In the News

New Hires, Promotions, Partners

J. Aaron Ball, American University-Washington 1997, has joined Horwood, Marcus & Berk Chartered, Chicago. Ball is involved in business planning and transactional work for corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies.

John M. Christenson, U.W. 1995, and Mark H.T. Fuhrman, U.W. 1993, have been named directors of Bell, Gierhart & Moore S.C., Madison. Christenson concentrates on bankruptcy and business law. Fuhrman concentrates on estate planning, business law, and real property.

Lawrence Bensky, U.W. 1983 cum laude, has joined Stafford Rosenbaum LLP, Madison and Sun Prairie. Bensky practices in employment law and civil and criminal litigation.

Julie A. Zavoral, U.W. 1994, has joined Boyle Fredrickson Ziolkowski S.C., Milwaukee, as an associate. She has a masters degree in electrical engineering and previously practiced patent law at Quad-Graphics and Michael, Best & Friedrich.

Jennifer R. Dorow, Regent University 1996, has joined the Waukesha County district attorney's office as an assistant district attorney in the juvenile division. Dorow previously was with Fuchs, Snow, DeStafanis S.C.

Thomas W. Henshue, U.W. 1991 cum laude, and Antonina Prestigiacomo have been elected partners in Foley & Lardner's Madison office. Henshue focuses on mergers and acquisitions, venture capital and equity financing, technology and licensing, and general business law. He previously was a law clerk for Justice William G. Callow. Prestigiacomo focuses on financial transactions, especially franchise financing. She previously was with Sanwa Business Credit Corporation, Chicago. The following have been elected partner in the firm's Milwaukee office: Dr. Brian P. Akers, Stanford 1991, G. Michael Halfenger, Chicago 1991 with honors, Mary Ann C. Halloin, Northwestern 1991, and Thomas E. Hartman, U.W. 1991 cum laude, all of the business law department; Rachelle R. Hart, U.W. 1989 cum laude, in the health law department; Adam J. Wiensch, Georgetown 1991 magna cum laude, in the tax and individual planning department; Joseph N. Ziebert, U.W. 1991 with honors, and Walter E. Zimmerman, U.W. 1990 cum laude, in the intellectual property department. Akers is board certified in internal medicine and focuses his practice on intellectual property litigation, product liability defense, corporate personal injury defense, and insurance litigation. Halfenger is a member of the antitrust, appellate, and intellectual property practice groups, and Halloin practices in energy and infrastructure finance, acquisition, and development. Hartman focuses on public and private equity and debt financing, acquisitions, dispositions, corporate restructurings and recapitalizations, federal and state securities law compliance, and general business law. Hart represents health systems, hospitals, medical clinics, physicians, nursing homes, and other health care providers in corporate, regulatory, and contractual matters. Wiensch, in the estates and trusts and executive compensation practice groups, concentrates on estate and business succession planning, executive compensation and life insurance planning, estate and trust administration and litigation, marital property law, charitable giving, and pre- and post-nuptial agreements. Ziebert practices in the electronics practice group. Zimmerman focuses on intellectual property law issues, and litigation involving patents and trade secrets.

Vernon W. Francissen, U.W. 1995, has been elected partner in McDonnell, Boehnen, Hulbert & Berghoff, a Chicago intellectual property firm. He is a patent attorney focusing on the protection of advanced technology for electronics, software, and communications.

James B. Gehrke, Marquette 1995, has joined the staff of Sen. Mary A. Lazich, Senate District 28. Gehrke previously was with National Right to Life, Washington, D.C.

Lydie Arthos Hudson, Michigan 1986, has joined Lathrop & Clark LLP, Madison, practicing in copyright and trademark law.

Christopher E. Rogers, U.W. 1995, and Christine D. Esser, Drake 1994, have joined Habush, Habush, Davis & Rottier S.C. as associates. Rogers will practice out of the Lake Geneva and Racine offices, and Esser will practice out of the Milwaukee office.

John P. Higgins, U.W. 1977, has been named the governmental affairs director for the Racine Board of Realtors Inc. and the Kenosha Realtors Association Inc. Higgins previously was counsel in the Milwaukee legal office of Employers Insurance of Wausau.

Heidi D. Kuster, Loyola 1998 cum laude, has joined Liebmann, Conway, Olejniczak & Jerry S.C., Green Bay, as an associate focusing in litigation.

Maria S. Lazar, Georgetown 1989, has been named shareholder in Galanis, Pollack & Jacobs S.C., Milwaukee, practicing in commercial litigation.

Douglas G. Lemke, Marquette 1996 cum laude, has joined Brown & Bain P.A., Tucson, as an associate focusing on real estate transactions, municipal law, land use planning and development, and corporate and business transactions.

