IN RE: Disciplinary Proceedings Against Patrick M. Cooper (2018)

IT IS ORDERED that the petition for reinstatement of the license of Patrick M. Cooper to practice law in Wisconsin is conditionally reinstated, effective the date of this order. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that as a condition of the reinstatement of Patrick M. Cooper's license to practice law in Wisconsin, he shall be monitored by an attorney, approved and appointed by the Office of Lawyer Regulation, for a period of two years following reinstatement. Patrick M. Cooper shall not begin representing clients until the monitor has been appointed. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that within 30 days of reinstatement, the Office of Lawyer Regulation shall approve and appoint a practice monitor to serve as a mentor to Patrick M. Cooper, to supervise and oversee Patrick M. Cooper's practice of law. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Patrick M. Cooper shall cooperate fully with the monitoring of his law practice. Patrick M. Cooper shall schedule with the monitor regular meetings as directed by the Office of Regulation. Patrick M. Cooper shall submit to the monitor an inventory of all active client files by the first day of each month during the period of monitoring. With respect to each active file, the inventory shall disclose the client name, type of representation, date opened, most recent activity, next anticipated action, and anticipated closing date. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that within 30 days of this order, Patrick M. Cooper shall provide to the Office of Lawyer Regulation and to the monitor, a written plan outlining office procedures designed to ensure that Attorney Cooper is and remains in compliance with the Rules and Professional Conduct for Attorneys, This written plan shall include office procedures that ensure that:

• Patrick M. Cooper promptly responds to correspondence, telephone calls, and other important communications from clients, courts, and other persons interested in legal matters that Patrick M. Cooper is handling;

• Patrick M. Cooper regularly reviews each and every file and completes legal matters on a timely basis;

• Patrick M. Cooper maintains law office and trust account records in compliance with the Rules of Professional Conduct for Attorneys; and

• Patrick M. Cooper makes available to the monitor and to the Office of Lawyer Regulation his law office and trust account records at such intervals as the Office of Lawyer Regulation and the practice monitor deem necessary to determine his compliance.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the practice monitor shall provide the Office of Lawyer Regulation with written quarterly reports for a period of two years following the Office of Lawyer Regulation's appointment of the practice monitor, or at more frequent intervals as may reasonably be requested by the Office of Lawyer Regulation. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that within 60 days of the date of this order, Patrick M. Cooper shall pay to the Office of Lawyer Regulation the costs of this proceeding, which are $3,828.81 as of December 20, 2017. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that compliance with all of the terms of this order remain a condition of Patrick M. Cooper's license to practice law in Wisconsin and if Patrick M. Cooper fails to comply with the conditions required by this order, his license may be suspended until further order of this court. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the administrative suspension of Patrick M. Cooper's license to practice law in Wisconsin due to his failure to pay mandatory bar dues will remain in effect until each reason for the administrative suspension has been rectified pursuant to SCR 22.28(1).

IT IS ORDERED that the license of Wendy Alison Nora to practice law in Wisconsin is suspended for a period of one year, effective April 30, 2018. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the issues of restitution and the assessment of costs shall continue to be held in abeyance for resolution at a subsequent time after the automatic stay arising from Attorney Nora's bankruptcy proceeding has been lifted. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Wendy Alison Nora shall comply with the provisions of SCR 22.26 concerning the duties of a person whose license to practice law in Wisconsin has been suspended. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that compliance with all conditions of this order is required for reinstatement from the suspension imposed herein.

PUBLISHED PER CURIAM: