Bryan Symes takes great pride in identifying practical, cost-effective, and understandable solutions to complicated workplace legal challenges (in fact, Bryan is an outspoken critic of “Rube Goldberg” lawyering). Bryan exclusively provides the firm’s organizational clients with legal counsel in the full range of federal, state, and local employment and traditional labor law issues. Bryan is regularly called upon to help clients navigate workplace challenges including hiring and firing, employee leave laws, properly responding to employee physical and mental impairments, discrimination and harassment lawsuits, employee compensation and overtime disputes, collective bargaining negotiations and related labor disputes, non-compete litigation, occupational safety proceedings, government audits and investigations, and workplace policies and procedures.
Bryan strongly believes that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” For this reason, at every turn, Bryan invests a considerable amount of time into educating clients about strategic options. Bryan’s foremost objective is to empower clients to implement truly informed, time-sensitive, client-specific outcomes. However, when conflict is unavoidable, Bryan answers the call. Bryan tirelessly advocates for clients in the courtroom setting, in administrative proceedings (for example, before the Equal Rights Division of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development), and at the collective-bargaining table. In the heat of battle, Bryan recognizes the value of agility, and rejects the “one size fits all” paradigm.
Bryan has experience representing professional and Olympic athletes, gained from his time as a certified player agent with a national sports agency.
Bryan also proudly represents churches and other religious organizations in connection with a broad range of issues including, but not limited to, congregational governance and personnel matters.
In 2009, Bryan was recognized in Minnesota Lawyer as an Up & Coming Attorney. Wisconsin Super Lawyers® named Bryan a Rising StarSM in 2011 and 2013-2018.
Bryan is a member of the American Bar Association, State Bar of Wisconsin, Eau Claire County Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, and Minnesota Bar Association. He is a current board member for the State Bar of Wisconsin Labor and Employment Section, and serves as the Sections’ Co-Chair of the Blog Committee.
Bryan is a member of the St. Croix Valley Employers Association (Board Member and Co-Chair of Membership), Chippewa Valley Society for Human Resources Management, the Christian Legal Society, and the Federalist Society (Co-Chair of the Western Wisconsin Lawyers Chapter). He is a former Board Chair of Momentum West. He also previously served as a board member of the Children’s Museum of Eau Claire and coached soccer for the Eau Claire United soccer club and earlier for Chippewa Valley Soccer League. When Bryan is not solving complex legal problems, you can find him enjoying time with his family; hiking, biking, and backpacking; or revisiting one of the many classics of the American founding.
Practice Areas:
Education:
- Chicago-Kent College of Law, J.D., with honors, 2004
- University of Wisconsin, B.A., 2001
Bar Admissions:
- Wisconsin
- Minnesota
- Illinois
