New Hires, Promotions, Partners
Griselda Aldrete, Marquette 2017, has joined Hansen Reynolds LLC as a partner in the Milwaukee office. Aldrete, who is fluent in spoken and written Spanish, concentrates on criminal, commercial, law enforcement, discrimination, and employment litigation matters and mediations, investigations, and advanced dispute resolution.
Three associates have been promoted to partner at Milwaukee-based trial and litigation law firm Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown. Russell J. Karnes, Marquette 2010, has a diverse civil litigation practice focused on real estate, property tax assessment appeals, contract and business disputes, quiet title actions, foreclosure and title insurance litigation, misrepresentation claims, collection actions, and municipal law. Karnes also assists clients in business, estate planning, and real estate transactions.
Nicole M. Masnica, U.W. 2010, focuses on criminal defense work, termination of parental rights proceedings on appeal, and civil writs of habeas corpus in state and federal court and has argued before the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Kristen N. Nelson, DePaul 2012, is experienced in criminal and health-care defense. Nelson represents clients before the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, the Division of Hearings and Appeals, Wisconsin state courts, and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
Jared T. Levisen, Marquette 2017, has joined Germanotta & Shillinglaw. The office has been operating near Farwell and Brady Streets in Milwaukee for nearly 70 years. Levisen focuses on estate planning, probate, and real estate.
Kevin McCormick, Marquette 2014, has been promoted to partner at K&L Gates LLP and is based out of the Chicago and Nashville offices. McCormick primarily focuses on patent portfolio management and related counseling, opinion work, and due diligence involving a variety of technology sectors.
Several attorneys have been elected shareholders at Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c. or have joined the firm as shareholders.
Milwaukee office: Tristan A. Dollinger, Marquette 2015, is a member of the Health Care and Corporate practices. Dollinger advises clients, including skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, independent senior living communities, physician and dental practices, hospices, home health agencies, nonprofit organizations, and related industry groups, on matters such as mergers and acquisitions, licensing, regulatory compliance, survey defense, contracting, risk management, changes in ownership, and corporate governance. He also handles grievance and appeals work before related state and federal agencies.
Douglas J. Huenink, U.W. 2013, is a member of the Corporate Law and Tax practices. Huenink assists clients, including private equity firms, closely held businesses, public companies, and individuals, with structuring and negotiating mergers and acquisitions, analyzing tax planning strategies, preparing detailed tax models, and general corporate governance matters.
Martha J. Mohs, U.W. 2015, is a member of the Employee Benefits Practice and counsels Taft-Hartley, corporate, and government clients in all areas related to qualified retirement plans, including plan design and strategy, plan investments, prohibited transactions, service provider arrangements, mergers and acquisitions, and benefit claims. Mohs also collaborates with plan sponsors and fiduciaries to provide counsel during audits by regulatory agencies, ensure ongoing compliance with federal law, and provide guidance regarding corporate governance issues, fiduciary risk management, and fiduciary compliance.
Justin Voeks, New York Univ. 2013, is a member of the Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions, Private Equity, and Financial Institutions practices. Voeks advises clients on mergers and acquisitions, sales and dispositions, equity financings, dividend recapitalizations, and corporate reorganizations. He also helps clients develop, evaluate, and implement successful corporate governance policies and strategies.
Nicholas W. Zuiker, U.W. 2015, is a member of the Employee Benefits Practice. Zuiker negotiates legal terms and side letter provisions and advises institutional clients on a range of fiduciary compliance matters and governance and legislative issues. He also advises ESOP-owned companies and fiduciaries on transactional and compliance matters associated with the buying and selling of ESOP-owned companies and ESOP design and compliance issues.
Robert J. Muten, Valparaiso 1998, has rejoined the Labor and Employment Practice as a shareholder in the Milwaukee office. Muten counsels clients on hiring, firing, and disciplinary matters; investigations of employee complaints and other workplace issues; compliance with employment discrimination laws; wage-and-hour compliance; accommodation obligations under state and federal disability laws; requests for leaves of absence; and reductions in force.
He previously was in-house labor and employment counsel for a global Fortune 500 company.
Madison office: Woomin Kang, U.W. 2013, is a member of the Employee Benefits Practice and the Institutional Investor Services Team and advises clients on private equity, hedge fund, and other investments. She also assists in matters such as custody agreements and securities lending agreements.
Shawn E. Lovell, U.W. 2010, is a member of the Litigation Practice and helps clients resolve disputes involving property tax, personal property tax, and room tax, with a primary focus on property tax disputes. He also litigates real estate issues involving commercial leasing, evictions, and contractual disputes. Lovell is a former Judge Advocate for the U.S. Marine Corps and serves in the Marine Corps Reserve with the Third Civil Affairs Group.
David G. Palay, Chicago 2015, is a member of the Litigation Practice and focuses on white-collar criminal defense and complex commercial litigation. He represents clients in cases involving fiduciary issues, contractual obligations, and dealership law disputes and matters related to ownership, governance, and succession of family-controlled businesses.
Kevin Ramakrishna, Albany 2009, has joined the Real Estate Practice as a shareholder in the Madison office. Ramakrishna, previously a Madison assistant city attorney, has experience with tax incremental financing, land use, public works, and municipal real estate matters and advises municipalities and private-public partnerships.
