Contact Legal Staff
Bob Butler – Associate Executive Director and Staff Counsel
bbutler@wasb.org, 608-512-1703
Bob Butler has been a WASB staff counsel since 1990. He is an associate executive director of the WASB. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School and received his undergraduate degree in industrial and labor relations from Cornell University.
Barry Forbes – Associate Executive Director and Staff Counsel
bforbes@wasb.org, 608-512-1707
Barry Forbes has been a WASB staff counsel since 1983. He is an associate executive director of the WASB. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School and received his undergraduate degree in economics from the UW-Milwaukee.
Ben Richter – Staff Counsel
brichter@wasb.org, 608-512-1719
Ben Richter graduated from Marquette University Law School in 2007. Prior to that, Ben earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he majored in both communication arts and legal studies. Ben joined the WASB in June 2007.
Scott Mikesh – Legal and Policy Services Counsel
smikesh@wasb.org, 608-512-1709
Scott Mikesh has been working in the area of school law and human resources since 2004. During that time he has served as WASB staff counsel and as Human Resources Director for districts in Wisconsin and Iowa. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School and received his undergraduate degree from Wartburg College.
Dan Mallin – Legal and Policy Services Counsel
dmallin@wasb.org, 608-512-1708
Dan Mallin has been working in the area of school law since 2002, serving as WASB staff counsel for a majority of that time. He graduated from the Yale Law School and received his undergraduate degree from Indiana University.
Jenn Diaz – Staff Counsel
jdiaz@wasb.org, 608-512-1724
Jenn Diaz joined the WASB as staff counsel in August 2023. Diaz is a Marquette University Law School graduate. She earned her undergraduate degree in history from Syracuse University.
During law school, Jenn had internships with the National Labor Relations Board and the South Milwaukee School District.
Lisa Soronen – Part-Time Staff Counsel
Lisa Soronen returned to the WASB as a part-time staff counsel in October 2024. Lisa worked for the WASB as staff counsel in 2001-02. She later worked for the National School Board Association as a senior staff attorney, and as executive director of the State and Local Legal Center. Soronen, who is located in Alexandria, Va., will primarily write policy publications.
