Michelle Behnke of Madison, Wisconsin, a lawyer at Boardman Clark, has assumed the role of ABA president for a one-year term concluding in August 2026 at the ABA Annual Meeting in Chicago.?
“As we face these seemingly unprecedented times, I am proud to represent the dedicated lawyers of the American Bar Association as their president,” Behnke said. “We must be ready to lead and focus on the mission of defending liberty and pursuing justice every day.”?
Behnke, a practitioner for more than 35 years, officially joined Boardman Clark, one of Madison’s largest and longest-standing law firms, last year, focusing on the areas of business, commercial real estate and estate planning.?
Prior to joining the firm, she was principal of the firm Michelle Behnke & Associates, which she opened in 1998. Her practice dealt with issues of cross-border asset acquisition, real estate refinancing with insurance companies and annexation of property into city limits. Behnke has a long history of service with the ABA. She previously served as ABA treasurer from 2017-2020 and was chair of the ABA Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession. She has been an instrumental member of the ABA’s Strategic Planning Committee and is Wisconsin state chair for the Membership Committee.
She was a member of the ABA Board of Governors (2010-2013) and has been a member of the ABA House of Delegates since 2008. She formerly served as chair of the Standing Committee on Bar Activities and Services, and the Standing Committee on Membership. She was also a member of Commission on Governance and a past chair of the Fund for Justice and Education Council.?
A Madison native, Behnke has been involved in the community since her graduation from the University of Wisconsin (1983) and the University of Wisconsin Law School (1988), serving on nonprofit and corporate boards.
She is currently serving on the Board of Directors for the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association and the Law School Board of Visitors.
She also serves on the Board of Directors of Capitol Bank and has previously served on the boards of Dean Health Plan, Inc., and SSM Healthcare of Wisconsin. Behnke served as president of the State Bar of Wisconsin from 2004-2005.?
“As we face these seemingly unprecedented times, I am proud to represent the dedicated lawyers of the American Bar Association as their president,” Behnke said. “We must be ready to lead and focus on the mission of defending liberty and pursuing justice every day.”?
Behnke, a practitioner for more than 35 years, officially joined Boardman Clark, one of Madison’s largest and longest-standing law firms, last year, focusing on the areas of business, commercial real estate and estate planning.?
Prior to joining the firm, she was principal of the firm Michelle Behnke & Associates, which she opened in 1998. Her practice dealt with issues of cross-border asset acquisition, real estate refinancing with insurance companies and annexation of property into city limits. Behnke has a long history of service with the ABA. She previously served as ABA treasurer from 2017-2020 and was chair of the ABA Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession. She has been an instrumental member of the ABA’s Strategic Planning Committee and is Wisconsin state chair for the Membership Committee.
She was a member of the ABA Board of Governors (2010-2013) and has been a member of the ABA House of Delegates since 2008. She formerly served as chair of the Standing Committee on Bar Activities and Services, and the Standing Committee on Membership. She was also a member of Commission on Governance and a past chair of the Fund for Justice and Education Council.?
A Madison native, Behnke has been involved in the community since her graduation from the University of Wisconsin (1983) and the University of Wisconsin Law School (1988), serving on nonprofit and corporate boards.
She is currently serving on the Board of Directors for the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association and the Law School Board of Visitors.
She also serves on the Board of Directors of Capitol Bank and has previously served on the boards of Dean Health Plan, Inc., and SSM Healthcare of Wisconsin. Behnke served as president of the State Bar of Wisconsin from 2004-2005.?
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