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    Wisconsin Lawyer
    May 01, 2011

    In the News

    Wisconsin LawyerWisconsin Lawyer
    Vol. 84, No. 5, May 2011

    In the News


    New Hires, Promotions, Partners

    Michael D. AikenMichael D. Aiken, Marquette 2006, has joined McCoy & Hofbauer S.C., Waukesha, as an associate and focuses on insurance defense, personal injury, and commercial
    litigation.

    Chad G. Bartell, U.W. 2004, has joined Springs Window Fashions LLC, Middleton, as associate general counsel. He previously was with Michael Best & Friedrich LLP.

    Rebecca DeMarbRebecca DeMarb, U.W. 1997, has rejoined Murphy Desmond S.C., Madison and Janesville, in the creditors’ rights, business bankruptcy, and commercial litigation practice group.

    Jerilyn Dietz, U.W. 2004, has become Calumet County District Attorney. She previously was an assistant district attorney in Manitowoc County.

    P. Scott HassettP. Scott Hassett, Rutgers 1980, has rejoined Lawton & Cates S.C., Madison, and focuses on litigation, with an emphasis on environmental and employment matters. He previously was secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

    Ryan M. HolmesRyan M. Holmes, Northern Illinois 2003, has been elected a partner at Lewis, Overbeck & Furman LLP, Chicago, and continues to focus on trust and estate, corporate, tax, and real estate matters.

    Laurna A. JozwiakLaurna A. Jozwiak, Marquette 2009 cum laude, has joined Fox, O’Neill & Shannon S.C., Milwaukee, as an associate and practices in family law, litigation, and corporate law.

    Daniel F. Miller, U.W. 1985, has joined Hall, Render, Killian, Heath & Lyman as a shareholder in the Milwaukee office. He previously was with Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C. He focuses on health-care reimbursement, compliance, and litigation matters.

    Jessica OzalpJessica Ozalp, U.W. 2011, has joined Axley Brynelson LLP, Madison, as an associate in the litigation group.

    Antonio M. Trillo, U.W. 2007, has joined the civil division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Wisconsin as an assistant U.S. attorney. He formerly was an associate with Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c., Milwaukee.

    Amy E. WesnerAmy E. Wesner, U.W. 2008 cum laude, LL.M. (taxation) New York Univ., has joined the Kintzinger Law Firm, Dubuque, Iowa, and focuses on tax, business transactions, and trusts and estates.

    Kate A. Wilkinson, U.W. 1998, has joined C&K Market Inc. as corporate counsel and director of human resources and is based in Brookings, Oregon.


    Mergers, Relocations, New Offices

    Scott D. Soldon, Northwestern 1978 cum laude, has opened Soldon Law Firm, 3541 N. Summit Ave., Shorewood, focusing on employment and labor law, employee benefits, ERISA, and employment litigation matters. Kyle A. McCoy, Case Western Reserve 2008, has joined the firm.


    Appointments, Elections

    The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers-Wisconsin Chapter has elected the following officers: president – Anthony J. Menting, Marquette 1993, Stafford Rosenbaum LLP, Madison; vice president – David B. Karp, Marquette 1982, Karp Law Offices S.C., Milwaukee; treasurer – Dennis H. Milbrath, New England 1979, Levy & Levy S.C., Cedarburg; and secretary – Thomas J. Walsh, Hamline 1992, Walsh & Walsh S.C., De Pere.

    Christopher P. BanaszakChristopher P.
    Banaszak
    , Marquette 1994 cum laude, has been named chair of the labor and employment practice at Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c. He is with the firm’s Milwaukee office.

    Peter C. Christianson, U.W. 1977, has been appointed to the UW-Madison Athletic Board. He is a member of the government relations practice group in the Madison office of Dewitt Ross & Stevens s.c.

    Erik R. Guenther, U.W. 2002, has been selected as deputy country director for Belize by the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative. He is with Hurley, Burish & Stanton S.C., Madison, and focuses on criminal defense and constitutional law.

