Interests
Bill is married, with four adult children. He has volunteered his time with various community activities, including the Eau Claire Regional Arts Center, the Chippewa Valley Book Festival, the Chamber of Commerce, the Eau Claire Economic Development Corporation, and Momentum West. He enjoys biking, kayaking, and curling, as well as reading (whether ancient history or the latest Neil Gaiman novel). He persists in reminding his children of the value of Middle-Earth, Doctor Who, Bollywood musicals, superheroes, and Jane Austen.
Bill Wallo
One of Wisconsin’s most highly regarded bankruptcy and insolvency professionals, Bill also has an active transactional and commercial litigation practice. Bill developed his skills working for a federal bankruptcy judge. In private practice, he has built a reputation as a practical, results-oriented legal strategist, advisor and litigator. Bill handles complex transactions, commercial litigation and insolvency matters for individuals, businesses, and financial institutions. He also serves as a Small Business Bankruptcy Trustee for the Wisconsin and Northern Illinois Bankruptcy Courts. Bill has received the highest AV-Preeminent rating from Martindale Hubbell, is recognized among the top 5% of business bankruptcy attorneys in Wisconsin by Super Lawyers, and is listed in America’s Best Lawyers, which also named him the Eau Claire area’s 2022 “Lawyer of the Year” for business bankruptcy and insolvency matters.
Education
- University of Oklahoma College of Law School, JD with highest honors
- University of Central Oklahoma, BA, English summa cum laude
Practice Areas
- Commercial Law
- Secured Transactions
- Commercial Litigation
- Bankruptcy, Insolvency and Collections
- Business Litigation
Contact
- 715.231.8024
- 815.927.0411
- wwallo@bakkenorman.com
- Bankruptcy Matters: Ann Clarkson, Paralegal aclarkson@bakkenorman.com
- Litigation Matters: Amanda Nocchi, Paralegal anocchi@bakkenorman.com
- Transactional/Business Matters: Alex Tessman, Paralegal atessman@bakkenorman.com
Awards, Honors And Professional Accomplishments
REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS
- Represented secured lenders in a variety of commercial lending transactions, including bond financing, tenants in common (TIC) loans, and investment rate swap transactions
- Successfully negotiated financial workout agreements for companies owing millions in debt
- Successfully negotiated resolutions to chapter 11 corporate bankruptcies on behalf of secured lenders
- Obtained summary judgment in contested land contract dispute
- Represented buyers and sellers in various business transactions, including commercial real estate sales and business acquisitions or sales
- Represented creditors in chapter 12 farm bankruptcies and obtained favorable plan treatment or other successful resolutions
- Drafted or revised corporate transactional documents for numerous lender clients, including credit applications and terms and conditions for sale transactions
- Negotiated forbearance agreements on behalf of lenders and borrowers
- Represented the debtor in a chapter 11 corporate restructuring and obtained a negotiated “exit strategy”
- Represented company and principal in obtaining judgment in litigation over interpretation of buy-sell agreement with departing shareholder
- Represented intervening party in corporate dissolution proceedings and obtained successful results
- Represented developer in annexation proceedings
- Represented plaintiffs in non-dischargeability proceedings and obtained favorable outcomes
- Represented defendants in preference litigation and obtained favorable results
- Represented creditors in Wisconsin Chapter 128 receivership proceedings
- Represented unsecured creditors committee in chapter 11 proceedings and prosecuted successful avoidance actions and liquidated assets of debtor
- Represented defendant in litigation over alleged violation of “factoring” notice issued by lender under the Uniform Commercial Code
- Obtained summary judgment in contested land contract dispute
- Represented defendant in Fair Debt Collection Practices Act litigation
HONORS/ACHIEVEMENTS
- Wisconsin Super Lawyers
- Martindale Hubbell AV-Preeminent Ranking
- Listed in America’s Best Lawyers by Best Lawyers and U.S. News & Word Reports
- Named the Eau Claire area’s “Lawyer of the Year” for business bankruptcy and insolvency matters by Best Lawyers and U.S. News & World Reports
- Subchapter V Small Business Bankruptcy Trustee for Region 11
- Immediate Past Chair, Board of Directors of Bankruptcy and Creditor Rights Section of the State Bar of Wisconsin, July 1, 2021 – present
- Chair, Board of Directors of Bankruptcy and Creditor Rights Section of the State Bar of Wisconsin, July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2021
- Vice Chair, Board of Directors of Bankruptcy and Creditor Rights Section of the State Bar of Wisconsin, July 1, 2017 –June 30, 2019
- Member, Board of Directors of the Bankruptcy and Creditor Rights Section of the State Bar of Wisconsin, July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2017
- Member, Board of Directors of the Business Section of the State Bar of Wisconsin, July 1, 2022 – present
- Chair, Continuing Legal Education Committee, July 1, 2022 – present
- Member, Continuing Legal Education Committee, State Bar of Wisconsin, July 1, 2018 – present
- Member, Finance Committee, State Bar of Wisconsin, July 1, 2022 – present
- Member, Board of Directors, Eau Claire Economic Development Corporation, January 1, 2022 – present
- Vice President, Eau Claire Regional Arts Council
ASSOCIATIONS
- American Bankruptcy Institute
- Oklahoma Bar Association
- Wisconsin Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Eau Claire County Bar Association
- Tri-County Bar Association
- Chippewa County Bar Association
- Western District of Wisconsin Bankruptcy Bar Association
- National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees
NEWS AND PUBLICATIONS
- Panel Presenter, Subchapter V Plans, Northwestern Wisconsin Bankruptcy Institute (April 2022)
- Panel Presenter, Third Party Releases in Bankruptcy, 15th Annual Bankruptcy, Insolvency, and Creditor Rights Section Social/Retreat (February 2022)
- Panel Presenter of National Case Law Update, Wisconsin State Bar Annual Bankruptcy Update (October 2021)
- Program Master of Ceremonies/Presenter of National Case Law Update, Wisconsin State Bar Annual Bankruptcy Update (November 2020).
