In the News

Ross L. Kodner, Marquette 1986, was named 1998 Legal Technology Consultant of the Year by the Technolawyer Community, an online discussion group. Kodner was reappointed to a second term as chair of the ABA Law Practice Management Section's Computer & Technology Division, and a third term on the Executive Planning Board for the ABA TECHSHOW 2000 legal technology conference. He is on the editorial board of the ABA General Practice/Solo and Small Firm Section's Technology in Practice Guide magazine, and is coauthor of an online legal technology column at the Corel Legal web pages called "Law Talk: Legal Technology for Everyone." Kodner is legal technology consultant for Milwaukee's MicroLaw Inc.

Dennis C. Mahoney, U.W. 1967, has been awarded the new Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV) designation by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). The ABV designation, established in 1996 by the AICPA, is the premier credential recognizing CPAs with extensive professional experience in business valuation.

Jeffrey S. Krause, Marquette 1996, also a MicroLaw legal technology consultant, now is writing a regular legal technology column for the Milwaukee Young Lawyer's Association newsletter.

Ely A. Leichtling, Virginia 1979, has been included in the eighth edition of the Best Lawyers in America (1999-2000). He practices labor and employment law as a partner in the Milwaukee office of Quarles & Brady LLP. He has just completed a two-year term as chair of the Milwaukee Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Section, and continues to chair the Industry Liaison Group with the U.S. Department of Labor's office of federal contract compliance programs.

Quarles & Brady LLP presented Gov. Tommy G. Thompson with the Quarles & Brady Real Estate Excellence Award on April 14 at the Pfister Hotel, Milwaukee. The award was presented at Quarles & Brady's annual seminar for Milwaukee-area real estate professionals. Accepting the award on behalf of the governor was Fritz Ruf, executive director of the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority. John W. Daniels Jr., Quarles & Brady partner and president-elect of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, presented the award.

David P. Weller, U.W. 1997, with the Fox Valley Client Service Center (FVCSC) of Clifton Gunderson LLC, Certified Public Accountants and Consultants, recently passed the CPA examination. The FVCSC is located in Oshkosh and Green Bay. Weller concentrates in estate planning, marital property agreements, and taxation of estates, trusts, and gifts. He joined the FVCSC in 1997.

Joseph N. Ziebert, U.W. 1991 with honors, and Walter E. Zimmerman, U.W. 1990 with honors, of Foley & Lardner's Milwaukee office have received the intellectual property department's Founder's Award in recognition of their work on behalf of clients and the firm. The award recognizes Edwin Wiley whose vision and determination led to the founding of Foley & Lardner's intellectual property department 16 years ago. Ziebert practices in the electronics practice group and has an extensive technical background in electrical and electronic engineering. Zimmerman practices in the consumer and industrial products practice group counseling clients on intellectual property issues and participating in litigation involving intellectual property.

The American Board of Trial Advocates-Wisconsin Chapter has elected the following officers: president - Charles F. Stierman, Milwaukee; president-elect - John C. Mitby, Madison; and secretary/treasurer - J. Michael End, Milwaukee.

David L. Borowski, Marquette 1991, has been appointed to a two-year term on the City of Milwaukee Administrative Review Appeals Board by City Attorney Grant Langley. Borowski has moved his office to 731 N. Jackson St., Suite 824, Milwaukee.

Charles P. Stevens, Marquette 1981, a labor and employment relations partner in the Milwaukee office of Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, was named president of the Greater Milwaukee Employee Benefits Council. He focuses his practice on employment relations matters. Stevens also serves as a director of the Human Resources Management Association of Southeastern Wisconsin and is a member of the Milwaukee and ABA employee benefits committees.

The Douglas County Bar Association has elected the following officers: president - Boad S. Swanson; vice president - Kyle H. Torvinen; and secretary/treasurer - Paul W. Baxter.

Truman Q. McNulty, Marquette 1948, of Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C., Milwaukee, has been reappointed as a commissioner to the ABA Commission on the Legal Problems of the Elderly, Washington, D.C., by ABA President Philip S. Anderson.

Burton F. Natarus, U.W. 1960, was reelected alderman, 42nd Ward, representing downtown Chicago, for his eighth consecutive four-year term. He is currently serving as the city council chair of the Committee on Traffic and Safety. In the past Natarus has served as finance chair and floor leader. He also is a commissioner of the Chicago Plan Commission.

