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    Wisconsin Lawyer
    July 01, 2000

    Wisconsin Lawyer July 2000: In the News

    In the News

    New Hires, Promotions, Partners

    Todd J. Beatse, Marquette 2000, has joined Kachinsky & Petit Law Offices, Neenah, as an associate, concentrating in criminal and family law.

    Nicole L. Beran, Northern Illinois 1999 cum laude, has joined Hudec Law Offices S.C., East Troy, as an associate, practicing in civil litigation and family law. She is admitted to practice in Wisconsin and Illinois.

    Nicholas J. Bertha III, Marquette 1975, has joined the investment banking firm of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette in its Manhattan headquarters. A senior vice president, he helps the firm coordinate its investment banking and asset management activities. Bertha previously was with Salomon Smith Barney, New York City.

    Carrie E. Turner, Marquette 2000, and Brian M. Radloff, Marquette 2000, have joined the litigation practice at Bode, Carroll, McCoy, Hoefle & Mihal S.C., Waukesha.

    StantonRichard (Rick) M. Lavers, Michigan 1972, has been promoted to executive vice president of Coachmen Industries Inc., Elkhart, Ind. He previously served as general counsel and secretary. He also serves on the company's finance committee, manages the legal department, provides legal services to all Coachmen companies, and is general legal counsel to the company's officers and managers.

    Lou Ann Koval, U.W. 1990 cum laude, has joined the business and health care practice group at Cook & Franke S.C., Milwaukee, as a shareholder. Formerly with Beck, Chaet, Molony & Bamberger S.C. and Godrey & Kahn S.C., Koval will continue to represent physicians, health care providers, clinics, billing companies, nursing homes, and related organizations regarding a variety of legal issues. Linda V. Meagher, Marquette 1988, has joined the firm's civil litigation practice group. Previously a shareholder of Schellinger & Doyle S.C., Meagher practices primarily in the defense of mass tort litigation, common carrier liability, products liability issues, commercial litigation, professional liability, and insurance coverage.

    Ann M. Rieger, Marquette 1988, and Peter J. Ruud, U.W. 1978, have joined the Milwaukee office of Davis & Kuelthau s.c. Rieger is a shareholder in the corporate and business law section, practicing in estate planning, taxation, and nonprofit law. She formerly was a shareholder with Cook & Franke S.C. Ruud is of counsel, focusing on corporate and environmental matters including mergers and acquisitions, corporate financing, regulatory compliance, business and tax planning, and real estate. He formerly was senior vice president and corporate secretary for Superior Services Inc. and a shareholder with Davis & Kuelthau.

    Michael J. Dewberry, Marquette 1996, recently passed the California bar exam and has joined the firm of Bewley, Lassleben & Miller LLP, Whittier, Calif., practicing commercial litigation.

    Hon. Russell A. Eisenberg, Marquette 1961, has been elevated to the Chief Judge of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, effective June 1, 2000.

    J.P. Fernandes, Marquette 1997, has become a vice president and general counsel of the Carnahan Corp., a Milwaukee-based company in the real estate business. He formerly was with Steiner & Schoenfeld.

    Edward L. Filer, U.W. 1991, has joined Fagel & Haber in Chicago as a partner. Formerly a partner at Bollinger, Ruberry & Garvey, Filer will continue to work in construction, real estate, and general commercial litigation.

    Joseph T. Ganzer, U.W. 2000, has joined Hodan, Doster & Ganzer S.C., Milwaukee, as an associate, concentrating in general civil litigation.

    Jodie Leigh Grabarski, U.W. 1995, has joined Krass Monroe P.A., Minneapolis, as an associate practicing in the corporate and commercial finance and secured lending areas.

    Christensen

    Knott

    Kevin Christensen, U.W. 1990, and Douglas Knott, Iowa 1990, have become shareholders in Leib & Katt S.C., a Milwaukee firm concentrating in defense litigation for business, industry, and the professions. Christensen practices in civil litigation, including personal injury, premises liability, product liability, employment litigation, and medical malpractice. He is a member of the Civil Trial Counsel of Wisconsin, the Defense Research Institute, and the State Bar Litigation Section. Knott practices in medical malpractice, civil rights, employment, products liability, personal injury, and insurance litigation. He is a member of the Milwaukee Inns of Court and volunteers for the Milwaukee Young Lawyers Association Landlord/Tenant Hotline.