- Chapter 12 Unobstructed: Why All Bankruptcy Attorneys Should Know the Basics of Chapter 12, 34th Annual Advanced Bankruptcy Seminar, Oklahoma Bar Association (December 2019)
- Program Master of Ceremonies/Presenter of National Case Law Update, Wisconsin State Bar Annual Bankruptcy Update (November 2019)
- Program Co-Chair/Presenter of National Case Law Update, Wisconsin State Bar Annual Bankruptcy Update (November 2018)
- Moderator, Chapter 11 breakout session on complex confirmation issues, 13th Annual Bankruptcy, Insolvency, and Creditors Rights Section Social/Retreat (March 2018)
- Program Co-Chair/Presenter of National Case Law Update, Wisconsin State Bar Annual Bankruptcy Update (November 2017)
- Bankruptcy Panelist, National Business Institute Seminar, Tax 101 for Non-Tax Attorneys (August 2017)
- Panelist, Good Faith and the Bankruptcy Code, 2017 Northwestern Bankruptcy Institute (April 2017)
- Debate panelist on dischargeability of income tax obligations for “late-filed returns” at the 12th Annual BICR Educational/Social Retreat (March 2017)
- Program Co-Chair/Presenter of National Case Law Update, Wisconsin State Bar Annual Bankruptcy Update (October 2016)
- Panelist, “Law v. Siegel and the Ever-Changing Face of Exemptions” at the Hon. Eugene R. Wedoff Seventh Circuit Consumer Bankruptcy Conference (October 2016)
- Bankruptcy Panelist, National Business Institute Seminar, Tax 101 for Non-Tax Attorneys (August 2016)
- Panelist for legal ethics presentation at the American Bankruptcy Institute 23rd Annual Central States Bankruptcy Workshop (June 2016)
- Presenter, National Business Institute Seminar, Creditors’ Rights in Bankruptcy (May 2016)
Panelist for session on “Retooling for the Good Economy” at the 11th Annual BICR Educational/Social Retreat (March 2016) - Panelist/Presenter, National Business Institute Seminar, Advanced Foreclosure: Top 10 Challenges (December 2015)
- Panelist/Presenter, National Case Law Update, Wisconsin State Bar Annual Bankruptcy Update (November 2015)
- Panelist/Presenter, National Bankruptcy Institute Seminar, Top 11 Complications in Bankruptcy (September 2015)
- Panelist/Presenter, National Business Institute Seminar, Foreclosure from Start to Finish (June 2015)
- Panelist/Presenter/Moderator, Clearing the Air: Frac Sand Mining Interests in Bankruptcy at the Northwestern Wisconsin Bankruptcy Institute (April 2015)
- Panelist/Presenter, National Business Institute Seminar, New Bankruptcy Rules, Forms, and Fees You Must Know (January 2015)
- Panelist/Presenter, National Case Law Update, Wisconsin State Bar Annual Bankruptcy update (November 2014)
- Panelist/Presenter, National Business Institute Seminar, Farm Leases (February 2014)
- Panelist/Presenter, National Case Law Update at the Northwestern Wisconsin Bankruptcy Institute (April 2013)
- Panelist/Presenter, National Case Law Update, Wisconsin State Bar Annual Bankruptcy Update (Fall 2013)
- Panelist/Presenter, National Case Law Update, Wisconsin State Bar Annual Bankruptcy Update (Fall 2012)
- Panelist/Presenter, National Case Law Update, Wisconsin State Bar Annual Bankruptcy Update (Fall 2011)
- Panelist/Presenter, National Case Law Update, Wisconsin State Bar Annual Bankruptcy Update (Fall 2010)
- Panelist/Presenter National Case Law Update, Wisconsin State Bar Annual Bankruptcy Update (Fall 2009)
- Section 9-403(1) of the Uniform Commercial Code and the Common Law Presumption of Receipt: May Mere Mailing Constitute Presentation of a Financing Statement? (UCC Bulletin, August 1996)
- Remedy or Penalty: The Enforceability of Acceleration of Rents Provisions in Commercial Leases in Oklahoma (Oklahoma Bar Journal, September 1995)
- Lien Avoidance, Tools of the Trade, and the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1994: What Are We Supposed to do with Section 522(f)(3)? (Norton Bankruptcy Law Adviser, August 1995)
- Objections to the Value of Exempt Property: Semantic Game or Viable Option? (Norton Bankruptcy Law Adviser, June 1995)Program Master of Ceremonies/Presenter of National Case Law Update, Wisconsin State Bar Annual Bankruptcy Update (November 2020).
