Mike Wittenwyler headshot

Mike Wittenwyler

Adjunct Professor

Biography

Mike Wittenwyler is an administrative and regulatory attorney, and the lead attorney Godfrey & Kahn, LLC’s Political Law Group. Mike works with clients each day on campaign finance, election law, ethics and lobbying regulation, and the tax regulation of political and lobbying activities. He performs legislative planning, analysis and drafting for business and industry groups. He often participates in litigation on these matters on behalf of coalitions of individuals, businesses and trade associations. As part of his work on political law matters, Mike provides consulting services to a variety of organizations in connection with their government affairs activities.

Working with lobbyists and lobbying organizations, Mike helps organizations improve their public policy programs through audits and reviews of an organization's legislative and political effectiveness. He is consulted on structural and staffing changes by organizations and has participated in the recruitment and hiring of many government relations professionals. Mike frequently speaks at events organized by businesses and trade associations and teaches "Political Law: Campaign Finance, Ethics & Elections" at the University of Wisconsin Law School. Mike is a principal in Capitol Opinion, LLC, a non-partisan survey research firm.

Mike has direct experience with political campaigns and media relations and, prior to law school, worked as a congressional aide in Washington, D.C. Before joining the firm, he served as campaign manager and spokesperson for U.S. Senator Russ Feingold's (D-WI) successful 1998 re-election. In 1995, Mike graduated with distinction from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a bachelor's degree in political science and earned his law degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1998.

In addition to his position as an adjunct professor at the University of Wisconsin Law School, Mike is actively involved with the University of Wisconsin and is a member of the Political Science department's Board of Visitors.

Education

  • JD, University of Wisconsin Law School
  • BA, Political Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Prior Experience

  • Lead Attorney, Godfrey & Kahn, LLC's Political Law Group
  • Professor of Political Law, University of Wisconsin Law School

Selected Publications