Annual Drunk Driving Defense Seminar

The Annual Drunk Driving Defense Seminar is an educational and social event organized by Attorney Barry Cohen and sponsored by his law firm. The seminar is considered a “must attend” for any attorney representing clients in drunk driving offenses, whether you have tried 100 cases or are preparing for your first jury. Top practitioners present in an informal, workshop-like atmosphere, allowing for excellent audience participation. Plenty of opportunities for informal networking with attendees abound, as well as social events to discuss issues and cases with presenters. The seminar is generally presented on the Monday and Tuesday of the week before Thanksgiving. Seminar program schedule and registration information are generally available by August 1.

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ABOUT THE PRESENTERS

 

Chris Dyer recently celebrated his 25th anniversary of practice in the State of Wisconsin. He has also been licensed in Minnesota for 24 years. Chris graduated with honors from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 1997. He graduated with high honors from Drake University Law School in 2000. While in law school, Chris served as Articles Editor for the Drake Law Review; twice received West Publishing’s Corpus Juris Secundum award for scholastic excellence; served as research assistant for Distinguished Professor of Law, James A. Adams; and was a member of the Iowa chapter of the Inns of Court.

Chris has focused on OWI and Criminal defense for his entire career, but he also has extensive experience as a civil trial attorney, and he is a member and former board member at the Wisconsin Association for Justice. Chris was mentored by co-presenter, Jim Koby, from whom Chris stole everything he knows about OWI trials. Chris has been practicing solo in Onalaska, WI, since 2008.

 

Anthony J. Jurek focuses on criminal defense at trial and on appeal. He has argued to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, where he succeeded in getting Wisconsin’s unconscious blood draw statute declared unconstitutional. Anthony is a board member of the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and in that context often speaks to the Wisconsin Legislature and Wisconsin Supreme Court regarding proposed bills or rules that affect rights of the accused or the practice of law. He often appears as a guest commentator and legal analyst on both local and national television broadcasts. He can be contacted at (608) 216-2111, Anthony@CriminalLawyers.Esq, www.CriminalLawyers.esq, 10 East Doty Street, Suite 800, Madison, WI 53703

 

James Koby specializes in OWI, Personal Injury, Criminal Defense and Class Action Litigation. Attorney Koby has represented clients for nearly 50 years throughout the continental United States and beyond. Mr. Koby has been admitted to practice pro hac vice in State and Federal Courts throughout the country as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands and Jamaica. Mr. Koby has acted as lead trial counsel in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Idaho, Texas, Florida, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico and Alaska. He has acted as lead trial counsel in St. Thomas as well as Kingston, Jamaica in high profile criminal cases.

Mr. Koby is a frequent lecturer in the areas of product liability, medical negligence, the use of expert witnesses and cross examination techniques. Defense attorney for nationally known cases, Attorney Koby has appeared on Dateline/ID Discovery as well as 48 Hours.

Mr. Koby has been an advocate of child safety in automotive product safety issues in the United States and in Europe. He has appeared on German television in support of automotive child safety legislation in Germany and consults regularly with attorneys nationwide regarding automotive and product safety issues.

Professional and Civic Involvement: • State Bar of Wisconsin • Minnesota State Bar Association • American Association for Justice • Minnesota Association for Justice • AV rated, Martindale-Hubbell • Academy of Certified Trial Lawyers of Minnesota (Certified Civil Trial Specialist, National Board of Trial Advocacy)

Court/Bar Admissions: • Wisconsin, 1980 • Minnesota, 1979 • Supreme Court of the State of Minnesota, 1979 • U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota, 1980 • Supreme Court of the State of Wisconsin, 1980 • U.S. Court of Appeals, 8th Circuit, 1985 • U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit, 2000 • U.S. District Court, Western and Eastern Districts of Wisconsin, 1981

Education: • B.S. Cum Laude, University of Wisconsin, 1975 • J.D., Hamline University, 1978

 

Lindsay Marty is the Founder and CEO of Above the Bar Marketing, LLC, a full-service digital marketing agency based in Madison, Wisconsin. With over a decade of legal marketing experience, she specializes in helping law firms build stronger online reputations and maximize their marketing ROI through customized SEO, content marketing, PPC, reputation management, and analytics strategies. Under her leadership, Above the Bar was named one of Inc. Magazine’s Best Workplaces in 2025 and ranked on the Inc. 5000 list in 2024 and 2025. Known for her client-centered, data-driven approach, Lindsay’s team delivers tailored campaigns that boost visibility, engagement, and bottom-line growth for legal professionals nationwide. As a speaker and podcast host, she regularly shares insights on digital strategy, client retention, and AI-powered legal marketing, helping firms stay ahead in a rapidly changing landscape.

 

Dennis M. Melowski is the senior partner of Melowski & Singh, LLC in Sheboygan. His practice is exclusively limited to the defense of drunk driving charges.

 

Christopher Mutschler, a 1991 graduate of Marquette Law School where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review, operates his own law firm which assists other lawyers with discovery reviews, drafting motions, and handling appeals and petitions for review. Mr. Mutschler has had dozens of articles published in the Wisconsin Lawyer, Kentucky Advocate, Drinking/Driving Law Letter, and DWI Law & Science Journal, among others. He co-authored the Wisconsin OWI Prosecutor’s Manual and the Second Edition of Traffic Law Practice & Procedure. Mr. Mutschler has lectured at over three-dozen seminars inside and outside of Wisconsin, including law enforcement and judicial seminars. He was the attorney responsible for State v. Busch which resulted in the exclusion of all Intoxilyzer tests throughout Wisconsin due to the DOT’s impermissible upgrading of the instrument without adequate recertification (that is, until the Wisconsin Supreme Court broke his heart by electing to reverse the court of appeals).

