Christine M. Rice

Christine M. Rice is a shareholder and president of Simpson & Deardorff, S.C. in Milwaukee and practices across insurance defense litigation. Rice focuses on insurance coverage, transportation matters, and complex high-value disputes while also handling appellate litigation, bad faith, construction litigation, premises liability, personal injury defense, and pre-litigation investigation. She represents clients in matters that require detailed coverage analysis, liability assessment, trial preparation, and strategic management of significant civil exposure.

Rice earned a J.D., magna cum laude, from Marquette University Law School in 2005. Before law school, she earned a B.S.N., cum laude, from Carroll College in 1997 and worked as a registered nurse. Her health care background and legal training provide a distinctive foundation for evaluating medical records, injuries, damages, and technical evidence in civil litigation while also supporting careful legal analysis of insurance contracts and liability issues.

Rice has tried cases and handled dozens of appeals, including matters that resulted in published Wisconsin decisions addressing liability and contractual insurance coverage. Her practice includes transportation claims, coverage disputes, bad faith issues, construction cases, premises liability, and other significant civil matters. She works with insurers and other clients to investigate claims, analyze policy language, develop litigation strategy, and preserve issues for appellate review when a dispute raises important legal questions.

Christine M. Rice has been recognized by Wisconsin Super Lawyers for many years and has held leadership roles in the Wisconsin Defense Counsel, including service as president. She is also a frequent speaker on litigation and insurance topics. Rice combines trial and appellate experience with a nursing background and long-standing insurance defense practice, helping clients address complex factual records, coverage questions, and high-value liability disputes with disciplined preparation and practical judgment.

Law Office Affiliations

• Shareholder, Simpson & Deardorff
• Member, State Bar of Wisconsin
• Past-President, Wisconsin Defense Counsel (2019-2020)
• Board Member, The Gavel Verdicts & News
• Vetted Wisconsin Member, The Gavel

Licensed State

• Wisconsin

Education

• Marquette University Law School
  Juris Doctor (JD) Magna Cum Laude
• Carroll College
  B.S.N, R.N. Cum Laude

Awards & Badges