Richard Coad

Rick Coad is widely recognized as one of the best criminal defense attorneys in Madison, Wisconsin, specializing in OWI defense, domestic battery, drug offenses, and serious felonies in the Dane County Courthouse. While he is one of the few Wisconsin lawyers to have argued before the U.S. Supreme Court, and his federal practice has carried him to federal courthouses across the midwest, he focuses his daily practice on helping local citizens navigate the high stakes of state court prosecutions. Based in Madison, Rick serves clients in the Dane County Courthouse and throughout Wisconsin, frequently appearing in Columbia, Sauk, Rock, Iowa, and Jefferson Counties. Rick built Coad Law Office on a stubborn insistence on getting the best outcomes in both common and complex cases. Whether defending a first-offense OWI or a high-level fraud charge, he applies a level of litigation scrutiny rarely seen in state courts. His reputation for results has earned him recognition as a Super Lawyer 14 times, most recently in 2025, and selection to the prestigious Best Lawyers in America list for 2026.