 

Adam Nero practices law at NERO DUI DEFENSE, S.C. in Eau Claire, western Wisconsin’s only OWI/DUI defense firm. He serves on the board and faculty of the National College for DUI Defense (NCDD), is an instructor at the Wisconsin State Public Defender Trial Skills Academy, and has presented on OWI/DUI litigation at seminars of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL). He is one of three Board Certified OWI/DUI Defense Specialists in the state. When not defending OWI/DUI cases, he enjoys listening to old country music, re-watching (almost) anything Star Wars, and bragging about his 3-year-old son Enzo to anyone who’ll listen.

 

Kirk Obear is the owner and managing partner of Kirk Obear and Associates, a law firm exclusively devoted to criminal defense and immigration law. Before moving to Wisconsin, Mr. Obear was a member of the United States Air Force for over 10 years. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1986, and was trained as an imagery production specialist at Lowry AFB, Colorado. He was then stationed at Seymour-Johnson AFB, North Carolina, where he became the NCOIC of Personnel at the Armament Recording Program Laboratory. In 1990, he graduated from Mount Olive College, summa cum laude, with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. During Operation DESERT STORM, Sergeant Obear was deployed to Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia to document Air Operations as part of the Joint Services Combat Camera Team. In 1991, Sergeant Obear separated from active duty to attend law school. In 1994, Mr. Obear received his law degree from the University at Buffalo School of Law, and then re-entered active duty as an officer in the United States Air Force. While stationed at Scott AFB, Illinois, Captain Obear served as Chief of the Labor Law Division, Chief of the Claims Division, and Chief of Military Justice in the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate. His primary responsibility was prosecuting military defendants on behalf of the United States. In 1996, he received an appointment as Special Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. In 1997, Captain Obear was selected to attend Criminal Advocacy School at the Attorney General’s Institute in Washington D.C.. He was subsequently assigned as Area Defense Counsel, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, where he was responsible for representing military defendantsstationed in Greenland, Australia, and military installations throughout Colorado. He continued defending military clients until April of 1999, when he left active duty to join the Law Offices of Barry S. Cohen. In 2008, he opened his own firm. Mr. Obear’s military awards include the John Levitow Award, the National Defense Service Medal, the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Govt of Kuwait), the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), the Outstanding Unit Award (x2) w/ Valor Device, the Southwest Asia Medal w/ 2 Campaign Devices, the Air Force Commendation Medal (x2), and the Meritorious Service Medal. He is currently admitted to practice before the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, the Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin, the United States District Court for Nebraska, the United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States. Mr. Obear is a life member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) and serves as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (WACDL). He has been a board member of WACDL since 2003. In 2005, Mr. Obear was elected President of WACDL for a two-year term. He was on the Board of Directors for NACDL from 2009-2012. Every year since 2007, he has been listed in Wisconsin Super Lawyers, a distinction reserved for only the top 5% of attorneys in the state.

 

Annette (Nettie) Rauch is a partner at Hartley Rauch, where she focuses exclusively on criminal and traffic defense from misdemeanors to homicides. A Marquette University Law School graduate, Nettie began her career in the State Public Defender’s Office and has since earned multiple honors, including the Super Lawyers Rising Stars list, WACDL’s Hanson and KNS awards, and the Jon Allen Pace Setter Award for her volunteer work with the Expungement and Pardon Clinic.

 

Amanda K. Lauer (Riek) is a Senior Associate in the Madison Office of Kirk Obear & Associates. Her practice focuses exclusively on criminal defense with an emphasis on high level felonies and OWI cases. Amanda graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Leadership with comprehensive honors in 2008 and from the University of Wisconsin Law School with a certificate in Criminal Law in 2011. She spent the previous decade serving Wisconsin as an Assistant State Public Defender primarily in Columbia County but also in Sauk and Dane County. She currently accepts cases statewide but focuses on her practice in southwestern Wisconsin. Amanda is a board member of the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (WACDL), a founding member of the WACDL Women’s Caucus, a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), and the Wisconsin Liaison for the National College for DUI Defense (NCDD). This coming year Amanda will serve on several national committees including co-chair of the NCDD’s National Task Force Ethics Committee and the NCDD’s National Task Force on Trial Advocacy. In her spare time, Amanda plays volleyball, loves to cook, enjoys domestic and international travel, and camps as often as she can with her husband and Spanish Water Dog, Sancho Panza.

 

Sarah M. Schmeiser is a partner at Stroud, Willink & Howard. Sarah concentrates on two areas of practice: criminal & traffic defense and immigration law. Sarah defends clients at all levels, from local municipal courts through the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. She tries OWI cases every year and has argued several OWI cases to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Sarah delivers several CLE presentations annually, including at the State Public Defender conference, Marquette Law School Annual Criminal Law Update Seminar, and the Annual Drunk Driving Defense Seminar. She appears regularly as a guest commentator and legal analyst on both local and national television broadcasts. Sarah is President of the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, is NHTSA certified in standardized field sobriety testing, and has earned the lawyer-scientist designation from the Chemistry in the Law Section of the American Chemical Society. Please contact her at: Stroud, Willink & Howard, 608.661.1041, sschmeiser@stroudlaw.com www.stroudlaw.com

 

Adam Welch defends people who are accused of crimes. He has been doing this for a while, in a bunch of different places in Wisconsin, at a bunch of different levels. Adam is currently a public defender with a specialized caseload, taking high-level felonies in underserved regions of the state. He also serves as the State Public Defender’s Office Pretrial Motion Practice Coordinator, conducting trainings and consulting statewide on motion-practice issues. Adam is a frequent trainer and lecturer on a number of topics, including trial advocacy, discovery and disclosure, and OWI law.

 

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