Terry F. Peppard, U.W. 1973, has been elected a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, an association of international commercial arbitrators headquartered in London. Fellowship is the highest level of membership granted by the Institute, which has members in 84 countries. Peppard practices as an arbitrator and mediator from his office in Madison.

Gregory A. Peterson, U.W. 1973, has been elected to the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District 3. He has been a circuit court judge in Eau Claire county since 1983 and is chief judge of 13 counties comprising the 10th Judicial Administrative District.

Amy R. Seibel, a partner with Weiss, Berzowski, Brady & Donahue LLP, Milwaukee, has been elected chair of the board of directors of the State Bar of Wisconsin's Tax Section. Seibel, who also is a CPA, practices business and corporate law, income tax planning, and property tax controversies.

The Hon. Diane Townsend-Anderson, Hamline 1978, has been appointed hearing office chief administrative law judge (ALJ) for the Minnesota Office of Hearings and Appeals. She is the first woman to hold this office in Minnesota. She previously was a Federal ALJ in Chicago and a state ALJ in Minnesota. Chief Judge Townsend-Anderson will be responsible for implementing the new hearing processes for the Minnesota office of 10 judges.

The Wisconsin Hispanic Lawyers Association Inc. has elected the following officers: president - Pedro Colon; president-elect - Margaret Aguayo Asterlin; treasurer - Nelida Cortes; secretary - Ana Berrios; board members - Rosa Barillas, Andrew Chevrez, Ed Fallone, Jorge Gomez, and Israel Ramon.

Emile H. Banks Jr., Ohio Northern 1984, formerly a shareholder of the Milwaukee law firm of Kasdorf, Lewis & Swietlik S.C., has formed the law firm of Emile Banks & Associates LLC, concentrating on insurance defense, employment law, products liability, and personal injury.

Thomas P. Herzog, Marquette 1994, recently launched Herzog Law Offices, at P.O. Box 1, Elm Grove. He will continue to practice primarily in real estate law, business law, personal injury, and commercial litigation.

Clifford & Reuter S.C. has changed its name to Clifford & Raihala S.C. John W. Raihala, Michigan 1989, has become a shareholder in the firm, which continues its practice in personal injury, commercial and general civil litigation, family law, and general practice.

Dorothy Ann Case, Marquette 1985, has merged her practice with the Milwaukee law firm of Heuer, Byrne & Rosenbaum, S.C. The new firm of Heuer, Byrne & Case S.C. is located at 231 W. Wisconsin Ave., Suite 1010, Milwaukee.

Kimberly A. Hurtado, Marquette 1988, has formed Hurtado S.C., Brookfield, concentrating in construction and project development law. She previously was a partner heading Michael Best & Friedrich, LLP's Construction Focus Group. Hurtado chairs the Contract Negotiations Division of the ABA Forum on the Construction Industry and is a member of the Associated General Contractors of America's Contract Documents Committee.

Christopher M. Lummis, Vermont Law School 1996, has established the Law Offices of Christopher M. Lummis in Stevens Point. It is a general practice law office with concentrations in criminal, family, and environmental law.

Elizabeth J. Nevitt, U. of Oklahoma 1992, has opened the Law Office of Elizabeth J. Nevitt at 200 E. Washington St., Appleton. The practice emphasizes family law issues including divorce, placement, post-divorce, adoption, guardianship, and elderly planning.

Kathleen C. Panak, Marquette 1998, and Dena L. Hunt, Marquette 1998, have opened Panak & Hunt Law Offices LLP at the Pettibone Mansion, 2051 W. Wisconsin Ave., Suite A, Milwaukee. They will practice in residential real estate, personal injury, worker's compensation, child support, and other civil litigation matters.

Steven J. Schaefer, U.W. 1977, has relocated Schaefer Law Office to Butler Plaza, 15 N. Butler St., Suite 404, Madison. Schaefer's practice emphasizes employment discrimination litigation, personal injury, and contract litigation.

Allen D. Reuter, U.W. 1983, and Barbara O. Whitish, U.W. 1984, have established Reuter & Whitish S.C. at 44 E. Mifflin St., Suite 306, Madison. William S. Cole, U.W. 1990, joins as an associate. The firm provides a broad range of legal services with emphasis in civil litigation, family, municipal, personal injury, and criminal law.