    Chad E. Novak, Marquette 2006, has been reelected to the Hennepin County Bar Association board. He is assistant vice president and underwriting and agency counsel for Old Republic National Title Insurance Co., Minneapolis.

    Nerino J. Petro, Jr.Nerino J. Petro Jr., Northern Illinois 1988, has been appointed to the ABA TECHSHOW planning board. He is advisor to Practice411™, the State Bar’s Law Office Management Assistance Program.

    Bradley W. Raaths, Marquette 1999, has been appointed president and managing partner of Dewitt Ross & Stevens s.c. He focuses on business-law matters in the Madison office.

    Peter YoungPeter Young, Marquette 2009, has been named 2011 co-chair of the Wisconsin Association for Justice new lawyers section. He is an associate with Habush Habush & Rottier S.C. and works out of the Rhinelander, Wausau, and Stevens Point offices.


    Authors, Speakers

    Dennis Boyer, West Virginia 1978, edited the policy discussion report “Helping Out: Humanitarian Policy for Global Security,” which may be downloaded for free at www.interactivityfoundation.org. He is a fellow for the Interactivity Foundation, the goal of which is to engage citizens in public policy exploration and development, and lives in Dodgeville.

    Miriam “Jodie” Rohrer, U.W. 1977, was a presenter at a week-long training session for new prosecutors sponsored by the National District Attorneys Association in Columbia, S.C., in February. She is a Dane County assistant district attorney.


    Awards, Degrees, Honors

    The Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association honored attorneys and judges at a ceremony in April in Milwaukee. Nathan A. Fishbach, Villanova 1977, received the Judge Myron L. Gordon Lifetime Achievement Award. He is a shareholder with Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C., Milwaukee, and focuses on complex civil litigation and white-collar-criminal cases. The Hon. Susan V. Kelley, Catholic Univ. 1979, received the Judge Dale E. Ihlenfeldt Bankruptcy Award. She is a judge with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin. L. William Staudenmaier, Marquette 1961, received the Judge John W. Reynolds Community Building Award. He retired as a shareholder and is of counsel for Cook & Franke S.C., Milwaukee. Thomas G. Wilmouth, Notre Dame 1987, received the Judge Robert W. Warren Public Service Award. He is associate federal defender with the U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois, Springfield.

    C. Frederick (Fred) Geilfuss II, U.W. 1979, has been named recipient of the Nonprofit Center of Milwaukee’s Fran Swigart Board Leadership Award, in recognition of the hundreds of hours that he devotes each year to nonprofit board leadership activities in the Milwaukee area. He is a member of the health-care industry team at Foley & Lardner LLP and is cochair of the health care industry team transactions work group.

    Daniel Miske, DePaul 1985, has been inducted into the College of Community Association Lawyers. He is with the Milwaukee office of Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C. and concentrates his practice in condominium law, collections, and business litigation.

    Robert H. Duffy, Marquette 1984, and Eric J. Van Vugt, Marquette 1976, have been named 2011 BTI
    Client Service All-Stars. Both attorneys are with the Milwaukee office of
    Quarles & Brady LLP. Duffy represents employers in labor and employment matters. Van Vugt concentrates on complex commercial litigation.


    Retirements

    The Hon. Harold Froehlich, U.W. 1962, has retired from the Outagamie County Circuit Court after nearly 30 years on the bench. He also served in the Wisconsin Assembly and in the U.S. House of Representatives.

    Mark Thibodeau, Marquette 1977, has retired as Adams County District Attorney. He held the post for 33 years after serving as Adams County corporation counsel for 12 years.


    In Memoriam

    Catherine B. Cleary, U.W. 1943, Milwaukee, Dec. 19, 1916 – Dec. 4, 2010.

    David P. Hanaway, U.W. 1968, Green Bay, Jan. 1, 1943 – Nov. 28, 2010.

    Lawrence D. Hughes, Marquette 1953, McLean, Va., May 27, 1929 – Jan. 31, 2011.

