Zachary J. Watters

Zach helps companies in resolving business disputes through negotiation, trial or appeal.

For clients ranging from financial institutions and manufacturers to service providers and professional firms, Zach’s work spans contract disputes, professional negligence, restrictive covenants, commercial torts, intellectual property issues, product liability claims and class actions.

Having tried jury and bench trials in multiple state and federal courts and defended dozens of high-stakes class actions to dismissal or favorable resolution, Zach guides clients through the litigation lifecycle so they understand what to expect, how to prepare and how to manage the risks associated with complex lawsuits. Beyond litigation, he counsels clients on litigation risk management and is often relied upon to facilitate a resolution to disputes both before and during litigation.

With extensive trial and appellate experience, Zach approaches each case by anticipating the final outcome. He collaborates closely with clients to align litigation strategies with their business goals, whether that means aggressively pursuing a trial win or settling quickly to minimize operational disruption.

Experience

• Secured a trial win for a financial services client, including an injunction requiring a competitor to change its name, protecting the client’s brand and market position.
• Represented a financial institution in consumer fraud and fiduciary duty claims brought by a commercial loan borrower.
• Served on a team that established legal precedent in one of the first appellate cases defining the scope of governmental immunity under Wisconsin law.
• Obtained a favorable judgment for a concrete manufacturer in a breach of warranty and defective product trial, mitigating significant financial exposure.
• Defended numerous companies in putative consumer class actions involving fraud, privacy, and product claims, achieving dismissals or cost-effective settlements in dozens of cases.
• Counseled clients on preparing for and defending remote depositions, ensuring effective witness performance and efficient handling of electronic discovery.