Joseph K. Leibham

Director, Public Affairs

Joseph K. Leibham

Director, Public Affairs

Joseph (Joe) Leibham is a public affairs director at the national law firm of Foley & Lardner LLP. The former state senator manages the public affairs practice in Wisconsin. In that capacity, he represents numerous corporate and nonprofit clients before the legislature, the governor’s office, and state agencies in Wisconsin. His public affairs practice includes legislative lobbying, media relations, grassroots advocacy, rulemaking, and agency procurement.

Joe represented the residents of the 9th Senate District, encompassing parts of Sheboygan, Manitowoc, and Calumet counties from 2003 to 2014. During his tenure in the State Senate, he served as the president pro tempore, republican caucus chairman, and assistant minority leader.

Joe served on the Joint Finance Committee for three legislative sessions. He also served as the chairman of the Senate Committees on Economic Development, Transportation, Veterans and Military Affairs, Information Infrastructure, and the Joint Committee for the Review of Administrative Rules. In addition, he has served on Senate committees focused on the areas of biotechnology, elections, local government, public safety, and workforce readiness.

In 2014, Joe was a candidate in the Republican primary for Wisconsin’s Sixth District for the United States Congress. Prior to serving in the State Senate, he served in the Wisconsin State Assembly and as a member of the Sheboygan City Council.

Joe also worked for Sargento Foods, Inc. and the Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce.

Affiliations

  • Joe has served as a board member for the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) and is involved with numerous local organizations.
26 September 2024 Events

ACC-Wisconsin CLE Conference

Join Foley and ACC-Wisconsin at PinSeekers on Thursday, September 26 for an afternoon of CLE sessions followed by a networking reception in PinSeekers' sports entertainment facility where you can put your skills to the test in the facility's golf suites. This event is suited for all skill levels. 
27 August 2020 Blogs

Wisconsin Legislative Update and State Revenue, Budget, and Election Insights

Like just about every other aspect of life over the past six months, the Wisconsin State Legislature has been impacted by COVID 19. The 2019/20 session was adjourned due to the virus and the unexpected quick end to the session left over 100 pieces of legislation that had been approved in the State Assembly stuck in the State Senate.
11 April 2019 Newsletters

PFAS and Credit Transactions: Are You Protected From Environmental Liability?

PFAS, noted for its use in older non-stick cookware, fabric stain preventers, and numerous other industrial applications, is fast becoming a major environmental contaminant that is expensive to investigate and even more costly to remediate.
21 December 2017 In the News

Leibham Discusses Prospects For Increase in Historic Preservation Tax Credit

Public Affairs Director Joe Leibham is quoted in an <EM>Urban Milwaukee </EM>article, “Historic Preservation Tax Credits Survive,” about legislative efforts to increase Wisconsin’s $500,000 cap on tax credits for historic preservation projects.
27 November 2017 Press Releases

Foley Advises on Newly Enacted Wisconsin Benefit Corporation Legislation

Foley & Lardner LLP advised legislators on the enactment of benefit corporation legislation in the state of Wisconsin. The new legislation, which was signed into law today by Gov. Scott Walker and will go into effect February 25, 2018, will bring Wisconsin in line with 35 other states offering companies the option to become a corporate entity not only responsible for considering financial returns to stakeholders, but also offering companies the option to become a benefit corporation.
17-18 November 2016 Events

Madison CLE Days

Foley invites you to our first Madison CLE Days — two days of training programs covering a range of business and industry topics and recent legal trends.