wisconsin campgrounds
Attorney Information
Providing Association Legal Services to WACO and Members.
WACO provides an important service for members through an arrangement with the Weld Riley, S.C. legal team out of Eau Claire, WI. The firm will answer member questions about legal issues through our legal hotline. And, WACO members will be eligible for discounted legal services from the firm dealing with individual legal issues encountered by campground owners.
Mark Hazelbaker is a member of the firm’s Real Estate, Business & Corporate, and Labor & Employment and Municipal & Government Sections. Mark has practiced law since 1983 and has experience representing municipalities, businesses, and individuals.
Mark has more than four decades of experience advising municipalities, businesses, and individuals in litigation and transactions. His experience includes handling thousands of cases in court and hundreds of real estate and business transactions. He has negotiated dozens of union contracts and handled employment law cases of all kinds. Mark has appeared before the Wisconsin Legislature and state agencies on hundreds of proposals and he regularly consults with trade groups around the United States.
Mark is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School in Madison. He previously earned an undergraduate degree in Journalism at the UW. Mark began his career in 1983 as Legal Counsel of the Wisconsin Counties Association. In his three years with that group, he led legislative advocacy on major restructuring of county governments in Wisconsin. He also worked on tax, municipal liability, employment and Native American treaty rights issues.
Mark moved to Manitowoc, Wisconsin in 1986 to become the Corporation Counsel and Personnel Director of Manitowoc County. In his six years there, he successfully defended the county’s sale of its nursing home, wrote the county’s code of ordinances, and led efforts to reorganize the county and increase efficiency of operations. The County Board promoted him to Administrative Coordinator in 1989, a position he held while remaining Corporation Counsel. He led efforts to build a new jail and sheriff’s headquarters, which opened in 1992. After six years in Manitowoc, he transitioned into private practice.
Mark’s experience includes litigating thousands of court cases, including many appearances before the Wisconsin Supreme Court. In addition to representing a large number of municipalities, Mark handles real estate, business and employment matters. His experience includes union-management labor relations, discrimination cases and extensive work in land use and zoning.
In order to obtain legal hotline information, you must submit your question to the LEGAL HOTLINE. Any additional follow ups can be done by calling the WACO office at (608) 525-2327 or you can email your issue/question to [email protected]. The service is free for all WACO members and includes a short consultation and information. If the issue is determined by Weld Riley to be above/beyond what they are able to provide in the 15-minute consolutation, they will advise you to the costs prior to assisting.