New Hires, Promotions, Partners

T. Alexander Dee (“Alek”), U.W. 2024, has joined The Law Center S.C., Madison, and practices with the life and estate planning, real estate transactions, and business law teams. Dee has a particular interest in serving LGBTQ+ clients, and military and law enforcement families, in their life and estate planning needs.

Jeremy DeLong, Nevada 2023, has joined Fox, O’Neill & Shannon S.C., Milwaukee, as an associate in the business and transactional practice group. DeLong most recently served as law clerk to the chief judge in Nevada’s Eighth Judicial District Court in Las Vegas. Among DeLong’s other legal experiences was his work as a legal and regulatory affairs intern for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he drafted contractual documents related to the organization’s performers.

Anissa L. Garcia, Marquette 2025, and Elizabeth A. Karkula, DePaul 1987, have joined Gardiner Koch Weisberg & Wrona in the Lake Geneva office. Karkula formerly was a judge and is licensed to practice in both Wisconsin and Illinois.

Megan Kerscher-Walsh, Loyola Chicago 2025, has joined HKK Law Offices, where she leads the firm’s estate planning practice. While HKK Law Offices is well known for its work in family law, Kerscher-Walsh expands its services by offering comprehensive estate planning to clients.

Edward J. Minser, U.W. 2012, has joined Bell, Moore & Richter S.C., Madison, as an associate. He focuses his practice on insurance defense, the defense of medical professionals, and municipal defense.

Several attorneys have joined von Briesen & Roper s.c. Andrew P. Brusky, U.W. 1993, Payton L. Rahn, Marquette 2025 cum laude, and Mackenzie L. Retzlaff, Marquette 2025, practice from the Milwaukee office. Brusky is a shareholder in the Trusts and Estates Section and focuses on elder and special needs law, estate planning, probate, and trust administration. Rahn is an associate in the Labor & Employment, Government, and School Law Sections, assisting private employers and governmental entities on a wide range of employment matters. Retzlaff is an associate in the Litigation and Risk Management Practice Group and focuses on commercial and business litigation, including shareholder disputes, breach-of-contract matters, business torts, and real estate and construction litigation.

Jack G. Lemkuil, Minnesota 2023, is a member of the Business and Corporate and Trusts and Estates Sections in the Madison and Green Bay offices and focuses on corporate and estate planning matters, including estate planning, estate administration, succession planning, transactions, and real estate. Jarrod J. Papendorf, Valparaiso 1993, is a shareholder in the Litigation and Risk Management Practice Group in the Neenah office and assists clients in a wide range of areas, including business, employment, real estate, personal injury, and family law.

Mergers, Relocations, New Firms

Wisconsin-based Corneille Law Group LLC has merged with Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice LLC, effective Oct. 1, 2025. The combined firm operates under the Baker Sterchi name and adds offices in Madison and Green Bay, Wisconsin, to its existing locations in Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, Washington, and Oregon. Mark Budzinski, U.W. 2000, formerly managing partner of Corneille’s Wisconsin offices, joins Baker Sterchi as an equity member, along with six additional attorneys. Budzinski has tried more than 70 jury cases to verdict and litigated hundreds of matters in state and federal courts across Wisconsin. His practice includes catastrophic injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice, contract disputes, and other high-exposure claims. He is board certified in trial advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

Michael Best and Allen Vellone Wolf Helfrich & Factor P.C., a Denver-based firm with deep expertise in litigation and bankruptcy law, have combined effective Oct. 1, 2025. The combination marks a milestone in Michael Best’s continued expansion in the Denver legal market and strengthens the firm’s national litigation and bankruptcy capabilities. Through the combination, Michael Best welcomes 26 professionals from Allen Vellone, including seven partners, eight attorneys, and 11 professional staff members.

Michael Best also has been selected as the founding legal and venture partner of the Kenosha Innovation Center (KIC), the flagship hub of the Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood (KIN), which opened Oct. 1, 2025. Michael Best will embed its intellectual property, corporate, and venture expertise directly into KIN’s rapidly growing innovation ecosystem. The KIC is designed to accelerate startups and technology-driven enterprises, providing state-of-the-art workspace, curated programming, mentorship, and investor connections. Through this partnership, Michael Best will deliver a suite of services to KIC members, including regular office hours, educational workshops and programming, roundtable sessions, and more. The firm will also play a leading role in KICstart services, such as pitch competitions, boot camps, and mentorship programs.