Earl H. Munson, U.W. 1959, has joined Boardman Law Firm LLP, Madison, as a partner practicing in trial law and complex litigation. Munson is listed in The Best Lawyers in America - Business Litigation.

Bryan K. Nowicki, U.W. 1997 cum laude, has joined Liebmann, Conway, Olejniczak & Jerry S.C., Green Bay, as an associate practicing primarily in corporate law.

Todd Podell, Marquette 1993, has joined Palm Inc., Santa Clara, Calif., as a global commodity manager, responsible for negotiating contracts.

James T. Prosser, U.W. 1986, has joined Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company, Neenah, as general counsel. He previously was in private practice also in Neenah.

Shawn Raiter, William Mitchell 1993, has become a partner in Larson o King LLP, St. Paul, Minn. Raiter practices primarily in mass tort, product liability, and medical malpractice defense.

Edward E. Robinsin, U.W. 1995, has joined Cannon & Dunphy S.C., practicing plaintiff personal injury law in the firm's Brookfield office.

William L. Stroik, Marquette 1984, and Elizabeth J. Nevitt, Oklahoma 1992 cum laude, have joined Silton, Seifert, Carlson & Gamble S.C., Appleton, as associates. Stroik will practice in estate planning, probate, real estate, and business law. Nevitt will practice in divorce and family law and guardianship law.

Robert W. Stack, Tennessee 1996, has joined Reitz & Mandelman LLC, Milwaukee, as an associate practicing in family law, worker's compensation, small business law, and general civil litigation. Stack previously was with the Racine County child support department.

Paul T. Van Den Heuvel, Marquette 1998 cum laude, has been promoted to staff attorney II for United Wisconsin Services Inc. He focuses his practice on information technology and real estate transactions and provides legal counsel for United Wisconsin and its affiliate, Blue Cross & Blue Shield United of Wisconsin.

Amy Klemm Verbos, U.W. 1984 cum laude, has been made general counsel of V.K. Development Corporation, Brookfield, a real estate developer. She previously was a shareholder of Davis & Kuelthau S.C., Milwaukee.

Von Briesen, Purtell & Roper S.C., Milwaukee, has added the following attorneys. Kalisa B. Barratt, Vermont 1994, and Leslye Herrmann, Chicago 1992, join the health care practice group. Barratt practices in medical staff, corporate compliance, fraud, and abuse. She previously was associate general counsel for the State Medical Society of Wisconsin. Herrmann practices in Medicare compliance. Terri Boxer, U.W. 1982, joins the estate planning and probate section, advising clients on tax planning and business succession planning. Karen E. Geiger, Marquette 1999, joins the compensation and benefits section, advising clients on ERISA compliance for health and welfare and qualified and nonqualified plan design and administration. David A. Westrup, Michigan 1989, joins the banking, bankruptcy, and business litigation section, concentrating in antitrust litigation and counseling.

Peter M. Koneazny, New York 1983, and Jefren E. Olsen, U.W. 1988 cum laude, have joined the Wisconsin State Public Defender Office as assistant public defenders, Koneazny in the Milwaukee appellate office and Olsen in the Madison appellate office. Koneazny previously was with the ACLU of Wisconsin Foundation and the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee. Olsen previously was a New Hampshire public defender and a legislative attorney with the Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau.

Margaret G. Zickuhr, Marquette 1999, has joined Dubin & Balistreri, Ltd., Milwaukee, as an associate. She will practice in litigation, personal injury, family, and criminal law. Zickuhr previously worked in private practice in Lake Geneva.

Appointments, Elections

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

James L. Brown, U.W. 1972, director of the Center for Consumer Affairs, U.W.-Milwaukee, has been elected to a three-year term on the board of overseers for the Institute for Civil Justice of the Rand Corporation, Santa Monica, Calif. He also was elected a fellow of the American College of Consumer Financial Services Lawyers.

Robert O. Burr, Marquette 1996, has been elected vice president of the Hendry-Glades, Florida Bar Association.

Dominic H. Frinzi, Marquette 1951, has been appointed consular correspondent to Enrico Granara, Italian consul general of Chicago. Frinzi also has been included in the second edition of Who's Who Among Italian Americans, published by the National Italian American Foundation.

Elizabeth L. Gracie, U.W. 1983, has been named vice chair of the National Center on Poverty Law (NCPL). She has served on the board of directors and as chair of its development committee since 1999. The NCPL (formerly the National Clearinghouse for Legal Services) is the nation's most comprehensive center for research, analysis, advocacy, and litigation on matters affecting those who live in poverty. Gracie is a partner at O'Keefe Ashenden Lyons & Ward, Chicago. She also is vice chair of Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital and Care Network.