    Oscar B. Latin, U.W. 1951, Ormond Beach, Fla., March 9, 1923 – March 26, 2011.

    Authors to receive Wisconsin Lawyer award

    Joseph W. Boucher Nathan J. Dosch Joseph W. Boucher, U.W. 1978 cum laude, and Nathan J. Dosch, Marquette 2004, M.S. taxation, are the 2010 recipients of the Hon. Charles Dunn Author Award, presented annually by the State Bar Communications Committee.

    Boucher and Dosch are being honored for their article “E-Legacy: Who Inherits Your Digital Assets?” (Dec. 2010). In selecting the article, the Dunn award subcommittee said, “This article provides an insight into a new and emerging area of the law that could have a huge impact for estate planning lawyers and their clients. The article explores the issues that are unique to electronic assets, and points out how current property, contract, and probate laws do not adequately address ‘digital assets.’ Finally, the authors provide suggestions on questions lawyers should consider when working with their clients and how to address these issues under current law.”

    Boucher is a CPA and a shareholder in Neider & Boucher S.C., Madison, where he practices in business law, with an emphasis in emerging companies. He chaired the State Bar committee that originally drafted Wisconsin’s limited liability company (LLC) law and coauthored LLCs and LLPs: A Wisconsin Handbook, published by State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLETM. Dosch is a tax private-wealth-services manager with Grant Thornton LLP, Milwaukee, where he assists individuals and business owners with tax, estate, and succession planning issues. He previously practiced with Neider & Boucher S.C.

    The Dunn award, named after Wisconsin’s first chief justice, recognizes writing excellence in Wisconsin Lawyer articles. The award will be presented at the Member Recognition and Networking Celebration, held in conjunction with the State Bar PINNACLE Real Estate and Business Law Institute, June 9, 6 – 7 p.m., at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells.

    Attorneys Erich C. Straub and Davorin J. Odrcic received certificates of commendation for addressing a timely, important, and emerging legal issue for Wisconsin lawyers in their article “Duty to Advise Noncitizens” (Aug. 2010). The article provides a succinct but thorough summary of the issue, practical advice, and key issues lawyers need to address when working with their clients. The authors practice immigration law at Erich C. Straub Immigration Atty LLC, Milwaukee.

    For information about writing for Wisconsin Lawyer, visit www.wisbar.org/wl/guidelines.

    O’Melia, Schiek & McEldowney
    Celebrates 100 Years

    A.J. O’Melia John O’Melia Jr. announces the 100th anniversary of the Rhinelander law firm of O’Melia, Schiek & McEldowney.

    A.J. O’Melia opened the law firm in 1911 following his graduation that year in the first Marquette Law School class of graduates, of which he was one of 14 students. In the 1920s, A.J. became partners with Walter Kaye, forming O’Melia & Kaye. Several attorneys worked with the firm over the years, including three of A.J.’s sons, John, Donald, and Richard. During their careers, both A.J. and Donald served as State Bar president – the only father/son combination. Richard eventually left the firm for Washington, D.C., and served on the Civil Aeronautics Board.

    The third generation was represented in 1968, 1979, and 1986 when Michael, John Jr., and Patrick joined the firm. Michael and Patrick later served as circuit court judges – Michael in Phoenix, Ariz., and Patrick in Oneida County, where he continues to serve.

    Todd R. McEldowney joined the firm in 1980. In 1984, the firm became known as O’Melia & McEldowney S.C. In 1989, the firm merged with Melby & Schiek to form what is now known as O’Melia, Schiek & McEldowney S.C.

    In 2006, the firm merged with Mouw, Krueger & Smith. Current firm members include father and son John and Mike Schiek, John O’Melia Jr., Todd McEldowney, Jeffrey Jackomino, Andrew Smith, and Lawrence Wiesneske.

    Today, the firm continues as a general practice law firm, providing services in personal injury, family law, insurance defense, criminal and traffic law, real estate, corporate law, and estate and elder law.


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