Stephen W. Hayes

Steve has been a litigator for more than 35 years. He has been recognized in Best Lawyers in America, Wisconsin Super Lawyers, as a Leader in the Law and in Milwaukee Magazine as one of the top attorneys in his field in the Milwaukee area. He has volunteered his time as president or board member for lawyer organizations, Milwaukee's public television station, his church and various adoption groups. Steve was lead counsel in over 35 appellate cases in the areas of children's law, tax assessments, real estate, tort and estate contests. He continues to represent several Wisconsin adoption agencies, adoptive parents or birth mothers and was recognized as an Angel in Adoption by the Congressional Coalition in Adoption in 2006.

Areas of Practice:

Children's Law, including Adoption, Surrogacy, Foster Care

Municipal Law, including Tax Assessments and Zoning

Estate Contests

Civil Trials and Appeals

Mediation

Guardianships

Bar Admissions:

Wisconsin

U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit

U.S. District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin

U.S. District Court Western District of Wisconsin

U.S. Supreme Court

Education:

University of Illinois College of Law, Champaign, Illinois, 1969
J.D.

DePauw University, 1966
B.A.
Honors: Dean's List

Published Works:

Foster Parent Rights: The Rules Have Changed, Wisconsin Journal of Family Law, Volume 19, No. 1, January 2001

Sending Children Back, American Bar Association Journal, April 1992

Terminating Parental Rights, Wisconsin Lawyer, June 1989

Private Adoption in Wisconsin, Wisconsin Journal of Family Law, Volume 7, No. 2, February 1988

Adoption and Termination Proceedings in Wisconsin: Straining the Wisdom of Solomon, Marquette University Law Review, Volume 66, No. 3, Spring 1983

Drafted adoption chapter for current Westlaw Practice Handbook for Lawyers

Tax Assessments and the Board of Review, Gavel Magazine, 1977

Classes/Seminars Taught:

Adoption Law, various statewide and national sponsors

Surrogacy, Financing adoptions, Practice tips for lawyers, Wrongful adoptions, Disrupted and dissolved adoptions, American Academy of Adoption Attorneys

Estate contests, tax assessments and Board of Review, Milwaukee Bar Association

Tax assessments, Wisconsin Association of Assessing Officers

Professional Associations and Memberships:

American Academy of Adoption Attorneys

Board of Trustees 1998-2002, Secretary 2000-2002, Vice President 2004-

Milwaukee, Waukesha, Wisconsin and American Bar Associations

Member

Milwaukee Bar Association

President 1996-97

Wisconsin Association for Infant/Toddler Development

President 1988-89

Milwaukee Bar Association Foundation, Inc.

President 1983-87

At Issue television program WMVS Channel 10, 1979 - 1981

Host

American Bar Association/Y.L.D.,

National Chairman, Law and Media Committee 1979-81

Milwaukee Young Lawyers Association

President 1977-78

Law and You television program WTMJ Channel 4, 1977 - 1978

Moderator

American Academy of Adoption Attorneys

Certified Adoption Mediator

Wisconsin Association of Mediators

Wisconsin Association of Assessing Officers

American Academy of Adoption Attorneys