Personal Mentions
Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson recently
coauthored an article with Michael J. Fischer, "All the World's a
Courtroom: Judging in the New Millennium," in the Hofstra Law
Review. Abrahamson also recently made presentations at two
international conferences: "Human Rights: Their Protection at a National
Level - Understanding the American Tapestry," The British Council in
Belfast, Northern Ireland; and "The Role of the Judicial Branch in a
Reformed State," Conference on Society and the Reform of the State in
Sao Paulo, Brazil. Abrahamson also was elected a member of the American
Philosophical Society, the oldest learned society in the country, and
was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Marian College in
Fond du Lac.
Eric W. Anderson, U.W. 1986, has become of counsel
to the Atlanta office of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP,
continuing his practice in Chapter 11, business reorganization,
creditor's rights, finance, and workouts. He formerly was a partner with
the Atlanta firm of Powell, Goldstein, Frazer & Murphy LLP.
Byron Axel, U.W. 1957, and Lowell S.
Goldman, Marquette 1959, now are practicing law in the
partnership known as Axel & Goldman at Suite 3166,
Plankinton Building, Milwaukee.They practiced with the law firm of Axel,
Aaron & Goldman for the past 33 years.
David W. Baranow, Marquette 1981, has received the
1998 Alaska Bar Association's Board of Governors Distinguished Service
Award for outstanding service to the membership of the Alaska Bar. A
sole practitioner in Anchorage, Baranow serves as the chair of the
Alaska Bar's Standing Committee on Law-related Education.
Jerome E. Barnett, U.W. 1975, recently became a vice
president of Marubeni America Corporation. Located in New York City,
Marubeni America Corporation is the principal U.S. operating subsidiary
of Marubeni Corporation, a major Japanese trading company. Barnett also
holds the titles of senior counsel and corporate secretary.
Jeffrey T. Batovsky, U.W. 1997, has become legal
counsel of the Wisconsin Manufactured Housing Association. He previously
served as the extradition official for the State of Wisconsin, the
secretary to the Governor's Pardon Advisory Board, and the assistant to
the Governor's Legal Counsel.
Carl A. Beckstedt III, Marquette 1990, has been
admitted to practice in the U.S. Virgin Islands Territorial and District
courts. He is associated with Bryant, Barnes & Simpson P.C.,
Christiansted, St. Croix, USVI, practicing in insurance defense, labor,
and corporate law.
The Calumet County Bar Association recently announced its officers
for 1998: president - Andrew J. King, Chilton; vice
president - Mark S. Des Rochers, St. Nazianz; and
secretary treasurer - Kim M. Rietbrock, Chilton.
John M. Clair, Marquette 1987, has joined Clair Law
Offices S.C., Delavan, as an associate. He previously served as an FBI
special agent in its Los Angeles and Chicago offices from 1987 through
1998.
Barrett J. Corneille, U.W. 1980; David J.
Pliner, U.W. 1989; Leah M. Christensen, Iowa
1995; and Colleen L. Meloy, U.W. 1997, announce the
formation of Corneille Law Group LLC. The law firm will
emphasize complex civil litigation in medical negligence, product
liability, civil rights, employment discrimination, environmental law,
insurance coverage, and bad faith litigation. The firm is located at 409
E. Main St., Suite 200, Madison.
Thomas Dawson, Howard 1975, Wisconsin assistant
attorney general, has taken a two-year leave of absence, from October
1997 to October 1999, to become director of the Wisconsin Strategic
Pesticide Information Project, to promote the development of a pesticide
use database for the state.
Meredith W. Ditchen, Marquette 1997, has joined
Robertson & Walker, Attorneys, Woodstock, Ga., as an associate
practicing in civil litigation, business transactions, and real
estate.
The Dodge County Bar Association recently elected new officers:
president - Daniel L. Vande Zande, Waupun;
president-elect - Scott B. Rasmussen, Beaver Dam; and
secretary/treasurer - Karl A. Green, Columbus.
John E. Donahue, U.W. 1975, a partner with Weiss,
Berzowski, Brady & Donahue LLP, Milwaukee, has been honored with the
"Saint George Award" by the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. This award
recognizes outstanding contributions to the spiritual development of
youth in programs of the Boy Scouts of America. Donahue practices in
employee benefits and pension law.
