New Hires, Promotions, Partners
Susan K. Allen, Marquette 2006 cum laude, has been named a partner at the Milwaukee office of Stafford Rosenbaum LLP. Allen’s practice focuses on municipal law and litigation, including product liability defense, and general commercial and vehicle warranty litigation.
Stephen G. Bohrer, William Mitchell 1988, has joined the Eau Claire office of Ruder Ware LLSC, where he will work with public and private employers on labor and employment law matters. Bohrer previously worked as an Eau Claire assistant city attorney.
Brianna M. Covington, Marquette 2014 cum laude, has joined Alan C. Olson & Associates S.C., New Berlin, as an associate, advocating for employee rights in employment-related disputes.
Jack W. Ebbott, U.W. 2005, has been elected shareholder at Aplin & Ringsmuth LLC, Deerfield.
Lori A. Hickman, U.W. 2005, has been promoted to partner at DeWitt Ross & Stevens SC, Madison. She practices in family law, guardianship, and trusts and estates. Raluca Vais-Ottosen, Louisiana State 2004, has joined the firm’s newly formed immigration group. She has an extensive background in immigration law and employment law.
Gregory J. Melgares, Loyola-Chicago 1996, has been promoted to assistant general counsel of the legal department at Froedtert Health Inc., Milwaukee. Joining the company are Linda M. Annoye, Marquette 2005, and Jodi Lee Malek, U.W. 2001. Annoye was previously corporate counsel with QuadMed, and Malek was deputy general counsel at Foley & Lardner LLP.
Terese Halfmann, Marquette 1985, and Thomas W. Kyle, Hamline 1996, have joined the Milwaukee office of Hupy and Abraham S.C. and will be expanding the firm’s nursing-home-abuse practice area. Halfmann, who also is a registered nurse, and Kyle previously were with Pitman, Kyle, Sicula & Dentice.
James R. Johnson, Marquette 2005, has been elected partner at Hogan Lovells US LLP. He is with the FDA/pharmaceutical and biotechnology group in the Washington, D.C., office.
Edward G. Langer, U.W. 1979, has been named director of the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic of Legal Action of Wisconsin.
Mike Stingl, U.W. 1983, Kathryn Harrell, Marquette 2006, and Dave Stegall, Marquette 2006 cum laude, have been promoted to shareholder at Lawton & Cates S.C., Madison. Joining the firm are Shane Falk, Minnesota 1995 cum laude, and David Bolles, U.W. 2008. Stinglfocuses on civil litigation, Harrellfocuses on plaintiff’s side personal injury, Stegall focuses on criminal defense, Falk focuses on family law, and Bolles focuses on employment law and criminal defense.
Bradley D. Page, U.W. 1989, has been appointed senior vice president and general counsel of Physicians Realty Trust, Milwaukee. Page represents clients in commercial real estate development, commercial lending, and corporate and construction industries. He previously was president of Davis & Kuelthau SC, Milwaukee.
Briane Pagel, U.W. 1998, has joined the Milwaukee and Madison offices of Kerkman & Dunn as a partner, where he will continue his statewide practice in consumer protection focusing on foreclosure defense, illegal debt collection and repossession remedies, consumer fraud, and professional malpractice.
Jessica E. Slavin, Minnesota 1998, has joined Averbeck & Hammer S.C., Fond du Lac, and focuses on personal injury, appellate litigation, trusts and estates, probate, guardianships, and real estate. Slavin previously was a law clerk for Chief Judge Richard Brown at the Wisconsin Court of Appeals.
Arthur K. Thexton, U.W. 1977, has joined Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown LLP, Milwaukee, as of counsel with the health care law team. He previously served as prosecuting attorney for the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services.
Jerry B. Vang, U.W. 2013, has joined the State Bar of Wisconsin as program coordinator/law school outreach. Vang previously worked at Wisconsin Judicare, Wausau, where he served low-income individuals and families in the areas of family, landlord-tenant, and consumer protection law.
Eight attorneys have joined the Milwaukee and Madison offices of Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C. Joining the firm’s corporate and finance practice group in the Madison office is Iana A. Vladimirova, Fordham 2013. Joining the firm’s Milwaukee office are Joshua Levy, U.W. 1991, as co-leader of the construction services team; Trevor L. Currie, Notre Dame 2014, Emily L. Hutchens, U.W. 2014 magna cum laude, and Jacqueline B. Wilcox, U.W. 2014 cum laude, in the corporate and finance practice group; Ari B. Kasper, Northwestern 2014, in the litigation practice group; Laura L. Malugade, Marquette 2014 cum laude, in the human resources law practice group; and Brianna M. Schonenberg, Marquette 2014 magna cum laude, in the intellectual property practice group.
Brian C. Williams, Marquette 2001, has been named a partner with Daviczyk & Varline LLC, Wausau. He practices primarily in civil litigation, insurance defense, business formation and litigation, and criminal defense.
Mergers, Relocations, New Offices
Abbey Anderson, Thomas M. Cooley 2014 magna cum laude, has formed Abbey Anderson Law PC, 214 E. Ludington St., Iron Mountain, Mich., focusing on estate planning, trusts, probate, real estate, and business formation and serving northern Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Rebecca W. Oettinger, U.W. 2007, has opened Driftless Mediation and Family Law LLC, 314 Ash St., Baraboo, focusing on collaborative divorce and mediation matters in Sauk, Dane, and Columbia counties. She previously was a family law attorney with Boardman & Clark LLP, Madison. Oettinger also has been elected chair of the Collaborative Family Law Council of Wisconsin for 2015.
