Bryan T. Kroes — Attorney and Shareholder
Like the other members of the Hurtado Zimmerman SC legal team, Bryan pairs legal expertise with practical construction experience. Before beginning his practice as a lawyer, Bryan owned and operated a residential general contracting and remodeling company in southeastern Wisconsin, self-performing a wide range of construction activities.
Bryan’s law practice includes construction contract negotiation, including intellectual property law issues, and commercial and residential real property acquisition. He also has experience in public bond finance, including revenue anticipation, commercial line of credit and general obligation fundings. He represents trades contractors, designers, and owners in dispute resolution related to perfection of lien rights, defect claims, property purchases, sales and leasing, and intellectual property protection.
As an entertainment attorney, Bryan represents musicians, artists, theater owners, publishers, and other creative types in matters related to entertainment contract negotiation and preparation, copyright issues, dispute resolution, and general business. A lifelong musician himself with an extensive history of touring and production work, Bryan brings a seasoned, unique and personal approach to the business side of entertainment. Bryan is a founding member, and currently serves as Treasurer, for the Wisconsin Entertainment Lawyers Association, whose mission is to: 1) foster the growth and development of the arts and entertainment communities in Wisconsin through comprehensive legal services, 2) advance the practice of entertainment law in the State of Wisconsin, and 3) provide a platform for networking, education, and collaboration.
Bryan has authored several works regarding construction law issues, including being the author and editor of the “Wisconsin Chapter of Fifty State Construction Lien and Bond Law”, the “Wisconsin Chapter of Construction Law Update: Case Law & Legislation Affecting the Construction Industry”, “50 State Lien Law Survey”, “50-State Survey of Firm Licensure Requirements for Architectural and Engineering Firms”, “50-State Survey of Licensed Design Professional’s Stamping and Sealing Obligations”, and the “50 State Lien Law Pamphlet”, published by the American Bar Association.
He has served on the AGC of America’s Contract Documents Committee, helping to develop intellectual property rights provisions for recent revisions to ConsensusDOCS’ BIM Addendum. He has also been guest lecturer at Marquette University Law School addressing Wisconsin real estate transactions.
Bryan holds a BA from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and a JD from Marquette University Law School.
He is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin Construction and Public Contract Law, and Sports and Entertainment Law Sections. He is also a member of the American Bar Association’s Forum on Construction Law and Forum on Entertainment Law.
EDUCATION
Juris Doctor
Marquette University Law School, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Marquette University Pro Bono Society
Marquette University Entertainment Law Society
Bachelor of Arts
University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Psychology/Criminal Justice
Certificate: Death Investigation
AWARDS & HONORS
- Super Lawyers – 2020-2021 Rising Star Honoree
- Wisconsin Law Journal – 2019 Up and Coming Lawyers Award Recipient
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS & ACTIVITIES
- Wisconsin Entertainment Lawyer’s Association (WELA) – Founding Member, Board Member and Treasurer
- National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI)
- Historic Milwaukee, Inc. – Board of Directors Member
- American Bar Association, Forum on Construction Law, Division 9 – Subcontractors and Suppliers, Member
- American Bar Association, Forum on the Entertainment and Sports Industries, Member
- American Bar Association, Music, Sound Recordings and Performing Artists Committee, Member
- American Bar Association, Visual Arts, Dramatic Works and Motion Pictures Committee, Member
- State Bar of Wisconsin, Construction and Public Contract Law Section, Member
- State Bar of Wisconsin, Sports and Entertainment Law Section, Member
- Metropolitan Builders Association, Remodeler’s Council, Member
- Metropolitan Builders Association, Membership Committee, Member
- Associated General Contractors of America, ConsensusDOCS BIM Addendum Working Group – Intellectual Property Committee
LICENSES & ADMISSIONS TO PRACTICE
Licensed State of Wisconsin
Admitted to Practice – United States District Court – Eastern District of Wisconsin; United States District Court – Western District of Wisconsin
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
- Wolters Kluwer Publishing (2022 Supplement)(Wisconsin Chapter), “50 State Construction Lien and Bond Law” (July 2022)
