Distinguished attorney and civil servant Lester Pines is a titan of the Wisconsin legal community whose career has been defined by a fierce commitment to constitutional rights and the public good. Pines is a founding partner of Pines Bach LLP and a premier Wisconsin litigator. Upon his retirement in 2025, The Capital Times described him as a "great guardian of the Constitution, the rule of law and justice." His career-long commitment to civil engagement was evidenced as early as 1976 when, at the request of Governor Lucey, he negotiated a peaceful resolution to an armed prison uprising, an act for which he was hailed as a "courageous Madison attorney." Throughout his tenure, three Wisconsin governors have sought his counsel. Governor Doyle noted that Pines "fought for and furthered the highest values of this country," while Governor Evers stated that "human rights and civic engagement are what Lester Pines is all about." His reputation reached the national stage when President Obama asked him to represent a friend’s son, later writing: "Having an attorney of your caliber looking out for him really made a difference." Pines won landmark policy cases before the Wisconsin Supreme Court, including maintaining the independence of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and defending the constitutionality of the state’s domestic partnership law. Inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers in 2005—an honor bestowed on only one percent of the state’s lawyers—he has also been recognized by the Madison NAACP and Fair Wisconsin. An Adjunct Professor of the Year at UW Law School, his civic leadership includes serving as president of the Jewish Federation of Madison and as a board member for the Urban League and the Madison Symphony.
