MahanyLaw

Trusted Advisors to the Highly Successful

Meet Our Team

Christopher J. Ertl

Christopher J. Ertl is of counsel to the firm and assists with complex litigation and asset protection matters. Over the course of the past 10 years, Mr. Ertl has been instrumental in providing superb legal service to a range of clients in the areas of complex criminal fraud, civil taxation, civil rights litigation, and investment fraud recovery. Mr. Ertl has a particular zeal for isolating the weaknesses in the government's case. Moreover, he has a strong track record of locating individuals, tracing, and legally seizing their assets for the ultimate return of funds to clients who fall victim to sophisticated fraudulent schemes.

With concentration on constitutional law, federal jurisdiction, taxation and governmental authority, his experience and education at the University of Wisconsin Law School provide a solid framework for strong client advocacy before powerful, well-funded governmental agencies including the Department of Justice, the Internal Revenue Service, various state Departments of Revenue and state prosecutors. After several years honing his litigation skills in state and local tribunals, Mr. Ertl spent the last 7 years immersed in complex federal and state, criminal and civil litigation.

Mr. Ertl graduated with honors from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and Economics. He also earned a Master of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee in Criminal Justice. In 1999, he obtained his Juris Doctor from the University of Wisconsin School of Law.

Member of Wisconsin Bar Association Admitted to Practice before:
U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
U.S. Tax Court
U.S. Courts of Appeal for the 5th, 7th, 9th, and 10th Circuits
Practiced by Pro Hac Vice Appearances before:
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma
U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Washington
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina

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Jeni Smith

Jeni Smith, Paralegal, serves the firm in a wide range of capacities including meeting with clients, potential clients and third party vendors (law firms, banks & trustees) across the United States and the world. Jeni has extensive professional contacts in the Middle East and Europe. She is currently in her final year of studies at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee and a degree candidate for a Bachelors degree in creative writing.

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Kari Kleppin

Kari works for the firm part-time as a paralegal/asset protection specialist. She handles much of our information gathering and due diligence work and frequently meets with clients throughout the United States.

Kari comes to us after 8 years in the mortgage banking field. She received her college education at Milwaukee Area Technical College. When not working for the firm, she runs her own marketing business through Market America.

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Luz Marina Zuluaga

Luz Marina Zuluaga, Investigator, serves the Firm as the Lead Investigator, Latin American Issues.  Originally from Medellin, Colombia, she is fluent in Spanish and English.  She has experience managing voluminous information via CaseMap, and she has experience with complex cases, primarily related to money laundering, Klein conspiracies, tax fraud, currency reporting requirements, and various fraudulent investment schemes.

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Bill E. Branscum

Bill E. Branscum, Investigator, was awarded a BS Degree in Criminal Justice from Eastern Kentucky University, where he graduated “With Distinction.”  He was the Honor Graduate at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center prior to his career in federal law enforcement.  He was a Special Agent, US Department of the Treasury.  For the past ten years, he has been employed in the private sector, specializing in international schemes to defraud, investment fraud recovery, forfeiture cases, and criminal defense related to conspiracy, RICO, tax fraud and money laundering.

Bill works for the firm on a contract basis and is the publisher of the widely read Frauds and Scams website, attracting thousands of visitors monthly. He has worked with Brian for several years on major trials and investigations across the United States and Panama. He also has extensive experience working with high profile clients.

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