    Diane L. Houk, Columbia 1983, has been named by the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division as special litigation counsel for the Housing and Civil Enforcement Section in Washington, D.C. She will supervise the section's litigation of race and national origin discrimination claims involving local land use practices and access to affordable housing. She will continue her work on the division's Schools and Housing Opportunity Initiative.

    Christopher H. Kallaher, U.W. 1988, has been named vice president, general counsel of essential.com inc., a Web-based provider of energy and telecommunications services in Burlington, Mass. He previously was with Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky & Popeo in Boston.

    Donald F. Kiesling Jr., Marquette 1997, has been promoted to assistant general counsel at Wisconsin Gas Co., Milwaukee. He practices in corporate, environmental, and energy law.

    Michelle Andreshak Lloyd, U.W. 1994 cum laude, Order of the Coif, has joined the Kimberly-Clark Corporation as senior attorney in the employment law department located in Roswell, Ga. Lloyd formerly was associated with Foley & Lardner, Milwaukee.

    David E. McFarlane, U.W. 1976, has joined Bell, Gierhart & Moore S.C., Madison, as a shareholder.

    Randall M. Miedaner, Louisiana State 1987, has joined Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, Milwaukee, as of counsel. A CPA and certified financial planner, he will practice in new estate and financial planning. He holds the Personal Financial Specialist designation of the AICPA. He formerly was a vice president and senior financial consultant with Wells Fargo Bank - Family Asset Management Group.

    Thomas S. Reynolds II, Chicago-Kent 1997, also has joined the firm, as an associate in the intellectual property law practice group, focusing on patent litigation and all aspects of patent prosecution involving mechanical subject matter. He formerly was an associate with the intellectual property and trade regulation department of Barnes & Thornburg in Indianapolis, Ind.

    David R. Olson, Minnesota 1963, has been appointed as general counsel for Conley Publishing Group Ltd., publishers of the Waukesha Freeman and several other newspapers, magazines, and publications. He formerly was a partner in the Milwaukee office of Michael Best & Friedrich LLP and president of the Milwaukee Bar Association.

    Mark Schlei, U.W. 1987, has been named deputy general counsel for the State of Wisconsin, Department of Financial Institutions. The department regulates banking, savings institutions, credit unions, and securities for Wisconsin.

    Appointments, Elections

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

    Charles S. Blumenfield, U.W. 1974, a litigation partner in Shneidman, Myers, Dowling, Blumenfield, Ehlke, Hawks & Domer, Milwaukee, has been appointed as a reserve municipal judge of the Third Judicial Administrative District, assisting municipal courts in Ozaukee, Wash-ington, Waukesha, and Jefferson counties. Blumenfield recently completed 14 years of service as municipal judge for the Village of Bayside. A former president of the Wisconsin Municipal Judges Association, Blumenfield is a member of the State Bar Board of Governors and the Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers board of directors.

    The Dodge County Bar Association has elected these officers: president - Patrick H. Madden, Mayville; president-elect - Karl A. Green, Columbus; and secretary/treasurer - Karla A. Chase, Mayville.

    The Milwaukee Bar Association has elected these officers for 2000-01: president - D. Michael Guerin, president-elect - Kelly L. Centofanti, vice president - Donald I. Christl, and secretary/treasurer - Carol L. Kracht. Directors for 2000-01 include: Michael Ash, Carl Ashley, Prof. Daniel D. Blinka, Christy L. Brown, Hannah Dugan, past president Curtis A. Paulsen, and Margaret Wrenn Hickey.

    Judith Sperling Newton, U.W. 1981, a partner in the Stafford, Rosenbaum LLP law firm, Madison, recently was elected president of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys. The academy's work includes promoting the reform of adoption laws and disseminating information on ethical adoption practices. Sperling Newton practices children's law throughout Wisconsin.

    Peter J. Strand, U.W. 1987, of the Chicago law firm of McBride Baker & Coles, was reelected to the Board of Governors of the Chicago Chapter of the Recording Academy, which produces the Grammys. This is Strand's second two-year term. He practices in entertainment law and intellectual property.

    Dennis F. Tomorsky, Detroit College 1981, CPA, attorney and shareholder with the Brookfield law firm of Niebler & Muren S.C., will serve as vice president of the 2000-01 Wisconsin Institute of Certified Public Accountants board of directors. He will serve a three-year term.