Shira Phelps, U.W. 2007, and Lara Sutherlin, Northeastern 1999, have rejoined the Wisconsin Department of Justice. Phelps leads the DOJ’s Office of Crime Victim Services. She previously worked at a center focused on addressing human trafficking in Native and Tribal communities. Sutherlin leads the Division of Legal Services. She previously was division administrator at the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and before that worked in civil litigation and consumer protection at the DOJ from 2006 to 2019.
Mergers, Relocations, New Associations
Soberalski Immigration Law LLC has opened a satellite office in Lake Geneva. The firm concentrates in family-based and humanitarian immigration matters. Managing attorney Melissa Soberalski, Marquette 2012, is based in the West Allis office. Brigette Kutschma, Marquette 2002, is based in the Lake Geneva office.
Appointments, Elections
Eric P. Hagemeier, U.W. 2000, has been named co-chair of the Corporate Law Practice at Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c. Hagemeier, a former CPA, advises clients on various financial aspects of capital raising, mergers, acquisitions, and other corporate transactions. He is also a member of the securities and private equity teams and guides public companies on regulatory compliance and corporate governance and private companies on securities and corporate governance matters.
Jennifer Mirus, U.W. 1993, has been named chair of the executive committee at Boardman Clark, replacing Richard Heinemann, U.W. 1998, and is the first woman to hold this position at the firm. Mirus, also co-chair of the Labor & Employment Practice Group, represents employers in all aspects of employment relations, including wage-and-hour, discrimination, family and medical leave, Americans With Disabilities Act, reductions in force, harassment, hiring, discipline, and termination issues.
Doug Witte, U.W. 1989, has been named to the executive committee at Boardman Clark. Witte is co-chair of the School Law Practice Group, is a member of the Labor & Employment Practice Group, and represents private- and public-sector employers in all aspects of labor and employment law.
Patrick D. McNally, Marquette 2002, has been elected president of Borgelt, Powell, Peterson & Frauen S.C., a Milwaukee-based firm concentrating in civil litigation defense. McNally has been with the firm his entire career. He succeeds Frederick J. Strampe, U.W. 1997, who was appointed to Branch 7 of the Waukesha County Circuit Court by Governor Tony Evers.
Gene R. Rankin, U.W. 1980, is serving a three-year term on the board of Madison Bach Musicians.
Maggie Utterback, U.W. 2001, has been named managing partner of the Madison office of Quarles & Brady LLP. Utterback, a partner in the Business Law Practice Group and a member of the executive committee, succeeds Ave Bie, U.W. 1990, who retired in December and is joining the WEC Energy Group board. Utterback counsels tax-exempt organizations in health care, higher education, senior living, and other sectors on complex transactional matters, including mergers, acquisitions and financings. She also serves as outside general counsel for companies ranging from manufacturers to tax-exempt organizations and advises automotive manufacturers and other clients on matters including M&A, dealer programs, and commercial contracts.
Awards, Degrees, Honors
The Hon. Michael R. Fitzpatrick, Drake 1984, a judge on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, has been elected to membership in the American Law Institute, the organization whose members draft the Restatements of the Law and Principles of the Law.
Pro Bono, Public Service
The Green Bay Packers will donate $50,000 to the Wisconsin Equal Justice Fund and $50,000 to Legal Action of Wisconsin in 2023. The support is part of the team’s ongoing pledge to support social justice and racial equality in Wisconsin communities.
In Memoriam
Harold D. Block, Marquette 1974, Grafton, April 23, 1941 – Nov. 7, 2022.
Robert O. Burr Jr., Marquette 1966, Venice, Fla., Aug. 20, 1934 – Dec. 15, 2022.
Hon. Richard J. Celello, Marquette 1974, Iron Mountain, Mich., Aug. 13, 1948 – Nov. 13, 2021.
Stephen P. Eisenberg, DePaul 1969, Valparaiso, Ind., July 16, 1944 – April 3, 2022.
Arthur Labros, Marquette 1957, Brookfield, Sept. 7, 1932 – Jan. 10, 2023.
Vincent J. LoDuca, Marquette 1970, New Berlin, May 22, 1944 – Jan. 6, 2023.
Susan C. Minahan, Marquette 1995, Thiensville, Sept. 4, 1969 – Jan. 18, 2023.
Mark A. Peterson, Marquette 1975, Milwaukee, Sept. 13, 1950 – Nov. 29, 2022.
Kenneth Richard Sipsma, U.W. 1994, Madison, Aug. 29, 1953 – Jan. 28, 2023.
How to Place your Announcement
If you have moved, become a partner or an associate, or received a promotion or an award, let us know! Email announcements to: MembersOnly@wisbar.org. Notices about State Bar members in good standing are printed as space is available, and subject to editing. Writing guidelines are available here. Questions? Email us or call (608) 250-6139.
Photo placement: Submit a professional-quality photo. If the photo is used, the State Bar will issue an invoice ($35 each). Group photos are not accepted. High-resolution electronic photos are preferred.
Deadline: The first of the month preceding publication. For example, to place an announcement in the May issue, it must be received before April 1.
Ineligible announcements: Talks, speeches (unless they are of national stature), honors from other publications, and political announcements are not accepted.
» Cite this article: 96 Wis. Law. 50-52 (March 2023).
