Karen Bauer

Senior Counsel

Overview

Karen is a seasoned litigator with an innate ambition and penchant for leadership. She brings to her practice more than a decade of experience handling high-stakes litigation and regulatory compliance matters.

As senior counsel in Amundsen Davis’s Business Litigation Service Group, Karen often defends financial institutions and lenders. As a former consumer protection litigator, she is experienced at managing every aspect of the litigation lifecycle and strategically draws on this past experience  to advise her clients. Karen’s ability to articulate complex legal topics in a simple, accessible manner lends to her educational style of advocacy. She has deep experience advising clients on statutory interpretation and regulatory implementation, allowing them to understand the risks and opportunities before them.

Outside of the office, Karen is an avid volunteer for causes she cares about, ranging from participation in her state and local bar associations to working with youths. She is a frequent presenter and writer on higher education financing and student loans.

Membership & Involvement

  • State Bar of Wisconsin: Board of Governors, 2023 – Present; Wisconsin Access to Justice Commission, 2025; Wisconsin Law Foundation Awards Committee, 2024 – 2026; WisLAP Monitor, 2012 – Present; Lawyers Assistance Program Volunteer, 2009 – Present; Pro Bono Honor Society, 2019 – 2023; Greater Wisconsin Initiative Working Group Advisor, 2019 – 2021; YLD Fellow, 2013 – 2019
  • Member: Association for Women Lawyers
  • Board Member: Local 212 MATC Believe in Students Fast Fund Inc., 2020 – Present
  • Troop Leader: Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast, 2018 – Present
  • Gubernatorial Appointee: Wisconsin Student Debt Task Force, 2020
  • Volunteer: American Bar Association Free Legal Answers; Read Aloud Community Outreach Leader

Honors

  • Wisconsin Law Journal Legal All-Star Award Recipient: 2023
  • Fellow, American Bar Foundation: 2017
  • Fellow, Wisconsin Law Foundation: 2016
  • State Bar of Wisconsin Young Lawyers Division (YLD): Outstanding Young Lawyer, 2013
  • State Bar of Wisconsin Public Interest Law Section: Outstanding Public Interest Law Student Award, 2009

Resources & Insights

Speaking Engagements

  • Know What You Owe: Student Loan Info You Need
    Speaking Engagement, Milwaukee Area Technical College, Seminar,
  • Student Loans: What You Need to Know
    Speaking Engagement, Community Advocates, Seminar,
  • Bankruptcy and Student Debt
    Speaking Engagement, American Bankruptcy Institute Conference, Seminar,
  • Student Loan Repayment for Local Government Leaders
    Speaking Engagement, Engaging Local Government Leaders (ELGL), Seminar,
  • Bankruptcy Basics
    Speaking Engagement, Legal Aid Society, Seminar,
  • Student Loan Repayment
    Speaking Engagement, State Public Defender Conference, Seminar,
  • Managing Student Loan Repayment
    Speaking Engagement, Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC), Seminar,

Firm News

Education

University of Wisconsin Law School, J.D., 2009

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, B.A. 2004

Admissions

  • Wisconsin
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