    The Washington County Bar Association has elected the following officers: president - James W. Mohr Jr., Hartford; president-elect - Jerome M. Becker, Hubertus; secretary - Timothy J. Algiers, West Bend; and treasurer - Maureen Murray Meyer, West Bend.

    John Wargo, Toledo 1963, a sole practitioner in Racine, has been elected to the board of directors of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). He is a former assistant general counsel to S.C. Johnson Wax, a member of the State Bar's Elder Law Section, and is a Certified Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation.

    Gregory M. Wesley, U.W. 1997, has been appointed to the Milwaukee World Festival Inc. (Summerfest) board of directors. Wesley practices with Gonzalez, Saggio, Birdsall & Harlan L.L.P. in management-side equal opportunities and employment litigation and governmental relations.

    The Wisconsin Hispanic Lawyers Association has elected these officers: president - Margaret Aguayo Asterlin, president-elect - Ernesto Romero, secretary - Ana Maria Berrios, and treasurer - Nelida Cortes, all of Milwaukee.

    Retirements, Resignations

    Judge William A. Jennaro, Marquette 1968, has retired from the Milwaukee Circuit Court for a second time after donating his time each Monday to act as reserve judge to help relieve the pressure on the Family Court Division. He served two terms in Milwaukee Circuit Court before retiring from the bench in 1984 to go into private practice. Jennaro is in private practice with Cook & Franke S.C., Milwaukee, working in mediation and arbitration.

    Awards, Degrees, Honors

    Paul J. Cherner, U.W. 1968, partner at Michael Best & Friedrich LLC, Chicago, has received an Examplers of Excellence Award, an international award given to volunteer lay leaders who have been nominated nationwide for extraordinary leadership contributions to Hillel, the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life. He also was elected vice chair of the International Hillel Board of Directors, honored by the Hillels of Illinois (where he previously served as chair), and is president of the Hillel at the U.W.-Madison. His legal practice focuses on labor and employment law, exclusively representing employers.

    AbrahamsonChief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson, Indiana 1956, Wisconsin Supreme Court, was elected 1999 Newsmaker of the Year by the Wisconsin Newspaper Association. Electors cited her reputation for hard work and scholarship. She also was honored with the Tempo International Leadership Award 2000 in Phoenix in February 2000. Tempo International is a nonprofit professional organization dedicated to the support, mentoring, and empowerment of women in a business networking environment.

    Richard R. Burns, Michigan 1971, and John D. Kelly, Minnesota 1974, both of the Duluth firm of Hanft Fride P.A., were named by peers from throughout Minnesota as Super Lawyers, statistically, the top 5 percent of the state's attorneys. The Super Lawyers Selection Committee consists of the lawyer-members of the Minnesota Law & Politics Magazine board of directors.

    Kreg A. Kauffman, Iowa 1977, of the Kauffman Law Firm in Rochester, Minn., has been selected by the American Research Corporation as one of the Leading American Attorneys in Minnesota in the area of personal injury. The Kauffman Law Firm has moved its office to Suite 302 in Ironwood Square, 300 Third Ave. S.E., Rochester.

    Major Stephen J. Lund, Hamline 1990, U.S. Army, Judge Advocate General's Corps, recently received a LL.M.-Military Law from the U.S. Army's Judge Advocate General's School. Lund currently is assigned as the chief of criminal law, Fort Benning, Ga.

    Matthew S. Mayer, Marquette 1990, of the Grischke & Bremer Law Center, Wausau, has been certified as a Board Certified Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.

    DailyFrank J. Daily, Marquette 1968, has been named Marquette University 2000 Alumnus of the Year for his strong commitment to the Marquette Law School. He has lectured extensively at Marquette, was past president of the M.U. Law Alumni Association, serves on the Law School fund-raising committee, and is a lifetime member of the M.U. President's Council. A Quarles & Brady senior partner, Daily concentrates in the trial of complex product liability cases and heads up the firm's national product liability practice.

    Robert E. Meldman, Marquette 1962, a shareholder in Reinhart, Boerner, Van Deuren, Norris & Rieselbach s.c., Milwaukee, has been included in the 55th edition of Who's Who in America. In addition, the third edition of Practical Guide to U.S. Taxation of International Transactions, coauthored by Meldman, has been published by CCH.

