Jim Paetsch
Non-Lawyer Professional
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Telephone
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Office
Milwaukee
411 East Wisconsin Avenue
Suite 1000
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Jim Paetsch serves as the Economic Development Advisor for von Briesen. With a unique and credible background in economic development, Jim works with clients on all aspects of business recruitment and development. Jim is the retired Senior Vice President and Executive Director of Milwaukee 7 (M7), the economic development entity for southeastern Wisconsin. Jim was with M7 since its founding in 2005 and led the organization’s corporate attraction and expansion efforts, which accounted for more than 30,000 jobs and leveraged $6 billion of capital investment. Jim and his team worked together with senior corporate leaders, and state, county and municipal officials on all aspects of the recruitment and development process, including site identification, due diligence, labor, tax and supply chain analysis, incentives and permitting.
- Northwestern University, M.A., 2011
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Masters in Public Administration, 1994
- Northern Illinois University, B.S. Political Science, 1987
- Economic Development Advisor
- “40 Under 40,” Milwaukee Business Journal (2025), Hall of Fame inductee
- “Wisconsin 275: The State’s Most Influential Business Leaders,” BizTimes (2022)
- “North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers,” Consultant Connect (2017)
- “Alumni of the Year,” UW-Milwaukee Master of Public Administration Program (2003)
- “40 Under 40,” Milwaukee Business Journal (2003)
- Literacy Services of Wisconsin (Board of Directors, 2017-2023) (Board Chair, 2020-2021)
Areas of Practice
- Real Estate Development
- Land Use, Development and Zoning
- New Markets Tax Credits
- TIF District Development Projects
- Real Estate
- Government Law
- Business and Corporate Law