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Kirsten Atanasoff

Associate

Madison
phone: 608.234.6024
fax: 608.258.7138

email: [email protected]

Overview Experience Case Studies

Insights Events News

Outside the Office Community Leadership

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Overview

Combining hands-on courtroom experience with scholarly knowledge of the law, Kirsten gives clients every advantage to achieve their legal objectives.

Kirsten’s robust courtroom experience shapes her complex trial and appellate litigation practice. Representing clients ranging from local small businesses to Fortune 500 companies in contract, tort and property disputes, Kirsten has tried multiple cases to jury verdict in state and federal courts. Having also played a key role in many appellate teams, Kirsten guides clients through every phase of litigation.

Kirsten offers clients a unique perspective on administrative law issues. She has litigated disputes before administrative bodies, challenged administrative decisions in court and published scholarship on the subject. Her article in the Wisconsin Law Review has been cited numerous times in law journals, in an attorney general opinion and in multiple judicial opinions—including the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s groundbreaking decision on administrative agency authority amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Legislature v. Palm.

Before joining the firm, Kirsten served as a legal intern for the Office of the Wisconsin Solicitor General, where she assisted in representing the State of Wisconsin in high stakes appeals before both state and federal appellate courts. She also interned with a non-profit law firm devoted to helping trade groups and the business community at large understand, comply with and challenge state-level administrative regulation.

Industries

Manufacturing

Technology

Transportation

Services

Appellate

Class Action Defense

Commercial Litigation

Land Use

Litigation & Alternative Dispute Resolution

Public Policy, Regulatory, & Government Affairs

State Attorneys General Practice

Recognition

Wisconsin Super Lawyers, Rising Star, 2023

Education

J.D., University of Wisconsin Law School
- cum laude
- Wisconsin Law Review, Articles Editor
- Order of the Coif
- UW Law Federalist Society, President
B.A., Baylor University
- Political Science major; Philosophy minor
- magna cum laude

Admissions

Wisconsin
U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin
U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

Professional Memberships and Certifications

State Bar of Wisconsin
The Federalist Society, Madison Lawyers Chapter, President

Experience

Second-chaired federal jury trial for Fortune 500 company involving contract and tort claims.
Co-authored successful amicus brief before the U.S. Supreme Court in Guam v. United States, 141 S. Ct. 1608 (2021), a case providing important guidance on the interpretation of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA, or Superfund). Filed on behalf of politically and geographically diverse coalition of 26 states and territories in support of the prevailing party (Guam), the brief was discussed in detail at oral argument.
Successfully challenged and defeated, before local zoning board, county's attempt to stop non-metallic mining company from engaging in mining operations on property.
Obtained jury verdict in favor of residential landlord in eviction action, where tenant sought compensatory damages, punitive damages and attorney's fees for alleged violations of Wisconsin Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
Represented the Wisconsin Legislature before the Wisconsin Supreme Court in case regarding legislation's impact on regulatory authority of state-level administrative agencies.
Advised client on labeling for nationwide line of consumer products to minimize risk of future litigation and maximize product marketability.
Drafted legislative proposal on behalf of client seeking changes to law governing interpretation of commercial general liability policies.
Filed a petition for writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court on behalf of a Wisconsin mother after a county child welfare agency took away one of her children and, as the mother maintains, violated her constitutional rights in the process.

Case Studies

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

Husch Blackwell put together a coalition to help clarify CERCLA in an influential U.S. Supreme Court amicus brief.

Legal Updates | June 28, 2021

Supreme Court Paves the Way for More State Court Class Actions About Federal Statutes

In reemphasizing the “concrete harm” requirement for Article III standing, the Supreme Court may have raised the hurdle to federal court but exposed defendants to more state court suits.

Articles | 2019

Kirsten Koschnick, Comment, Making "Explicit Authority" Explicit: Deciphering Wis. Act 21's Prescriptions for Agency Rulemaking Authority, 2019 Wis. L. Rev. 993

News Releases | August 14, 2025

Husch Blackwell Honored with NLADA's 2025 Beacon of Justice Award

News Releases | November 11, 2024

Husch Blackwell Petitions Supreme Court in Key Federal Jurisdiction Dispute

News Releases | April 14, 2023

Husch Blackwell Authors Amicus Brief in Ninth Circuit Supporting ABA Treatment for Autism

Husch Blackwell prepared and filed an amicus curiae brief on behalf of three autism-advocacy organizations urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to reverse the District Court of Hawai'i's decision dismissing an action challenging the state's practice of refusing to allow applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapists to accompany students to school.

News Releases | May 25, 2021

Guam Prevails in CERCLA Dispute before U.S. Supreme Court

Media Mentions | May 25, 2021

SCOTUSblog: Refreshing unanimity in court's interpretation of Superfund law

Media Mentions | May 24, 2021

Reuters: SCOTUS sides with Guam in $160 million ex-Navy dump Superfund case

Media Mentions | May 04, 2021

Law Week Colorado: Supreme Court Closes Term with Environmental Law Cases

Media Mentions | April 30, 2021

The Guam Daily Post: Camacho: ‘Hopefully we win 9-0' in the Supreme Court

Media Mentions | April 28, 2021

The Guam Daily Post: DoJ: Allegations Navy contributed to Ordot dump not 'true as a matter of fact'

Media Mentions | April 28, 2021

SCOTUSblog: Court wrestles with Superfund contribution puzzle

Media Mentions | April 26, 2021

Courthouse News Service: Guam Says Feds Should Help Pay for $160M Cleanup of Military Waste

Media Mentions | April 26, 2021

Bloomberg Law: Guam's Superfund Story Unlikely to Win Justices, Lawyers Say (log-in required)

Media Mentions | April 26, 2021

C-SPAN: Guam v. United States Oral Argument

Media Mentions | April 26, 2021

E&E News: States' rights weigh on Supreme Court cleanup fight (log-in required)

Media Mentions | April 23, 2021

Westlaw Today: Guam to tell U.S. Supreme Court why Navy should pick up $160 million cleanup tab

Media Mentions | April 23, 2021

SCOTUSblog: Is it too late for Guam to sue the Navy to pay for the cleanup of its dumpsite?

Media Mentions | April 23, 2021

Bloomberg Law: Guam Brings Long-Running Superfund Debate to Supreme Court

Media Mentions | March 05, 2021

Marianas Variety: AG files key amicus brief in CERCLA case before US Supreme Court

News Releases | March 02, 2021

Husch Blackwell Authors Key Amicus Brief in CERCLA Case Before the U.S. Supreme Court

Outside the Office

In her free time, Kirsten enjoys hiking with her husband, Ryan, and rescue dog, Coda.

Kirsten and rescue dog, Coda, enjoy the scenery post-hike.

Community Leadership

Kirsten is a career volunteer leader for Young Life College ministries at UW Madison. There, she leads a small group of college girls, hosting a weekly Bible study and walking alongside them on their college journeys from freshman to senior year.

Kirsten Atanasoff Play Audio Recording of Name Pronunciation

Industries

Services

Recognition

Education

Admissions

Professional Memberships and Certifications

Kirsten Atanasoff