    The Milwaukee Bar Association, at its 142nd Annual Meeting, recently honored the following members with these awards: Lifetime Achievement Award - David J. Cannon; Lawyer of the Year - Harry F. Franke; Distinguished Service Award - Susan M. Gramling, and the 1999 MBA Bankruptcy Section, Pro Bono Response Team.

    Reserve Judge Michael T. Sullivan, Marquette 1948, John Marshall 1972 LL.M.-Taxation, recently was honored by the South East Wisconsin Blood Center for 211 pints donated over 57 years.

    John C. Thomure Jr., U.W. 1993, recently completed graduate studies at Washington University School of Law, receiving an LL.M.-Taxation, and has returned full-time to Kohler & Hart LLP, Milwaukee. He practices in tax, estate planning, white collar crime, and business litigation.

    Steven John Vatndal, Marquette 1984, of the Mankato, Minn., office of Gislason & Hunter LLP, has been certified by the Minnesota Bar Association as a Real Property Law Specialist.

    Mergers, Relocations, New Associations

    Paul D. Christensen, Marquette 1987, has formed the Law Office of Paul D. Christensen, at 10150 W. National Ave. # 120, Milwaukee. The general practice firm emphasizes civil litigation.

    Douglas W. Kammer, U.W. 1970, and Jason T. Studinski, U.W. 1998, have formed Kammer & Studinski Inc., 314 DeWitt St., Portage, a full-service litigation, business, and real estate firm, serving clients statewide.

    Lynn R. Laufenberg, Marquette 1975, has formed Laufenberg Law Offices S.C., located at 115 S. 84th St. # 330, Milwaukee. He represents individuals and families injured by medical negligence, product defect, and other negligence. He is a member of the Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers Board of Directors, is certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, and is a member in the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocacy. He formerly was a shareholder with Cannon & Dunphy S.C.

    Arthur P. Simpson, U.W. 1980, and Stuart R. Deardorff, Chicago-Kent 1987, have formed Simpson & Deardorff S.C., at 735 W. Wisconsin Ave., Suite 720, in downtown Milwaukee. Andrew J. Schwaba, DePaul 1998, joins the firm as an associate. The firm concentrates on civil litigation, plaintiff and insurance defense/coverage.

    Von Briesen, Purtell & Roper S.C., Milwaukee, has joined the International Lawyers Network (ILN), a global network of more than 70 top tier, full-service law firms. With more than 4,000 lawyers worldwide, the ILN provides its member firms and their clients ready access to legal services and business counseling in countries worldwide. William West, a shareholder in the firm's business practice group, is the firm's principal contact with the ILN.

    In Memoriam

    William L. Buenzli, U.W. 1936, Madison, Sept. 2, 1912 - Nov. 29, 1999.

    Michael A. Clarke, Marquette 1962, Milwaukee, Sept. 15, 1934 - March 6, 2000.

    Joan Dalton, Marquette 1954, Milwaukee, Aug. 12, 1930 - March 17, 2000.

    Cosmas B. Young, Marquette 1931, Oconomowoc, Nov. 28, 1908 - May 12, 2000.

    Christine E. Ebert, U.W. 1996, Boston, Mass., Sept. 8, 1965 - April 4, 2000.

    Robert H. Flatley, U.W. 1935, Green Bay, July 3, 1908 - Feb. 14, 2000.

    Richard S. Gibbs, Iowa 1940, Milwaukee, Jan. 5, 1916 - May 19, 2000.

    Jack J. Gimbel, U.W. 1940, Milwaukee, Sept. 6, 1914 - March 2, 2000.

    Kenneth L. Grover, U.W. 1952, Stevens Point, March 17, 1924 - April 17, 2000.

    Patrick J. Harlow, Marquette 1954, Manitowoc, Feb. 25, 1927 - Feb. 16, 2000.

    Richard J. Harrigan, Marquette 1942, Mequon, July 8, 1916 - March 12, 2000.

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

    S. Ted Hitzler, Marquette 1931, Fond du Lac, Jan. 4, 1906 - March 29, 2000.

    Frank E. Huettner, U.W. 1951, Cadott, Jan. 23, 1927 - April 24, 2000.

    James F. Pressentin, U.W. 1956, Green Bay, Nov. 3, 1927 - May 1, 2000.


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