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An affiliate of Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce

Robert I. Fassbender

Robert I. Fassbender is Co-Founder, President, and General Counsel of the Great Lakes Legal Foundation.

From 1997, until his departure in 2017, Bob was managing partner and co-owner of the Hamilton Consulting Group. Since forming the firm in 1997, Bob’s leadership grew Hamilton into a leading Wisconsin government relations firm. He represented prominent corporations and state and national associations before the state legislature and executive branches. Bob led the firm’s regulatory practice, focusing on civil justice reform, as well as environmental and energy policies.

Bob was also the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Civil Justice Council until 2017. The Council has gained national recognition for its role in passing sweeping legal reform and its continued commitment to combating lawsuit abuse. The Council was selected as the recipient of the 2013 U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform Outstanding Organization Award.

From 1992 to 1997, Bob was with the Wisconsin law firm of Godfrey & Kahn, SC. He was a shareholder and headed up the government relations practice out of their Madison office. His legal practice focused on environmental and energy matters.

From 1989 to 1992, Bob was Director of Environmental Policy with Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC). As a WMC lawyer and lobbyist, he was often the lead industry negotiator on complex and controversial initiatives before the state legislature and regulatory agencies.

Bob practiced environmental law in California upon graduation from law school, first with the U.S. Air Force, Office of Judge Advocate General, and later was environmental counsel with McDonnell Douglas Corporation. In those capacities, he focused on Superfund litigation and air quality regulation. Before law school, Bob was a consulting engineer in California. Bob received his law degree from the University of San Diego, and a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Michigan Technological University. He is a member of the Wisconsin
State Bar and the Federalist Society.

Contact him at fassbender@greatlakeslegalfoundation.org.