Robert L. Elliott, U.W. 1970, has set up a solo,
civil litigation practice at 633 W. Wisconsin Ave., Suite 1001,
Milwaukee. Elliott, who previously practiced with Cook & Franke and
Hausmann-McNally, opened his solo practice to do serious, difficult, and
aggravated contingent fee litigation.
Karla J. Baumgartner, Wyoming 1990, and Mark
C. Neidinger, Marquette 1997, have joined the firm of Eustice,
Albert & Laffey, S.C., Sun Prairie.
Patrick B. Flanagan, U.W. 1997, recently opened the
Patrick Flanagan Law Office at the Mayfair Bank Tower,
2300 N. Mayfair Rd., Suite 990, Wauwatosa. The general practice firm
emphasizes business representation and counsel, criminal and traffic
defense, debtor and creditor proceedings, estate planning and probate,
family law, and serving as a guardian ad litem.
Wayne W. Hansen, U.W. 1967, is the managing partner
of the newly opened Seattle office of Jackson, Lewis, Schnitzler &
Krupman, a nationwide firm representing management in labor and
employment law. Hansen formerly was with the National Labor Relations
Board in Minneapolis and Schmitt Nolan Hansen & Hartley in
Merrill.
Gerald R. Harmon, Marquette 1973, has established
Harmon Law Office at 3160 N. Colonial Dr., Milwaukee.
His practice is concentrated in consumer and intellectual property law,
and civil litigation management. He formerly was a shareholder with
Quale, Feldbruegge, Calvelli, Thom & Croke S.C.
Amy M. Hindman, Georgetown 1992, has received a
Fulbright Award and will be conducting a year-long study on the
globalization of environmental law at the Institute for European Law in
Saarbrucken, Germany, commencing in August 1998.
The Hogan Law Office has been located at 3622 Hwy.
47 N, Rhinelander. The firm, consisting of John J. Hogan, Marquette
1977, and Timothy B. Melms, Marquette 1993, serves all general practice
areas with an emphasis in personal injury, insurance defense, family,
real estate, estate planning, and criminal law.
Henry L. Huser, U.W. 1984, has become a partner with
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. He previously was a
counsel with the firm and staff attorney with the U.S. Federal Trade
Commission. Huser will be the resident partner of the firm's Brussels,
Belgium office, where he will continue practicing EU and international
competition law.
R. Scott Jacobson, Texas 1988, has joined Voegeli
& Ewald Law Offices S.C., Monroe, as an associate. He previously
practiced in New Mexico.
Kyle K. Kappes, U.W. 1989, has been named general
counsel for AlliedSignal Electronic Materials, located in the Silicon
Valley. He previously was senior counsel, intellectual property, for
AlliedSignal Laminate Systems in La Crosse.
Kasdorf, Lewis & Swietlik S.C., with offices in Milwaukee, Green
Bay, and Wausau, recently hired the following associates: Allan
M. Foeckler, Marquette 1998, and Thomas
Gonzalez, U.W. 1998, join the litigation team in Milwaukee;
John R. Shull Jr., Marquette 1998, has become
associated with the firm's Wausau office.
Christopher Krimmer, U.W. 1997, has become the
director of the Legal Assistance Program at the AIDS Resource Center of
Wisconsin (ARCW) where he will assume responsibility for delivering a
variety of HIV-related legal services. Krimmer has been a cooperating
attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin and worked
with Legal Action of Wisconsin. Krimmer previously had his own law
practice.
Samuel J. Leib, Southwestern 1977, and
William J. Katt, Marquette 1979, both noted defense
litigators, have opened Leib & Katt S.C., Attorneys at
Law. Located at Empire Building, Ninth Floor, 710 N. Plankinton
Ave., the firm will concentrate on defense litigation for business,
industry, and professionals. Leib formerly was a shareholder at Leib
& Associates S.C., Milwaukee. Katt formerly was a shareholder at
Kasdorf, Lewis & Swietlik S.C., West Allis.
Linda L. Lilledahl, U.W. 1987, has returned to the
Madison office of Michael Best & Friedrich LLP. She rejoins the firm
as a partner practicing in employment relations, pensions, and benefits
law.
