Thomas Kent Guelzow | Attorney

Tom Guelzow was born in Madison, Wisconsin and spent his early years in Windsor, a small town approximately ten miles north. At ten years old, he started working on a dairy farm where he continued through high school years, until he joined his father, who was a union carpenter for over fifty years. Throughout college, Tom continued to work in the trades primarily in the Madison area, which included laboring, carpentry, concrete finishing, etc.

Tom graduated from Valparaiso University School of Law in 1972.  At that time, he found himself a young widower. He and his 1 year old son were, in fact, head-residents of the male dorm during Tom's third year of law school at Valparaiso. Tom's background and personal experience have served in large measure as a driving force for the work he has done for nearly four decades. Tom has represented individuals against Goliath corporations, holding them accountable for the faulty design of machinery and/or their conduct that resulted in severe injuries or death to his clients.

Tom's background in the trades has served him well in the practice of law, particularly in the areas where he has focused his work, personal injuries and product liability litigation; namely, his experiences have given him insight and understanding of construction methods, machine design, and personal experience in the real world of construction work. Tom has used this platform of knowledge to help him investigate, confirm, and document many equipment failures, and bring those cases to trial, not only for the benefit his clients, but with the ultimate goal of challenging industries to build better and safer products.

He has also developed a network of experts to aid investigations and provide testimony, including on safer designs, on behalf of his clients. The team at Guelzow & Winston clearly understand their mission - to build a solid case for the victims they represent, seek to prevent similar injuries or deaths in the future where possible, and place responsibility where it rightfully belongs.

As a litigation attorney, Tom stands as one of the most respected.  He has served as President of the Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers, on the Board of Governors of the American Association for Justice, and as Chair of the Litigation Section of the State Bar of Wisconsin. Tom has also taught at the University of Wisconsin Law School and Marquette University Law School, through numerous teaching appointments. He has made dozens of speeches and presentations to lawyers across Wisconsin on practicing law through the Wisconsin State Bar Association and the Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers. Without exception, his speaking engagements and published works are to share information and educate the public and his peers regarding liability issues.

Today, Tom enjoys living in the Northwoods. He and his wife, Bambi, have three adult children and two grandchildren. Also, Tom is certified as a minister and instructor of Stephen Ministries. As a private pilot with his own plane, Tom not only loves to fly, but is also able to respond quickly to any call for help - often flying across the country for consultations, investigations, or representations of clients.