- Wisconsin Law Journal – Lots to Think About: Contracting in Response to How Global Events Affect Construction (March 2022)
- Wolters Kluwer Publishing (2021 Supplement)(Wisconsin Chapter), “50 State Construction Lien and Bond Law” (August 2021)
- Wisconsin Law Journal, Volume 35 Number 2 – Licensing Collective Offers New Blanket License for Digital Uses of Music (February 2021)
- Construction & Public Contract Law Section – State Bar of Wisconsin Construction and Copyright, Part 2: Practical Considerations (February, 2021)
- Construction & Public Contract Law Section – State Bar of Wisconsin Construction and Copyright, Part 1: Don’t Forget about Intellectual Property (February, 2021)
- The Daily Reporter, The Case Act: New Law Could Provide Affordable Remedy for Copyright Infringement (2021)
- Wolters Kluwer Publishing (2019 Supplement)(Wisconsin Chapter), “50 State Construction Lien and Bond Law” (2020)
- 3D Printing in Construction: The Intersection Between Law and Innovation (March, 2020)
- ABA Forum on Construction Law – Division 3, “50 State Architect/Engineer Plan Stamping Requirements” (April, 2018)
- ABA Forum on Construction Law – Division 7(Wisconsin Chapter), “50 State Lien Law Update” (2017-2018) (April, 2018)
- Wolters Kluwer Publishing (Fourth Edition)(Wisconsin Chapter), “50 State Construction Lien and Bond Law” (January, 2018)
- ABA Forum on Construction Law – Division 10 (2016-2017 Supplement)(Wisconsin Chapter), “Case Law and Legislation Affecting the Construction Industry” (April, 2017)
- ABA Forum on Construction Law – Division 10 (2015-2016 Supplement)(Wisconsin Chapter), “Case Law and Legislation Affecting the Construction Industry” (April, 2016)
- The Daily Reporter, “Waiving Lien Rights Without Waiving Your Legal Rights” (February, 2016)
- Aspen Publishing (2014-2015 Supplement)(Wisconsin Chapter), “50 State Construction Lien and Bond Law (November, 2015)
- ABA Forum on Construction Law – Division 7 (Wisconsin Chapter), “50 State Mechanic’s Lien Law Pamphlet” (June, 2015)
- ABA Forum on Construction Law – Division 10 (Wisconsin Chapter), “Construction Law Update: Case Law and Legislation Affecting the Construction Industry” (2014-2015) (April, 2015)
- ABA Forum on Construction Law – Division 3 (Wisconsin Chapter), “50 State Survey of Firm Licensure Requirements for Architectural and Engineering Firms” (January, 2015)
SEMINARS
- Halfmoon Education Live Continuing Education Webinars – Intellectual Property Essentials for Engineers: Copyrights, Trademarks, Patents, and Trade Secrets (October 2022)
- Halfmoon Education Live Continuing Education Webinars – Recognizing Your Rights, Responsibilities, and Risks Under Contracts (October 2022)
- MKE MusicTech Catalyst – Music Intellectual Property, Sync, and Publishing Administration (October 2022)
- Quit Getting Screwed Podcast – Episode 50: The Importance of Intellectual Property (August 2022)
- Song-A-Week – Interactive: Legal Aspects of Songwriting (July 2022)
- Wisconsin Entertainment Lawyers Association – Songwriting 101 For Lawyers (March 2022)
- Wisconsin Music Ventures Negotiation Workshop – (Song)Writers Know Your Rights: Legal Aspects of Songwriting (February 2022)
- Wisconsin Entertainment Lawyers’ Association – CLE-IP for Creatives: An Entertainment Law Primer for Your Practice (June 2021)
- American Bar Association (ABA) – Webinars for the Entertainment & Sports Industries, Legal and Practical Issues in Outdoor Music Entertainment (May 2021)
- Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) – Milwaukee Chapter, Legal Issues in Songwriting (2020)
- Milwaukee Area Technical College, Music Business class, Guest lecturer. (October, 2019; April 2020; November, 2020; March 2021; April 2022)
- National Sports Law Institute at Marquette University Law School: Legal and Ethical Issues in Sports and Entertainment Law 2020 – Ethical Pitfalls in Representing Creative Collaborators (Organization as Client). (September, 2020)
- National Association of the Remodeling Industry – Milwaukee. Legal Experts Discuss Hot Topics for Contractors. (April 29, 2020)
- Milwaukee Short Film Festival, Filmmaker panel: “The Business.” (September, 2019)
- AGC of Greater Milwaukee – Subcontractor Clauses that Will Improve Your Profitability, AGC of Greater Milwaukee Seminar (September, 2019)
- Metropolitan Builders Association – MBA University Course, “Lien on Me: Construction Liens and Foreclosures” (June, 2016)
- Metropolitan Builders Association – Remodeler’s Council, “Residential Construction Contracts: Risks of Design and Design Delegation” (February, 2016)
- Metropolitan Builders Association – Remodeler’s Council, “(Don’t) Take This Job and Shove It: Practical Considerations in Remodeling Contracting” (March, 2015)
- Guest Lecturer, Marquette University Law School, “Drafting the Wisconsin Commercial Real Estate Transaction” (March, 2015)