Sweeney & Sweeney S.C. has relocated to 2 Science Court, Madison.

Ritz & Caflisch S.C., Madison, has relocated to Butler Plaza, 15 N. Butler St., Suite 400. The firm handles business matters and real estate transactions for individuals, business entities, and their owners.

Aaron Edward Alt, Harvard 1997, has joined Kirkland & Ellis International in London, England. He practices private equity, securities, and corporate law, with an emphasis on cross-border mergers and acquisitions.

Jeffrey E. Altshul, Drake 1981, has joined Sachnoff & Weaver Ltd. as of counsel in the Financial Services Team. He was previously vice president and senior attorney at Sanwa Business Credit Corporation.

Trina R. Chernos, William Mitchell 1996, and Daniel M. Tjornehoj, William Mitchell 1988, have joined Bakke Norman S.C. as associates in the New Richmond office. Chernos practices in employment and municipal law. Tjornehoj practices in probate, estate planning, and transactional matters. He was formerly in private practice in Hudson.

Jaen Andrews, Ph.D., U.W. 1996, has joined the intellectual property practice group of Boardman, Suhr, Curry & Field LLP, Madison, as a patent attorney. Andrews was a research scientist in biotechnology and a patent agent before entering law school. Andrews previously practiced intellectual property in the Madison office of Foley & Lardner.

Thomas G. Travers, U.W. 1965, Irwin L. Kass, Chicago-Kent 1976, Gary L. Antoniewicz, U.W. 1978, Robert E. Gregg, West Virginia 1978, Peter M. Garson, Marquette 1988, Christopher J. Dodge, U.W. 1990, and Bruce Gillman, U.W. 1957, joined Boardman, Suhr, Curry & Field LLP, Madison. All were previously with Tomlinson, Gillman & Travers S.C. Travers has joined the firm as a partner and will practice in business planning, estate planning, and tax planning. Kass will practice in litigation, fidelity-surety, insurance defense, and business litigation. Antoniewicz will practice franchise and dealership law, contracts, and consumer credit. Gregg will practice employment law. Garson will practice in corporate and business planning, real estate, probate and estate planning, and taxation. Dodge will practice in real estate, litigation, dealership, and worker's compensation. Gillman will practice in fidelity-surety, construction, and appellate advocacy.

Kendall W. Harrison, U.W. 1995, and Mike B. Wittenwyler, U.W. 1995, have joined LaFollette Simykin, LLP as associates. Harrison previously served as a court counsel to the Supreme Court of the Republic of Palau. His practice focuses on civil litigation. Wittenwyler formerly served as campaign manager for Sen. Feingold's 1998 reelection bid. He concentrates his practice in insurance, bankruptcy, and real estate.

Joseph W. Byrne, U.W. 1997 cum laude, has joined the intellecutal property practice group of Boardman, Suhr, Curry & Field LLP, Madison, as a patent attorney. Byrne holds an M.S. in electrical engineering from the U.W. -Madison. He previously was employed by General Electric Medical Systems in Waukesha as a design engineer.

Daniel J. Rasmussen, Gonzaga 1993, has joined Central Illinois Bancorp Inc., headquartered in Pewaukee, as senior attorney. Donald J. Straka, Creighton 1987, continues as general counsel and senior vice president, and Kevin P. Sullivan, Illinois 1981, continues as assistant general counsel.

Mary Therese Crouse, Indiana 1987, has been appointed counsel in the Global Medical and Regulatory Affairs Group of Lilly Research Laboratories Law. She recently returned from a three-year assignment as assistant general counsel at PCS Health Systems, a subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Company.

Joseph W. Weigel, Marquette 1960, has been named president of Eisenberg, Weigel, Carlson, Blau & Clemens S.C., Milwaukeee, a general practice firm. He served as vice president for nine years. David M. Blau, Marquette 1984, was named vice president and secretary and Chris Clemens, U.W. 1978, was named vice president and treasurer of Eisenberg, Weigel, Carlson, Blau & Clemens S.C., Milwaukee.

Christine Davies D'Angelo, U.W. 1999 cum laude, has joined D'Angelo & Jones LLP, a general practice firm in Waukesha county, practicing personal injury and family law.

