Tamara B. Packard - Madison, WI
Attorney at Pines Bach LLP
Civil Rights Law Lawyers in Madison, WI
122 West Washington Avenue Suite 900 Madison, WI 53703 - 2718
- 1 Super Lawyers®
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32
Years
Experience
Madison Civil Rights Law Lawyer
Updated: 03/25/2026
Reviews
Customer Reviews for Tamara B. Packard
Highlights
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5.0 Value
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5.0 Quality of Service
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5.0 Professional Competence
Read reviews that mention:
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Verified ClientHired Attorney 2025Was a delight to work with. First time being in a situation like this and she made things easy and less stressful.
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Verified ClientHired Attorney 2025Absolutely awesome. Would highly recommend when you’re in dyer need of a competent professional
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Verified ClientHired Attorney 2023-2024Tamara and her colleagues are great. She is direct and honest. She is confident and owned the room when she represented me. If you are an employee and need an attorney she is the person to go. Period.
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Verified ClientHired Attorney 2021-2023Tamara is wonderful to work with. She goes above and beyond to help you. Even is weekends she was willing to take phone calls and work on my case.
Areas of Practice
- Civil Rights Law
- Appellate Practice
- Litigation - Labor and Employment
- Employment Law – Individuals
Attorney Information
Overview
Tamara B. Packard brings over 25 years of experience to her civil litigation and appeals practice, emphasizing employee rights and civil rights law. She is rated "AV Preeminent®" by Martindale-Hubbell. In 2019 Tamara received the Marygold Melli Achievement Award from the Legal Association for Women, in recognition of a career of paving the way for women in the legal profession, advocating for social justice, and serving as a mentor to other women. Wisconsin Super Lawyers ranked Tamara in the "Top 25" Madison area attorneys for 2017, 2021, 2022, and 2023, and in the "Top 25" women lawyers in the state for 2015, 2017, 2022, and 2023.
In addition to her litigation practice, Tamara negotiates employment contracts, separation agreements, and covenants not to compete (also called "non-competes" or "restrictive covenants") on behalf of employees, including corporate executives, medical care providers and biotech professionals. When negotiation over a previously entered into covenant not to compete is no longer an option, she litigates on behalf of her clients to void or limit the covenant with the goal of enabling them to pursue their chosen careers without interference.
Tamara represents licensed health care professionals in misconduct investigations and proceedings before Wisconsin's licensing boards, including the Nursing, Veterinary Examining and Medical Examining Boards. She also assists recent law graduates and out-of-state attorneys who are having difficulty securing admission to the Wisconsin Bar.
An advocate for employees, Tamara handles sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability discrimination claims, as well as claims under the Federal and State wage and hours laws and Family Medical Leave Acts. She works with University of Wisconsin, State civil service, City of Madison, and other public sector employees who are under investigation, or have been disciplined or terminated. She also assists State employees to appeal discipline imposed without just cause through the grievance process and before the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission (WERC).
