David G. Walsh, a retired partner with Foley & Lardner LLP and former managing partner, was a member of the firm’s Corporate Practice and the Sports Industry Team.

David represented communications entities for over 30 years, developing particular skill in cable television and telecommunications law. He served as primary counsel in a number of significant litigations involving telecommunications law, including successful challenges to municipal and state regulation of the cable television industry and telephony issues.

David is very familiar with the economics of professional sports. He has represented sports teams in media contracts and professional athletes in contract negotiations. David is a former part owner of the Milwaukee Brewers. In addition, he has significant experience with college sports.

He served as a member of the firm’s Management Committee from 1993 – 2002. For over 10 years, David was selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© and in 2009, he was selected as a leader in the “Bet-the-Company” Litigation in Madison by The Best Lawyers in America©. He was also selected for inclusion in the 2006 and 2007 Wisconsin Super Lawyers® lists and also ranked by Chambers USA as one of the top mergers & acquisitions lawyers in the state of Wisconsin in 2007 – 2009. He has been named 2010 Madison Corporate Lawyer of the Year and 2012 Madison Bet-the-Company Litigation Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers in America©. Based on exhaustive peer-review surveys, attorneys honored as “Lawyers of the Year” have received particularly high ratings for their abilities, professionalism and integrity. In recognition of his experience, he has been Peer Review Rated as AV® Preeminent™, the highest performance rating in Martindale-Hubbell’s peer review rating system.

David also has extensive estate planning experience and has counseled clients and families on business succession and wealth management and transfer. He has counseled and represented business clients in all phases of business activity, including the restructuring of reorganized entities.

David is a member of the board of directors of National Guardian Life Insurance Company and Thompson Investment Management, Inc. He served on the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents from 2002-2015. He served as president from 2005-2006. He was chair of the University of Wisconsin Hospital & Clinics Authority from 2007-2015.

David received his bachelor’s degree, with honors, in 1965 from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, and in 1997 received the Distinguished Business Alumnus Award from the University’s School of Business. He also received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2010. His J.D. degree was conferred in 1970 by Harvard Law School. David served in the United States Navy as an officer from 1965-67 and is a Vietnam veteran.