Appointments, Elections
The Hon. David L. Borowski, Marquette 1991, has been elected to the Wisconsin Trial Judges Association board. He is currently serving in the Civil Division of the Milwaukee County Circuit Court.
Peter Stomma, Drake 1991, has been elected president of Boyle Fredrickson, Milwaukee. Stomma replaces Tim Newholm, George Mason 1992, who served as president for three years. Elected to the board are Matt Corr, U.W. 1997, vice president; Adam Brookman, George Washington Univ. 1987, treasurer; and Kirk L. Deheck, Marquette 2003, secretary.
Cari Anne Renlund, U.W. 2001 cum laude, has been elected to the executive committee of DeWitt Ross & Stevens SC, Madison, where she is a partner, focusing on government affairs and administrative and regulatory matters. Megan A. Senatori, U.W. 2001 cum laude, has been named chair of the firm’s litigation practice group. She also is an adjunct faculty member at the Marquette and U.W. law schools.
Nicole J. Druckrey, Minnesota 2003, has been named pro bono coordinator of the Milwaukee office of Quarles & Brady LLP. She is a partner in the firm’s commercial litigation practice group. The firm in 2013 recorded 19,000 pro bono hours and served approximately 525 individuals and 80 organizations.
Naomi M. Michel, Minnesota 2009, has been elected to the board of the Park People of Milwaukee County Inc., which protects and improves the parks of Milwaukee County. Michel is a member of the business law practice group in the Milwaukee office of Quarles & Brady LLP.
Authors, Speakers
Adam Chase Korbitz, U.W. 1993, has published “Toward Understanding the Active SETI Debate: Insights from Risk Communication and Perception,” in the December 2014 issue of Acta Astronautica, the peer-reviewed scientific journal of the International Academy of Astronautics. He is retired.
Daniel S. Welytok, U.W. 1986, presented “Estate Planning Considerations in Divorce” at the 2015 National CLE Conference in Vail, Colo. He is a shareholder in the Milwaukee office of von Briesen & Roper S.C.
Awards, Degrees, Honors
R. James Amaro, U.W. 2002, was inducted into The National Trial Lawyers: Top 40 under 40. He is with Amaro Law Firm, Houston, Texas.
Ryan Kautzer, Drake 2005, was honored by the Sheboygan County Bar for coordinating the legal clinic hosted by the Salvation Army. He is with Hawley, Kaufman & Kautzer SC, Random Lake.
Chad A. Kreblin, University of Denver 2001, has received board certification as a civil trial advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Kreblin is with the Milwaukee office of Hupy and Abraham S.C. and also is licensed to practice in Iowa.
Pro Bono, Public Service
Emily L. Foster, Michigan 2006, and Jeff Vercauteren, Notre Dame 2008, of Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C., Madison, inspired 18 of the firm’s employees to donate $1,800 and some of their time to Briarpatch Youth Services Inc., Madison, which serves the region’s runaway, homeless, and at-risk youth. The firm, as part of its Whyte Lights program, makes $100 available to each of its more than 280 employees to use to assist others in need.
Retirements
The Hon. Richard S. Brown, U.W. 1971, is retiring August 1 as Chief Judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals. Brown has served as an appellate judge since 1978.
In Memoriam
Robert W. Boncher, Marquette 1952, Crossville, Tenn., Jan. 8, 1929 – Jan. 7, 2015.
Jeffrey A. Cooper, California Western 1984, Milwaukee, Dec. 27, 1957 – Aug. 15, 2014.
Arnold J. Ericsen, Harvard 1949, Wauwatosa, May 13, 1923 – Dec. 27, 2014.
Frank J. Feil Jr., U.W. 1952, Racine, Sept. 17, 1926 – March 11, 2014.
Hans O. Helland, U.W. 1949, Wisconsin Dells, Aug. 3, 1921 – Jan. 4, 2015.
George A. Kapke, U.W. 1955, Brookfield, April 1, 1930 – Nov. 17, 2014.
Lee H. Karlin, U.W. 1984, Washington, D.C., Jan. 19, 1958 – Jan. 9, 2015.
James P. Kubisiak, U.W. 1964, Wisconsin Rapids, Feb. 6, 1937 – March 24, 2007.
Eugene C. Lippert, U.W. 1960, Ocala, Fla., Aug. 4, 1930 – Dec. 19, 2014.
Patrick J. Murphy, Indiana-Bloomington 1990, Green Bay, Dec. 27, 1963 – Dec. 29, 2014.
Robert J. O’Connell, Georgetown 1956, Evanston, Ill., Aug. 20, 1927 – Feb. 12, 2014.
Torger G. Omdahl, Tulane 1973, Iron River, Mich., Jan. 28, 1947 – Dec. 16, 2014.
Geoffrey A. Sparks, Thomas M. Cooley 1991, Marinette, June 28, 1964 – Dec. 20, 2014.
Ray A. Sundet, U.W. 1950, La Crosse, March 4, 1924 – Dec. 26, 2014.
Elizabeth L. Walker, Hamline 2000, Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone, United Arab Emirates, March 4, 1973 – Jan. 2, 2015.
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. Talks, speeches (unless they are of national stature), honors from other publications, and political announcements are not accepted. Notices about State Bar members in good standing are printed as space is available, and at no cost, must be submitted in writing, and may be edited. Questions: (608) 250-6139.
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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. Email to: MembersOnly@wisbar.org. Include your State Bar membership number.
