a product liability case involving an alleged vehicle design defect, resulting in catastrophic paraplegic injuries, with a damage exposure of over $40,000,000.
• In 2024, tried six cases to jury verdict with over $30,000,000 in total damage exposure. All six cases resulted in a defense verdict.
• Brought in as lead counsel in a North Dakota case to defend a healthcare provider accused of causing a devastating spinal cord injury.
• Brought in as lead counsel to assume the defense of product liability case in Las Vegas Nevada, involving a UTV rollover causing catastrophic injury.
• Brought in as lead counsel in a product liability case in New Jersey involving a catastrophic injury in an industrial accident.
• Brought in as lead counsel in a Minnesota case to assume the defense of a healthcare provider accused of causing the death of a 46-year-old mother of three from an undiagnosed cardiac condition.
• Brought in as lead counsel for an out of state commercial trucking client in a case involving multiple fatalities and catastrophic injuries.