The Justinian Society of Lawyers, Wisconsin Chapter, an affiliate of the National Italian American Bar Association, has elected these officers: president - Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge John J. DiMotto; president-elect - Milwaukee County Court Commissioner Anthony J. Machi; treasurer - David R. Saggio; and secretary - Shannon C. Schmidt, all of Milwaukee.

Bob Kanuit, a partner in Maki, Durst, Ledin, Bick, Lehr & Kanuit S.C., Superior, has been appointed as a Chapter 7 bankruptcy trustee for the District of Minnesota, Duluth Division. Kanuit also practices estate planning, business law, real estate law, and personal injury law in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Truman Q. McNulty, Whyte Hirschboek Dudek S.C., Milwaukee, has been appointed to the American Bar Association Continuing Education of the Bar Committee. The committee organizes, coordinates, and implements CLE activities sponsored by the ABA or any of its entities, and supervises the activities of the ABA Center for Continuing Legal Education.

Awards, Degrees, Honors

Jeffrey A. Pitman, Marquette 1990, has been certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy as a civil trial advocate. Pitman is with Pitman & Kyle S.C., Milwaukee, practicing in plaintiff personal injury law in Wisconsin and Illinois.

Mergers, Relocations, New Associations

Amelia Ramirez, U.W. 1985, and Michael J. Edmonds, U.W. 1985, have formed Ramirez & Edmonds LLC, at 740 N. Plankinton Ave., Suite 530, Milwaukee. The general practice firm has concentrations in consumer bankruptcy, criminal defense, immigration, and business litigation. Ramirez formerly was a staff attorney for the Department of Justice, Office of the U.S. Trustee for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.

Charles B. Palmer, Marquette 1990, and John D. Finerty Jr., Marquette 1992, have formed Palmer & Finerty S.C., 20800 Swenson Dr., Suite 425, Waukesha, a labor and employment law firm serving small and middle market businesses.

Davis & Kuelthau S.C. has opened an Oshkosh office with three attorneys and has added two attorneys to its Green Bay office. Shareholders Edward J. Williams, Louisville 1974, and James R. Macy, U.W. 1982, and associate Tony J. Renning, Marquette 1997, staff the Oshkosh office. All have joined the firm from Godfrey & Kahn S.C. The Oshkosh office is at 219 Washington Ave. Dennis W. Rader, U.W. 1975, and Robert W. Burns, Willamette 1980, have joined the Green Bay office as shareholders. Both were formerly with Godfrey & Kahn S.C. Shareholder Robert J. Simandl, Marquette 1987, and associate Mary S. Gerbig, Marquette 1994, continue residence in the Green Bay office.

Robert R. Henak, N.Y.U. 1982, has opened Henak Law Office S.C. at 1223 N. Prospect Ave., Milwaukee. He will continue focusing on state and federal criminal appeals and federal sentencing guidelines. He previously practiced with Shellow, Shellow & Glynn S.C.

The Great Lakes Law Network (GLL), created by von Briesen, Purtell & Roper S.C., Milwaukee, and Walter & Haverfield, Cleveland, has added Chuhak & Tecson P.C., Chicago. GLL, comprised of independent, mid-sized law firms, provides clients with one-stop legal shopping.

Thomas R. Thibodeau, Minnesota 1967, David M. Johnson, Minnesota 1992, Jerome D. Feriancek, William Mitchell 1993, and Timothy Costley have opened Thibodeau, Johnson, Feriancek & Costley PLLP, at 800 Lonsdale Bldg., 302 W. Superior St., Duluth, Minn. All formerly were with Johnson, Killen, Thibodeau & Seiler PA, also in Duluth.

Electronic Resources

Family Law Update, a free email service for lawyers, accountants, therapists, and others interested in family law issues, has been launched by Loeb & Herman S.C., Milwaukee. Subscribers will receive periodic updates on family law issues, including recent court decisions, news items, legislation, and articles in national publications. To subscribe go online, or send an email.

Retirements

Assistant Attorney General James C. McKay Jr., U.W. 1963, has retired from the Department of Justice after 27 years. He served as a criminal prosecutor in the criminal litigation unit, director of the Medicaid fraud control unit, and a criminal prosecutor and civil enforce-ment litigator in the environmental protection unit. He previously was a Dane County assistant district attorney and in private practice in Superior with his father.

In Memoriam

Ervin L. Doepke, U.W. 1960, Beaver Dam, May 27, 1932 - 2000.

James C. Herrick, U.W. 1943, Oregon, March 12, 1918 - Feb. 19, 2000.

Morgan L. Midthun, U.W. 1949, Wisconsin Rapids, Oct. 13, 1921 - Feb. 25, 2000.

Andrew S. Zieve, U.W. 1978, Brookfield, Nov. 24, 1949 - Jan. 2, 2000.

Wisconsin Lawyer