Andrea Schoenherr is an Associate Attorney at Nicholson Goetz & Otis, S.C., where she defends clients facing criminal charges in both state and federal court, as well as students facing Title IX allegations.
Attorney Schoenherr earned her law degree from Stetson College of Law in Florida, home to one the nation’s top-ranked trial advocacy programs. There she honed her advocacy skills by competing in and coaching mock trial and other litigation competitions before returning to Wisconsin and interning for two circuit court judges as well as the Green County District Attorney’s Office. That internship permitted her to handle hearings and trials under the supervision of prosecutors, where she gained firsthand insight into prosecutorial strategy and courtroom practice.
Shortly after passing the Wisconsin bar exam, Attorney Schoenherr founded her own defense firm, representing indigent clients in cases ranging from low-level misdemeanors to serious felonies. As a young lawyer, she quickly developed a reputation within the legal community for being tenacious and skilled beyond her years. After being barred only two years, she earned the “Rising Star” award by Super Lawyers for her criminal defense work, a recognition limited to 2.5% of attorneys in the State of Wisconsin, and she has continued to receive it every year since.
Nearly eight years into practice, Attorney Schoenherr’s caseload centers around the most serious offenses, including child sexual assault, homicide, and federal drug conspiracies. She has tried many cases to juries with skill, grit, and conviction, earning respect as a powerful advocate in the courtroom. At the same time, she is equally adept at the negotiating table, strategically leveraging her trial-readiness to secure favorable agreements with prosecutors when it serves her clients’ best interests.
Attorney Schoenherr’s reputation extends beyond the courtroom. She has been invited to present at continuing legal education seminars, where she has stood in front of rooms filled with some of the best criminal defense lawyers in the state and taught strategy, trial technique, and advocacy. In addition, she teaches as an adjunct professor at the University of Wisconsin Law School and serves on the executive committee of the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
Attorney Schoenherr views criminal defense as not merely a career, but a responsibility to safeguard the Constitutional rights guaranteed to all of us. She takes that responsibility to heart, and her results reflect it. She blends tenacity with poise, commanding juries while maintaining the strategy and precision necessary to navigate every stage of a case. Above all, Attorney Schoenherr believes in keeping clients informed and empowered, helping them shoulder the weight of the justice system with confidence.
Shortly after passing the Wisconsin bar exam, Attorney Winder founded her own defense firm and primarily represented indigent defendants who faced charges ranging from low level misdemeanors to high level felonies. As a young lawyer, she quickly developed a reputation within the legal community for being tenacious and skilled beyond her years. After being barred only two years, she earned the “Rising Star” award by Super Lawyers for her criminal defense work, a recognition limited to 2.5% of attorneys in the State of Wisconsin, and she has continued to receive it every year since.
Six years into her career, Andrea’s caseload now consists largely of high-level felonies, including child sexual assault and homicide. She is also an adjunct professor at the University of Wisconsin Law School and serves on the executive committee of the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
Criminal defense lawyers serve as guardians of the constitutional rights guaranteed to all of us. Andrea takes that role very seriously, and her results at motion hearings and trials reflect that. She is assertive and passionate in her advocacy while at the same time demonstrating the poise, preparedness, and proficiency required to effectively navigate all stages of a case up to and beyond trial.
Andrea believes that maintaining regular communication with her clients throughout the process is paramount to help alleviate the stress of the navigating the court system as much as possible.
