We are proud to share that Mark P. Maciolek has been selected to the 2026 Wisconsin Super Lawyers list. That is not a distinction that gets handed out freely. Only the top five percent of attorneys in Wisconsin make the final list each year, and Mark is one of them.
Mark has built his practice around the kinds of cases where the stakes are as serious as it gets. His work in criminal defense spans both Wisconsin state courts and the federal system, covering everything from white-collar offenses to firearms and drug-related charges. Mark has been practicing law since 2005, which means he has spent two decades building the kind of courtroom record that peers notice.
What the Super Lawyers Selection Means
Super Lawyers is not a pay-to-play recognition program. The selection process is peer-driven and research-based. Attorneys across Wisconsin nominate colleagues they have personally observed in action, whether as opposing counsel, co-counsel, or in the courtroom. Importantly, nominations from attorneys outside the firm carry significantly more weight than in-firm nominations.
And the process behind the process is rigorous enough that you cannot campaign your way onto it, buy your way onto it, or simply apply and hope for the best. Attorneys cannot nominate themselves, and campaigning for nominations is prohibited. Receiving a large number of nominations does not guarantee selection. Nominations simply open the door to a deeper evaluation.
From there, each candidate is assessed across twelve indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Independent research is layered on top of that. Before anyone is confirmed to the list, their standing with the State Bar of Wisconsin is verified, and candidates must affirm they have not been subject to disciplinary or criminal proceedings. The whole process is designed to make it genuinely hard to game.
A Career Built in Wisconsin Courts
Mark earned his J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School in Madison and his undergraduate degree from UW-Madison as well. He has been admitted to practice before the State Bar of Wisconsin since 2005, and his bar admissions extend considerably further than that. He is admitted before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, and the Eastern and Western federal district courts in Wisconsin.
His office is located in Sun Prairie, and he practices in the Madison area, throughout Dane County, and across the state. State and federal courts in Wisconsin each have their own rhythms and expectations. Knowing those environments from years of practice is something that cannot be replicated from a textbook.
More precisely, what distinguishes Mark’s record is not just the volume of cases but the results he attains for his clients. He has secured jury trial acquittals for serious felony charges. He has convinced federal prosecutors to decline filing charges in complex pre-charge investigations, including matters involving insider trading allegations and trade secret claims. He has obtained dismissals of federal fraud indictments. Those are not outcomes that happen by accident. Mark has a reputation for working hard for the rights of his clients.
Recognition That Reflects Real Courtroom Work
The 2026 Super Lawyers selection is not Mark’s first time being recognized by his peers. He was on the Super Lawyers list in 2025, and he was on the Rising Star lists in Wisconsin from 2014 through 2017. He has also been recognized by Best Lawyers in America in two separate criminal defense categories covering both white-collar matters and general practice.
Mark is also a member of the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He holds membership in the Association of Certified E-Discovery Specialists as well, which reflects how modern criminal and civil litigation has evolved.
What This Means for Clients in the Madison Area and Across Wisconsin
Peer recognition signals something real about how an attorney approaches their work. The attorneys who earn a place on the Super Lawyers list year after year tend to be the ones who prepare thoroughly, think strategically, and take their clients’ situations seriously.
Convincing a federal prosecutor to decline to charge a client is a different kind of outcome than winning at trial, and in many ways a better one. It requires understanding how federal investigations develop, what prosecutors are looking for, and where the leverage points are before a case ever reaches the courtroom.
Congratulations, Mark!
Being named to the 2026 Wisconsin Super Lawyers list is a meaningful recognition, and it reflects years of serious, committed legal work on behalf of clients statewide.
If you are facing criminal charges or a federal investigation in Sun Prairie or the Madison area, Maciolek Law Group is here to help.
Contact us today to talk to an experienced Wisconsin criminal defense lawyer.