Mark Gelhaus, U.W. 1989, has been appointed tax counsel with Briggs & Stratton Corp., Wauwatosa.

Jodie Leigh Grabarski, U.W. 1995, has joined Anastasi & Associates P.A., Stillwater, Minn., as an associate practicing in commercial banking, real estate, estate planning, and agricultural law. She formerly was with Gislason, Dosland, Hunter & Malecki, New Ulm, Minn., and Krekeler & Scheffer S.C., Madison.

Ernest W. Grumbles III, U.W. 1995, has joined the intellectual property practice group of Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP, Minneapolis. Grumbles previously was with Rider, Bennett, Egan & Arundel LLP.

Robert E. Hankel, U.W. 1974 with honors, has joined the firm of Knuteson, Powers & Wheeler S.C., Racine. Hankel will practice in business and general litigation, business law, real estate, and administrative proceedings. He previously worked at O'Connor & Willems S.C., Kenosha.

Elizabeth (Liza) Kessler, U.W. 1997, has joined the Center for Democracy & Technology in Washington, D.C., as staff counsel. Her primary focus is First Amendment and related civil liberties issues on the Internet.

Donald F. Kiesling Jr., Marquette 1997, has joined Wisconsin Gas Company practicing in corporate and environmental law. He previously practiced with Godfrey & Kahn, Milwaukee.

Tara K. Kleinhans, U.W. 1998, has joined the Wisconsin Association of School Boards' Madison office as a staff counsel, providing legal assistance to Wisconsin's public school employees in collective bargaining and labor relations.

Captain Aaron E. Kornblum USAF, U.W. 1996, has been assigned as the area defense counsel at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. He will provide independent representation of Air Force members facing military justice and other adverse actions.

Philip H. Lucht, U.W. 1991, has joined the Bruck Law Offices S.C. in Milwaukee as an associate concentrating in creditor rights law.

Jennifer Pflug Murphy, U.W. 1992, has been named a partner of Gonzalez, Saggio, Birdsall & Harlan LLP, Milwaukee. Murphy serves as counsel for complex real estate transactions, construction projects, and environmental matters.

Thomas A. Myers, Creighton 1978 magna cum laude, has joined Reinhart, Boerner, Van Deuren, Norris & Rieselbach S.C. as a shareholder in the business organizations department in Milwaukee. Myers formerly was a shareholder and member of the board of directors of Godfrey & Kahn S.C. Myers provides counsel with mergers and acquisitions, investment transactions with venture capital firms and leverage buy-outs, complex contract matters, and general corporate representation.

Gerald L. Fellows, Marquette 1992 cum laude, Christopher B. Austin, Marquette 1996, and Melinda Mann Mitchell, Marquette 1998 cum laude, have joined Michael Best & Friedrich LLP's Milwaukee office as associates in the intellectual property practice area. W. Dennis Drehkoff, Missouri 1972, has joined the firm in the Chicago office as a partner. Fellows will concentrate on patent, trademark, and copyright matters, including licensing and patent applications. Austin will focus in domestic and foreign patent prosecution in mechanical and electromechanical technologies. Mitchell will concentrate in trademark matters and intellectual property litigation.Drekhoff has experience advising clients and prosecuting and licensing patents in food technology, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, chemical processing, and medical products. He also litigates patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret matters.

Katja Kunzke, U.W. 1982, was promoted to vice president-claims at Wisconsin Lawyers Mutual Insurance Co. Kunzke joined WILMIC in 1989. The company provides professional liability insurance and risk management services to Wisconsin lawyers.

Laurie E. Peterson, Marquette 1998, has joined Borgelt, Powell, Peterson & Frauen S.C. as an associate. Peterson will practice insurance defense and labor and employment law.

Jeffrey A. Pitman, Marquette 1990, of Hausmann-McNally S.C., has been admitted to the Illinois bar and appointed to the board of directors of the Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers. He continues to be one of the WATL state delegates to the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Pitman practices in plaintiff personal injury.

Brian A. Price, Marquette 1990, has been named a partner of Gonzalez, Saggio, Birdsall & Harlan LLP, Milwaukee. Price represents employers in all aspects of equal opportunities and employment law.