Both principals of the Milwaukee law firm of Loeb & Herman S.C.
have begun leadership terms in bar associations this month.
Gregg M. Herman, U.W. 1977, became president of the
Milwaukee Bar Association, the largest voluntary bar association in
Wisconsin. Leonard L. Loeb, U.W. 1952, became
president-elect of the State Bar of Wisconsin. He will succeed to the
presidency in June 1999. The three-lawyer firm practices family law
exclusively, concentrating in divorce cases of complex nature with
substantial estates. The firm has long donated significant resources to
voluntary bar association activities.
Clearesia A. Lovell-Lepak, U.W. 1994, has joined the
Madison City Attorney's Office. She formerly was an assistant city
attorney in La Crosse.
Michael J. McDonagh, Washington College of Law 1985,
a shareholder at von Briesen, Purtell & Roper S.C., recently
received the U.S. Small Business Administration 1998 Wisconsin Small
Business Legal Assistance Award. The Small Business Awards, presented
annually, recognize persons and organizations that are critical to the
success of small business communities in Wisconsin. McDonagh, a member
of the firm's business practice group, counsels clients on securities
issues, business transactions, and various types of business
organizations.
Robert E. Meldman, Marquette 1962, a shareholder in
the tax department of the Milwaukee office of Reinhart, Boerner, Van
Deuren, Norris & Rieselbach S.C., has again earned inclusion in
Who's Who in American Law, 1998-1999.
Carroll Metzner, U.W. 1943, has joined the Kasieta
Legal Group LLC, Madison, concentrating in civil trial work. He
consistently has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America
as one of the foremost trial lawyers in the state.
Todd J. Mitchell, U.W. 1968, has become president of
the Waukesha County Bar Association's Probate and Estate Planning
Section for 1998-99. Mitchell heads the Hartland branch office of the
Meissner Tierney Fisher & Nichols S.C. law firm. He practices in
estate and business succession planning.
Thomas D. Omdahl, U.W. 1998, has joined Schoenbohm
& Schoenbohm S.C., Appleton, as an associate practicing in consumer
law, bankruptcy, and general practice.
Kelly A. Patch, U.W. 1993, Order of the Coif, has
become corporate counsel for Patch Products Inc., Beloit. Patch Products
manufactures and markets board games, puzzles, and toys. Patch formerly
was with Torkildson, Katz, Fonseca, Jaffe, Moore & Hetherington in
Honolulu.
Dianne Post, U.W. 1979, has been selected by the ABA
CEELI project to go to Moscow, Russia, as a women's specialist beginning
in June, for one year. She will be working primarily on domestic
violence issues.
C. Scott Pryor, U.W. 1980, of counsel to Zimmerman,
Shuffield, Kiser & Sutcliffe P.A., Orlando, Fla., has become an
associate professor of law at Regent University, Virginia Beach, Va.,
commencing in the fall of 1998. Pryor will teach contracts and UCC I
during the first semester. He formerly was a shareholder in Howard,
Solochek & Weber S.C., Milwaukee.
The Racine County Bar Association recently elected these officers and
governors: president - Jeffrey Leavell; president-elect
- Faye M. Flancher; treasurer - John G.
Schulz; secretary - Giulio Fornary; and Board
of Governors, three-year term: Thomas P. Tofte and
Michael Phegley.
Gov. Tommy Thompson recently presented the 1998 Governor's Export
Achievement Award for large service firms to Reinhart, Boerner,
Van Deuren, Norris & Rieselbach S.C. The award was
presented at the 34th Annual Wisconsin International Trade Conference in
Milwaukee in May. Reinhart, Boerner, the first law firm ever presented
this award, was awarded because of its dramatic growth and expertise in
representing middle market companies in international transactions
including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and distribution
relationships.
The St. Croix Valley Bar Association recently elected these officers:
president - Liesl E. Nelson, Hudson; president-elect -
Daniel P. Murray, River Falls; secretary - R.
Michael Waterman, Hudson; and treasurer - Ronald L.
Siler, New Richmond.
Paul J. Scoptur, Marquette 1978, of Aiken &
Scoptur S.C., Milwaukee, recently participated in a three-day seminar
for the Association of Trial Lawyers of America in New Orleans for more
than 200 participants. His presentation was "Using Medical Literature to
Prove Damages in Soft Tissue and Mild Brain Injury Cases." Scoptur also
recently spoke in Salt Lake City at a program on overcoming juror
bias.
