Nicholas FairweatherIn Memoriam

608-512-1803
Nicholas Fairweather

Hawks Quindel and the legal community lost a true champion for workers in January of 2026. Nick joined us at Hawks Quindel in 2009, and devoted himself to representing employees and labor unions until his passing. Nick achieved some true landmark victories during his time at Hawks Quindel.

In 2018, Nick and his co-counsel secured an almost $800,000 jury verdict and award on behalf of two State of Wisconsin employees who had been denied health insurance coverage for procedures and services related to gender dysphoria. Including attorneys’ fees and costs, the State paid $1.67 million to Hawks Quindel, the ACLU of Wisconsin, and the two clients. In late-2016, Nick and his co-counsel achieved a trial victory on behalf of a former sales executive at a Madison-area health insurance carrier. The client had been denied compensation equal to a male co-worker who had been performing the same work. The federal judge found in the employee’s favor, and awarded her all of the damages, penalties, fees, and costs available to her under the federal Equal Pay Act.

Nick was fearless in the courtroom, but endlessly compassionate and empathetic with clients. He was a great advocate for those suffering from mental health issues both in and outside of work. Nick’s victories in court will have a lasting impact for Wisconsin workers, and the example he set for his fellow attorneys at Hawks Quindel will always shape how we approach our clients, with both understanding and unrelenting advocacy. Nick is dearly missed, but will ever be part of the fabric at Hawks Quindel.

Education

  • Law School
    • J.D.
      Case Western Reserve University
  • Undergraduate
    • B.A. Biology
      Lawrence University

Admissions

  • State of Wisconsin
  • Western District of WI
  • Eastern District of WI
  • 7th Circuit Court of Appeals

Signature Cases

Publications

  • “Sexual Orientation and the Law” co-author, State Bar of Wisconsin 1st ed. 2019
  • “Employment Law” co-author, State Bar of Wisconsin 7th Ed. 2018
  • “Advising Older Clients and Their Families, Volume I” co-author, State Bar of Wisconsin 3rd Ed. 2016

Presentations

  • “Cannabis In the Workplace” Labor and Employment Law Section of the State Bar of Wisconsin, November 2019
  • “Human Resources Law Bootcamp” NBI, July, 2018
  • “Best Practices for Conducting Arbitrations” Health Labor and Employment Institute, August, 2016
  • “Recovery of Attorneys’ Fees in Individual Employment Cases” State Bar of Wisconsin, August, 2015
  • “Hatfields and McCoys: An Overview of Landlord-Tenant Law and Litigation” State Bar of Wisconsin, May, 2014
  • “The Affordable Care Act – an Overview” April, 2014
  • “Well, Why Didn’t you Say So?” A presentation on the content and effect of discipline letters in public employment. Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission, February 2010