Steven Devougas

About Steven Devougas

I am an attorney with skills in strategy development and management, formulating legal solutions, and risk mitigation. Experience in the practice areas of labor and employment, real estate, business transactions, creditors’ rights, and commercial contract disputes. Known for ability to work with a variety of clients with difficult problems and develop workable solutions to meet their needs. I specialize in advising real estate professionals, entrepreneurs, and business owners in creating, protecting, and growing wealth. Prior to founding DeVougas Law Group, I spent seven years as an attorney in the Milwaukee office of Hinshaw & Culbertson, LLP, where my practice focused on Labor & Employment Defense and Business Litigation. In that role, I gained broad experience in all areas of litigation defense work and advising small to midsize businesses, especially in the areas of legal risk management. In 2015, I joined the Product Liability Group in the Milwaukee office of Quarles & Brady LLP. In that role, I defended Fortune 100 companies in the areas of premise liability, product liability, and commercial litigation. In 2017, I left Quarles & Brady and founded DeVougas Law Group (DLG). I founded DLG to work with businesses and to leverage the breadth of experience I had obtained in my legal career. I also worked as General Counsel for the Haywood Group, a full service commercial real estate development firm. I handled all day-to-day legal issues, was involved in the negotiation and acquisition of commercial real estate developments and businesses.In addition to my legal work, I have a long history of civic engagement, service, and volunteerism. For eight years, I served on the City of Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission, which was one of the oldest and most powerful civilian oversight boards in the country. I was elected to serve as Chair four times. I served as President (twice) of the Wisconsin Association of African American Lawyers. I have provided pro bono services with the Milwaukee Justice Center and serve on the boards of Assetbuilders of America, PRISM Economic Development Corporation and Chairman of the North Avenue/Fond Du Lac Marketplace BID 32.

Experience

1. Founder

   Devougas Law Group, Llc

   Oct 2017 — Present · Milwaukee, WI, US

   As Principal Attorney at DeVougas Law Group, Steven M. DeVougas focuses his practice in the areas of commercial real estate, transactional business law, and business litigation. Steven has spent over a decade representing clients in disputes involving business and contract matters, pre-and post-judgment collections, construction defect, employment, insurance coverage, medical malpractice, legal malpractice, personal injury, and toxic torts. Given Mr. DeVougas’s unique and broad range of experience, he is regularly called upon to provide risk management counsel to business owners, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs, often serving as outside general counsel. Mr. DeVougas focuses on assisting entrepreneurs, business owners and real estate professionals create, protect and grow their wealth.

Education

• Marquette University Law School

  Juris Doctor, Law

  2004 — 2007

• University of Michigan

  Bachelor of Arts - BA, Double Major in English and Economics