Paul Eberle
Chief executive
Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C.
555 E. Wells St., Milwaukee
www.whdlaw.com
Industry: Legal
Employees: 300
What was the smartest thing Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C. did in the past year?
“We recently completed a cultural audit that will help us improve our hiring, professional development and retention efforts. We have more work to do, but an honest assessment of our strengths and challenges is a great place to start.”
What’s new at your firm?
“We are opening a new office in Waukesha County. Tim Nettesheim and Don Gallo recently joined our firm and they will be opening the new office with a number of attorneys from our existing offices. We continue to attract great lawyers to our Milwaukee, Madison and Chicago offices as well.”
What will be Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C.’s main challenges in the next year?
“We’ve had a lot of success attracting great talent. We want to make sure that everyone who joins our firm is successful, finds professional fulfillment, and has success in helping our clients succeed. Professional development, retention and growth are a real focus for us.”
How optimistic are you about the future of the legal field, particularly here in southeastern Wisconsin?
“It’s a very exciting time for anyone providing legal services. The business model is changing, competition is increasing and clients are demanding more. Some firms will not be around in five years; others will be thriving. I’m very optimistic that WHD will continue to listen to our clients, adapt to deliver outstanding legal services more efficiently, and thrive in the years ahead. We are very competitive and like to win.”
Do you have a business mantra?
“Put people in a position to use their best talents – great things happen when people actually do the things they are best at doing.”
Do you plan to hire any additional staff or make any significant capital investments in your firm in the next year?
“We continue to actively hire new lawyers from great law schools and talented attorneys from other firms. Our capital investments continue to be significant, primarily in the information technology areas.”
How competitive is the legal industry in southeastern Wisconsin? How does Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C. stand out against competing firms in this market?
“We have a great team of corporate and litigation attorneys who are dedicated to solving our clients’ problems. Clients choose us because we effectively and efficiently solve their problems. We are continuing to invest in areas that increase our efficiency, using tools like Legal Project Management to differentiate ourselves from other legal service providers.”
What is the most significant lesson you have learned during your career?
“Treating people with honesty and integrity always pays off – maybe now, maybe later – but it always leads to something good.”
From a business standpoint, who do you look up to?
“My dad taught me a lot about integrity and hard work. I think about him a lot. I look up to leaders who make the people and the world around them better.”
What do you like to do in your free time?
“I like to spend time with my family. We have a busy house with kids going many different directions.”
