Business Address: 10 E. Doty St., Suite 401, Madison, WI 53703
Phone: 608-280-8235
Email: kstrang@dkattorneys.com
Website:www.dkattorneys.com
Birthplace: Minneapolis
Spouse/Partner’s Name: Wendy Strang
Organizations: CESA Foundation Board of Directors, Academic Decathlon Board, State Bar of Wisconsin
Education: J.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison; B.A., University of Wisconsin-Madison
Kirk, how long have you been at Davis and Kuelthau, and what is your area of expertise there?
I’ve been with Davis & Kuelthau, s.c. for almost 11 years. I primarily represent private companies and public education institutions.
Who has most influenced your law career?
I would have to say another attorney, Dennis Rader, because he was always the model of scholarship, ethics, and hard work. I’m not sure anyone quite lives up to the standards he set for himself, but being more like him is something worth striving for.
And mentors from outside the legal forum?
Two other people that come to mind are UW history professors, George Mosse and Theodore Hammerow. Professor Hammerow taught us all the value of the written word, and that even our best efforts can still be improved upon. He took a room full of people who thought of themselves as good writers and, frankly, taught us just how much we had to learn.
What do you read to keep current in your field?
I tend to read journals on public education, organic foods, and certain manufacturing industries, such as plastics manufacturing. It’s not exactly Shakespeare, but I represent clients in these areas and want to keep up with what they do.
Can you share a personal high point in your career?
Winning my first case in the Supreme Court certainly was a big deal for me. I was still awfully young, and was representing a county and a circuit court judge as clients at the same time. Having a judge as a client is rewarding, but challenging; he was a real gentleman, but I put plenty of pressure on myself because of who he was.
What is a long-range goal that you’d like to achieve?
I hope that our team and firm will be as well-positioned in Madison as it is around the state. When I walk out the door, I want to be able to say that Davis & Kuelthau, s.c., has a strong presence in my hometown.
Now let’s go back in time, to those high school dreams. Back then, what were your career aspirations?
It’s kind of funny because when I was in high school, I wanted to be a lawyer, but I also wanted to be a writer and to be involved in music. I ended up being a full-time lawyer, a recreational writer, and a real hack as a musician.
Do you still remember that first paycheck and what you did with it?
My friends and I were always trying to think of things we could do to earn a little extra money. From the lemonade stands of our truly young days to mowing lawns to selling candy bars door to door, we were pretty enterprising guys. I even wrote a song that I thought I could sell the rights to (no, nobody bought it).
When I got my first work permit, I got a job at Kentucky Fried Chicken. I was working in the back, cooking chicken, preparing food, and washing dishes. My first paycheck couldn’t have been more than 80 bucks, so I put half of it in the bank and cashed the other half so I could ask a girl out that I really wanted to impress. She ended up asking me out instead, but I was so excited to have a real paycheck that I still bought the dinner.
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You were born in Minneapolis. What brought you to Wisconsin?
My mother married my father when I was about 5½. He joined the Army and immediately moved us to Europe. By the time I was 9 years old, I had seen all of Western Europe and we moved back to Eau Claire, Wis. I came to the University of Wisconsin from there and never left.
With such an extensive travel history, what’s your favorite place to visit now?
My favorite place to travel is Italy. It is historically fascinating, physically beautiful, and completely marvelous. Guiseppe Verdi said, “You may have the universe if I may have Italy.” Smart guy.
What do you do “beyond the office” that brings you happiness or relaxation?
The time that I do have beyond the office is for my wife, Wendy, my daughter, Colly, and our dogs and cats. And my beloved Wisconsin Badgers. The greatest day my family has is Saturday, because we’re all together and we don’t usually have anything pulling us away. We don’t care what we do if we can have the day together.
Do you have time to read for pleasure? If so, what is a recent title that might give us the flavor of what you like to read?
I’ve been reading Steve Martin’s Born Standing Up a few pages at a time. Why is it that comics often are actually more thoughtful than philosophers when they aren’t on stage?
Good question! Is there another character whose philosophy you admire – one you’d most like to be identified with?
Linus from Peanuts. He’s the guy in the group that all the other kids go to for advice. He may be the guy that carries a blanket for security and takes his lumps for it, but at the end of the day, the rest of the kids confide in Linus. I’ve always been that guy with friends and family, and now it’s my job. But without the blanket.
Let’s learn more about your philosophy. What is your assessment of where the Wisconsin economy is headed?
I think the Wisconsin economy is headed in a positive direction, but we always have to remind ourselves that a good business climate is vital to social welfare. We’ve got a great workforce, a great education system, and a great, hardworking workforce. We can prosper, but “commerce” can’t be a dirty word.
Kirk, who would you most like to be a mentor to, or have the most influence on – and in what way?
I think that a great one-on-one mentoring relationship can be exciting, but I see myself doing more in a team setting, where my contemporaries and I mentor the next generation in our team collectively. Each of us has things to emulate or impart, along with our share of weaknesses. I’d like us to be honest about what we’re good at and what we can improve on ourselves; we can learn from each other.
Can you tell us about a time when things didn’t work out as well as they might have? A blunder?
It happened to me within my first couple of years of practicing law when I made a colossal blunder. There’s this incredible pit in your stomach that comes from that experience that you never want to relive.
In the grand scheme of things it didn’t end up costing us and our relationship emerged intact, but it really wounded my pride. I don’t think a day goes by where I haven’t approached things differently to make sure I don’t miss something like that again.
What special career advice do you have for someone who is looking for meaningful work in this economic climate?
This is easy advice to give, but it’s hard for people to truly absorb: never give up. There are good opportunities out there for people who are willing to give that extra effort that others won’t give. If somebody wants to succeed in a delicate economic climate, they can. But they have to try harder than the other guy.
For many folks, this is the hardest question, so we like to close with it. Can you give us three words that you think best describe you, please?
I’m really dedicated, trustworthy, and a little irreverent.
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