Michael A. Stiegel, Loyola 1971 cum laude, recently
joined Michael, Best & Friedrich as a partner in its Chicago office.
Stiegel concentrates in general litigation. He is an adjunct professor
of trial advocacy at Northwestern University Law School and a faculty
member of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy.
Peter C. Stomma, Drake 1991, has joined the
intellectual property firm of Jansson, Shupe, Bridge & Munger Ltd.,
Racine. He formerly was senior associate/special partner at Andrus,
Sceales, Starke & Sawall.
Russell B. Stowers, U.W. 1989, was named the
"Outstanding Pro Bono Attorney of the Month" for March 1998 by the
Volunteer Lawyers Program (VIP), which provides pro bono legal services
to the indigent in southern Arizona. He is the VLP coordinator for the
Tucson office of Snell & Wilmer LLP.
Paul A. Sturgul, U.W. 1973, has been elected a
Fellow of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. He is past chair
of the State Bar's Elder Law Section and a former member of the Board of
Directors of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. He maintains
offices in Hurley and Woodruff and focuses his practice in elder
law.
The partnership of Robert E. Sutton and
Larraine McNamara-McGraw has been dissolved. Sutton,
Marquette 1960, maintains his practice at 2631 N. Downer Ave.,
Milwaukee.
Thomas H. Taylor, U.W. 1982, has been appointed vice
president and general counsel for Gundersen Lutheran Inc. and its
affiliates, including Gundersen Clinic Ltd. and Lutheran Hospital-La
Crosse Inc., headquartered in La Crosse. Taylor will remain a member of
DeWitt Ross & Stevens in Madison.
J. Blair Ward, Thomas Cooley 1996, has become the
Portage County assistant corporation counsel. Ward formerly had a
general practice in the Ironwood, Mich., and Hurley area.
The Washington County Bar Association recently elected these
officers: president - Daniel L. Sargeant;
president-elect - Carol J. Beverly; secretary -
Timothy J. Algiers; and treasurer - Maureen M.
Meyer, all of West Bend.
Shannon M. Whitworth, U.W. 1996, has joined Fellows,
Piper & Schmidt of Milwaukee as an associate.
The firm of Winner, Wixson & Pernitz has
relocated to its new offices at 22 E. Mifflin St., Suite 702, Madison.
Tammy S. Tremain, U.W. 1994, has joined the firm as an
associate practicing insurance defense. She is a former law clerk to
Dane County judges Patrick J. Fiedler and C. William Foust and is a
municipal judge for the Village of Marshall.
In Memoriam
F.E. Bachhuber, U.W. 1936, Wausau, June 22, 1913 -
March 7, 1998.
Floyd A. Brynelson, U.W. 1939, Madison, May 13, 1914
- June 8, 1998.
Joseph E. Dean, Marquette 1937, Milwaukee, Sept. 2,
1913 - May 8, 1998.
Joseph V. DeFalco, DePaul 1943, Montello, July 5,
1922 - May 19, 1998.
Thomas A. Dulde, U.W. 1970, New Berlin, May 27, 1941
- March 23, 1998.
Bernard J. Hankin, U.W. 1937, Milwaukee, April 6,
1913 - March 19, 1998.
Trayton L. Lathrop, U.W. 1948, Madison, Nov. 14,
1923 - April 3, 1998.
George E. Lawler, Marquette 1954, Corvallis, Ore.,
June 16, 1917 - April 28, 1998.
J. Curtis McKay, Northwestern 1957, Sheboygan, Oct.
10, 1926 - 1998.
Omar E. Megahed, U.W. 1996, Madison, Dec. 23, 1969 -
Jan. 18, 1998.
William G. Mooney, Marquette 1956, Plymouth, Aug. 3,
1929 - Dec. 4, 1997.
Lloyd Planert, Marquette 1942, Green Bay, March 18,
1918 - April 21, 1998.
H.O. Schowalter, U.W. 1934, West Bend, Aug. 4, 1909
- May 1998.
William E. Shevlin, NY-Buffalo 1970, Wausau, April
20, 1943 - April 28, 1998.
Wisconsin Lawyer