Attorney Profile
Axel F. Candelaria Rivera
Practice Areas
Mr. Candelaria Rivera focuses on consulting for small businesses and non-profit organizations. His services include drafting legal documents such as contracts, operating agreements, bylaws, leases, and noncompetition and severance agreements. Within the scope of this practice, Mr. Candelaria Rivera also represents clients in consumer and business litigation matters. Additionally, he advises and represents employees in a variety of discrimination cases, and matters concerning violations of wage and hour law, retaliation, and unemployment insurance benefits.
Bar and Court Admissions
Wisconsin
United States District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
Education
University of Wisconsin Law School, Madison, Wisconsin
Juris Doctor, 2002
During his third year of law school, Mr. Candelaria Rivera served as Judicial Intern to State of Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice David Prosser, Jr., where he worked on independent contractor liability issues, among other legal issues of constitutional import.
Mr. Candelaria Rivera received the George Young Memorial Award for service to the law school community and also had the honor of competing in the National Civil Rights Moot Court Competition.
University of Wisconsin, Robert La Follette School of Public Affairs, Madison, Wisconsin
Master of Public Affairs, 2002
University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
Bachelor of Arts, Economic Public Policy and Sociology, With Honors, 1996
As a senior in college, Mr. Candelaria Rivera earned a grant for his Senior Honors Thesis analyzing the economic impact of U.S. coastwise (cabotage) laws on noncontiguous states and territories.
Other Languages
Spanish
Published Works
Aprenda a cómo proteger sus derechos legales, El Conquistador (Milwaukee, Wisconsin), April 14-20, 2006. (Regarding the detrimental effects of statutes of limitations on individuals’ rights.)
Fixed Rates vs. ARM’s, La Comunidad News (Madison, Wisconsin), August 21, 2003.
Surviving the Closing, La Comunidad News(Madison, Wisconsin), July 24, 2003. (Article in Spanish.)
Getting the Right Mortgage, La ComunidadNews (Madison, Wisconsin), July 10, 2003. (Article in Spanish.)
Does it make sense to refinance?, La Comunidad News (Madison, Wisconsin), June 26, 2003. (Article in Spanish.)
Financing? Refinancing? Be a Savvy Consumer, La Comunidad News (Madison, Wisconsin), June 12, 2003, and corrections on June 26, 2003. (Article in Spanish.)
Taxes: Credits You May Qualify For, La Comunidad News (Madison, Wisconsin), April 3, 2003.
Classes/Seminars Taught
Earned Income Tax Credit
Tax Filing Procedures for Taxpayers Without Social Security Numbers (“ITIN Filers”)
Mr. Candelaria Rivera lectured on these topics on behalf of the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.
How Statutes of Limitations Can Rob Individuals of Their Rights
Insurance and Your Family, Personal, and Real Estate Assets
These presentations were given by Mr. Candelaria Rivera at the Latino Community Center during the Milwaukee County Bar Association Law Day.
WMSE Radio (91.7 FM), Orgullo Latino
Mr. Candelaria provides regular commentary on various legal issues during the radio station’s Orgullo Latino show.
Professional Associations and Memberships
State Bar of Wisconsin, Member
Latino Community Center, Board Member
Past Employment Positions
Mingo & Yankala, S.C., Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Associate Attorney
Mr. Candelaria Rivera provided pre-trial and trial litigation support in civil matters, including employment defense and commercial issues.
Wisconsin Bankers Association, Madison, Wisconsin
In House Counsel
Mr. Candelaria Rivera also served as one of the senior writers for the Association’s Compliance Journal wherein he authored several articles on banking issues.
Lawton & Cates, S.C., Madison, Wisconsin
Associate Attorney
Mr. Candelaria Rivera practiced in the areas of Business Transactions, Real Estate, Estate Planning, and Probate. He also engaged in business litigation and business and tax consulting for small businesses.