Tamara was part of the legal team that represented the Governor of the State of Wisconsin in two challenges to the “lame duck” legislation enacted in late 2018, including by securing a victory in 2020 for the Governor in the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which held that the Legislature violated separation of power principles when it attempted to legislate how the Executive Branch educated citizens about their rights and obligations under the law. She also practices voting rights (elections) law and helped secure the rights of nearly 80,000 voters to have their ballots counted in the April 2020 election, held in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Awards and Honors
Honors
- Law and Politics "Rising Star" 2006-2007
- Wisconsin Law Journal "Outstanding Woman in the Law" 2010
- Wisconsin "Super Lawyer" 2010-present (Employment & Labor category)
- Best Lawyers in America 2011-2020 (Appellate Practice, Employment Law-Individuals, Litigation-Labor & Employment categories)
- Best Lawyers in America 2017 Lawyer of the Year, Madison, Appellate Practice
- Best Lawyers in America 2016 Lawyer of the Year, Madison, Employment Law - Individuals, 2017
- Wisconsin Law Journal "Leader in the Law" 2017
- Wisconsin "Super Lawyer" "Top 25" Women Lawyers 2015, 2016, 2017, 2022, and 2023
- Wisconsin "Super Lawyer" "Top 25" Madison area attorneys, 2017, 2021,2022, and 2023
- Marygold Melli Achievement Award, Legal Association for Women, 2019
Other Sources of Feedback About Tamara B. Packard
Included on the 2025 Wisconsin Super Lawyers list
Past Lists
- 2024 Wisconsin Super Lawyers list
- 2023 Wisconsin Super Lawyers list
- 2022 Wisconsin Super Lawyers list
- 2021 Wisconsin Super Lawyers list
- 2020 Wisconsin Super Lawyers list
- 2019 Wisconsin Super Lawyers list
- 2018 Wisconsin Super Lawyers list
- 2017 Wisconsin Super Lawyers list
- 2016 Wisconsin Super Lawyers list
- 2015 Wisconsin Super Lawyers list
- 2014 Wisconsin Super Lawyers list
- 2013 Wisconsin Super Lawyers list
- 2012 Wisconsin Super Lawyers list
- 2011 Wisconsin Super Lawyers list
- 2010 Wisconsin Super Lawyers list
- 2007 Wisconsin Super Lawyers list
- 2006 Wisconsin Super Lawyers list
Education
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Legal Education
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University of Wisconsin Law School,
Madison,
Wisconsin, 1994
J.D.
Honors: National Assn. of Women Lawyers Outstanding Woman Law Graduate
Law Journal: Wisconsin Women's Law Journal, Co-Editor-in-Chief, 1993 - 1994
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University of Wisconsin Law School,
Madison,
Wisconsin, 1994
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Non Legal Education
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Oberlin College,
Oberlin,
Ohio, 1990
B.A.
Major: English
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Oberlin College,
Oberlin,
Ohio, 1990
Current Employment Position(s)
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Partner
Classes and Seminars
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Prep. a Case for Civil Trial, Lawyering Skills, University of Wisconsin Law School, 2008 - Present
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Sexual Orientation and the Law, University of Wisconsin Law School, 2009 - 2013
- Adjunct Professor, University of Wisconsin Law School , 2008 - 2013
Pro Bono Activities
- Fair Wisconsin Education Fund, Founding Board Member
- Fair Wisconsin Education Fund, President, 2006 to 2007
Representative Clients
Licensed Professionals
University and Other Public Sector Employees
Hourly Workers
Representative Cases
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Donohoo v. Action Wisconsin
- Citation: 2008 WI 56, 309 Wis. 2d 704, 750 N.W.2d 739
- Court: Wis. S.Ct.
- Year: 2008
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In re Bar Admission of Vanderperren
- Citation: 2003 WI 37, 261 Wis. 2d 150, 661 N.W.2d 27
- Court: Wis. S.Ct.
- Year: 2003
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Pritchard v. MMSD and MTI
- Citation: 2001 WI App 62, 242 Wis. 2d 301, 625 N.W.2d 613
- Court: Wis. Ct. App.
- Year: 2001
Published Works
Articles
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Alternative Dispute Resolution in a New Health Care System, Ohio St. J. on Disp. Resol., 10, 1994
Bar Admissions
- Wisconsin, 1994
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin, 2001
- U.S. District Court Western District of Wisconsin, 1994
- U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit, 2000
Other Affiliations
- Wisconsin Association for Justice
- American Inns of Court, Master, James E. Doyle Chapter
- Legal Association for Women
- Dane County Bar Association
- State Bar of Wisconsin, Labor and Employment Section
- State Bar of Wisconsin, Litigation Section
- State Bar of Wisconsin, Appellate Section
- Wisconsin Employment Lawyers Association
- National Employment Lawyers Association
Photo
Contact
122 West Washington Avenue
Suite 900
Madison, WI 53703 - 2718
Email: Send a message
Website: https://www.pinesbach.com
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