Chapter 12 Unobstructed: Why All Bankruptcy Attorneys Should Know the Basics of Chapter 12, 34th Annual Advanced Bankruptcy Seminar, Oklahoma Bar Association (December 2019) - Program Master of Ceremonies/Presenter of National Case Law Update, Wisconsin State Bar Annual Bankruptcy Update (November 2019)
- Program Co-Chair/Presenter of National Case Law Update, Wisconsin State Bar Annual Bankruptcy Update (November 2018)
- Moderator, Chapter 11 breakout session on complex confirmation issues, 13th Annual Bankruptcy, Insolvency, and Creditors Rights Section Social/Retreat (March 2018)
- Program Co-Chair/Presenter of National Case Law Update, Wisconsin State Bar Annual Bankruptcy Update (November 2017)
- Bankruptcy Panelist, National Business Institute Seminar, Tax 101 for Non-Tax Attorneys (August 2017)
- Panelist, Good Faith and the Bankruptcy Code, 2017 Northwestern Bankruptcy Institute (April 2017)
Debate panelist on dischargeability of income tax obligations for “late-filed returns” at the 12th Annual BICR Educational/Social Retreat (March 2017) - Program Co-Chair/Presenter of National Case Law Update, Wisconsin State Bar Annual Bankruptcy Update (October 2016)
- Panelist, “Law v. Siegel and the Ever-Changing Face of Exemptions” at the Hon. Eugene R. Wedoff Seventh Circuit Consumer Bankruptcy Conference (October 2016)
Bankruptcy Panelist, National Business Institute Seminar, Tax 101 for Non-Tax Attorneys (August 2016) - Panelist for legal ethics presentation at the American Bankruptcy Institute 23rd Annual Central States Bankruptcy Workshop (June 2016)
- Presenter, National Business Institute Seminar, Creditors’ Rights in Bankruptcy (May 2016)
- Panelist for session on “Retooling for the Good Economy” at the 11th Annual BICR Educational/Social Retreat (March 2016)
- Panelist/Presenter, National Business Institute Seminar, Advanced Foreclosure: Top 10 Challenges (December 2015)
- Panelist/Presenter, National Case Law Update, Wisconsin State Bar Annual Bankruptcy Update (November 2015)
- Panelist/Presenter, National Bankruptcy Institute Seminar, Top 11 Complications in Bankruptcy (September 2015)
- Panelist/Presenter, National Business Institute Seminar, Foreclosure from Start to Finish (June 2015)
- Panelist/Presenter/Moderator, Clearing the Air: Frac Sand Mining Interests in Bankruptcy at the Northwestern Wisconsin Bankruptcy Institute (April 2015)
- Panelist/Presenter, National Business Institute Seminar, New Bankruptcy Rules, Forms, and Fees You Must Know (January 2015)
- Panelist/Presenter, National Case Law Update, Wisconsin State Bar Annual Bankruptcy update (November 2014)
- Panelist/Presenter, National Business Institute Seminar, Farm Leases (February 2014)
- Panelist/Presenter, National Case Law Update at the Northwestern Wisconsin Bankruptcy Institute (April 2013)
- Panelist/Presenter, National Case Law Update, Wisconsin State Bar Annual Bankruptcy Update (Fall 2013)
- Panelist/Presenter, National Case Law Update, Wisconsin State Bar Annual Bankruptcy Update (Fall 2012)
- Panelist/Presenter, National Case Law Update, Wisconsin State Bar Annual Bankruptcy Update (Fall 2011)
- Panelist/Presenter, National Case Law Update, Wisconsin State Bar Annual Bankruptcy Update (Fall 2010)
- Panelist/Presenter National Case Law Update, Wisconsin State Bar Annual Bankruptcy Update (Fall 2009)
- Section 9-403(1) of the Uniform Commercial Code and the Common Law Presumption of Receipt: May Mere Mailing Constitute Presentation of a Financing Statement? (UCC Bulletin, August 1996)
- Remedy or Penalty: The Enforceability of Acceleration of Rents Provisions in Commercial Leases in Oklahoma (Oklahoma Bar Journal, September 1995)
- Lien Avoidance, Tools of the Trade, and the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1994: What Are We Supposed to do with Section 522(f)(3)? (Norton Bankruptcy Law Adviser, August 1995)
Objections to the Value of Exempt Property: Semantic Game or Viable Option? (Norton Bankruptcy Law Adviser, June 1995) - Bearding the Lion in Daniel’s Den: Uselton v. Commercial Lovelace Motor Freight and Voluntary, Contributory Employee Benefit Plans as Investment Contract Securities (Oklahoma Law Review, 1992)
- Bearding the Lion in Daniel’s Den: Uselton v. Commercial Lovelace Motor Freight and Voluntary, Contributory Employee Benefit Plans as Investment Contract Securities (Oklahoma Law Review, 1992)