Appointments, Elections

Kristi Baker, Hamline 2014, has been promoted to officer and to the management team at The Law Center S.C., Madison. First as a volunteer and foster parent, and then as an attorney, Baker has advocated for children in challenging circumstances. She focuses on providing permanency and support to children and is a compassionate and loud voice for children in special education and expulsion matters, guardianships, guardian ad litem appointments, foster parent and grandparent rights cases, termination-of-parental-rights and adoption matters, voluntary CHIPS matters, and divorce and paternity. She especially enjoys assisting clients of transgender experience with name changes and gender marker corrections.

James Casey, Dayton 1988, has been elected to serve on the ABA Board of Elections. He is the academic community leader and founding adjunct associate professor in the M.S. in Research Administration and Compliance program at the City University of New York.

Kristi Nelson Foy, Duke 2004, has been named co-chair of the Pay Equity Practice Group with Ogletree Deakins, a labor and employment law firm. Foy is a shareholder in the Milwaukee office and leads a group known for its comprehensive approach to pay equity, from developing and refining compensation policies and conducting detailed pay audits to advising on the latest pay transparency issues and defending equal pay claims for some of the largest companies in the world. Before joining Ogletree in early 2025, she served as staff attorney and director of employee services for the Kettle Moraine School District for eight years.

Sarah Knutson, Marquette 2011, has been named managing partner of McCarty Law LLP. Knutson is the first woman in the firm’s 75-year history to hold the role. Knutson serves alongside current managing partner, Scott Barr, Hamline 1990, combining their expertise to drive the firm’s continued growth and success. Since joining McCarty Law in 2019, Knutson has concentrated her practice in corporate and business transactions, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions. Knutson advises clients buying or selling small family businesses or multimillion-dollar enterprises. Her background in commercial banking and business ownership helps her advocate for clients through every stage of buying or selling a business. She also practices in business succession planning, complex contract negotiations, corporate governance, and general business risk management.

Barr remains in his role as a managing partner and is an integral leader at the firm. Throughout his career, Barr has focused on business and corporate law, construction law, and real estate law. He has advised start-ups and facilitated multimillion-dollar construction projects.

Sara Vanden Brook, U.W. 2008, was appointed by the Honorable Mario White as a Supplemental Court Commissioner for the Dane County Circuit Court, Branch 7. She adds this work to her existing law practice at The Law Center S.C., Madison. Supplemental court commissioners in Wisconsin are appointed by judges to help the judges handle various judicial duties, such as conducting exams, issuing subpoenas, administering oaths, and taking testimony. They also officiate at wedding ceremonies. Vanden Brook’s practice at The Law Center focuses on surrogacy, divorce, and child custody, including guardian ad litem appointments and acting as a family law mediator.

Authors, Speakers

Jerry Grzeca, Marquette 1988, managing partner of Grzeca Law Group, Milwaukee, spoke at the American Immigration Lawyers Fall Conference on Sept. 12, 2025, in Boston, Mass. He served as a discussion panelist for “Leading with Purpose: Building a Value-Based Law Firm.”

In Memoriam

Donald S. Eisenberg, U.W. 1956, Orlando, Fla., April 24, 1933 – Sept. 2, 2025.

Donald J. Harman, U.W. 1960, La Crosse, Oct. 12, 1930 – Oct. 7, 2024.

Matthew H. Huppertz, Marquette 1982, Waukesha, Aug. 1, 1957 – Aug. 27, 2025.

David B. Lund, U.W. 1959, De Forest, Feb. 14, 1931 – Sept. 17, 2025.

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! Writing guidelines are available here. Questions? Email us or call (608) 250-6127.

Email announcements to: MembersOnly@wisbar.org. Notices about State Bar members in good standing are printed as space is available, and subject to editing.

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