Daniel R. Plane, Marquette 1996 cum laude, has joined Reinhart, Boerner, Van Deuren, Norris & Rieselbach S.C. as an associate in the firm's litigation department in the Madison office. He practices primarily in utilities law and general civil litigation. Plane formerly served as a trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice's Immigration and Naturalization Service in San Diego and Chicago. Jason E. Pauls, Marquette 1998 cum laude, has joined as an associate in the firm's intellectual property department in the Milwaukee office. He counsels clients in matters regarding all aspects of intellectual property including patent and trademark licensing and litigation.

John R. Shull Jr., Marquette 1998, has joined the Wausau law firm of Terwilliger, Wakeen, Piehler, & Conway S.C. as an associate in the litigation section concentrating in insurance defense. Shull previously was employed at Kasdorf, Lewis & Swietlik.

John J. Slein, Hamline 1984, has become a shareholder of Hale & Wagner S.C. His practice includes automobile and trucking negligence, insurance agency law, insurance disputes, real estate agency law, and personal injury law. Sline previously was with Hinshaw & Culbertson.

Catherine A. Thomas, Marquette 1985, has joined the law offices of John J. Spindler in Brookfield. Thomas continues to practice in worker's compensation. She formerly was with Krukowski & Costello S.C., Milwaukee.

Ralph "J.J." Vosskamp, U.W. 1998, has become an associate with the Facilitator Capital Fund, a private equity group in Madison. He will analyze prospective investments, handle regulatory compliance, and assist small businesses with financing and related matters.

Sandra J. Wagner, U.W. 1998, has joined the Manitowoc firm of Skyberg Law Offices as an associate working in all areas of general practice.

Robert Fletcher, Marquette 1998, has become a Waukesha County assistant district attorney after acting as a public service special prosecutor. Fletcher has been acting as a public service special prosecutor in the Waukesha County district attorney's office. He served as an intern in the office while attending law school.

Ralph Ramirez, U.W. 1984, has resigned his position in the district attorney's office to fill the position of circuit court judge, Branch 3, Juvenile Division. Ramirez has been an assistant district attorney for more than 15 years, having served as team captain, and handled all sexual predator cases within the office.

Sue E. Weiske, U.W. 1984, has been promoted to shareholder and director with Fraser Stryker Vaughn Meusey Olson Boyer & Bloch in the Denver office. Previously Weiske was in-house counsel for Time Warner Telecommunication. Weiske practices in telecommunication.

Joseph W. Boucher, Neider & Boucher S.C., Madison, Robert M. Fahrenbach, Ernst & Young LLP, Milwaukee and Chicago, Leonard S. Sosnowski, Foley & Lardner, Madison, Steven R. Battenberg, Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, Milwaukee, Debra Sadow Koenig, Godfrey & Kahn S.C., Milwaukee; Marcus S. Loden, Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C., Madison, Bret A. Roge, Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, Milwaukee, and William R. West, von Briesen, Purtell & Roper S.C., Milwaukee, are authors of LLCs and LLPs: A Wisconsin Handbook, recently published by the State Bar of Wisconsin CLE Books. LLPs and LLCs is a revised edition of the Wisconsin Limited Liability Company Handbook.

Carlton D. Stansbury, Iowa 1990 with distinction, spoke at the ABA family law section's spring meeting in Miami on "Good Fortune Trusts: Boon or Boondoggle?" He is the cochair of the section's publications development board, and sits on the section's council. Stansbury is a shareholder in Burbach & Stansbury S.C., Milwaukee, concentrating in family law.

Alan Marcuvitz, Marquette 1957, Robert Gordon, U.W. 1975, and Andrea Roschke, U.W. 1982, all of Weiss, Berzowski, Brady & Donahue LLP were faculty members for the U.W. Law School's May 21 seminar "Property Tax Issues for the New Millennium." Marcuvitz and Roschke co-presented "Current Issues Involving Fair Market Valuations," and Gordon presented "Current Issues Involving Wisconsin Property Tax Exemptions."

David S. Branch, Yale 1972, Boston, Mass., Nov. 29, 1945 - March 19, 1999.

Arnold J. Gazinski, Marquette 1953, Pewaukee, Jan. 21, 1922 - April 24, 1999.

Roger J. Karius, Marquette 1959, Greenfield, Nov. 1, 1930 - March 27, 1999.

Daniel C. Shea, Marquette 1939, Wauwatosa, Feb. 18, 1916 - March 5, 1999.