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    Wisconsin Lawyer
    June 01, 2002

    In the News

    Wisconsin Lawyer
    Vol. 75, No. 6, June 2002

    In the News


    New Hires, Promotions, Partners

    Elizabeth Feyrer Bagley, Hamline 1997, has joined the Law Offices of Phillips & Gemignani, Waukesha, as an associate, continuing to practice family law. She previously was associated with Harris, Nelson & Zaeske LLP.

    John P. Bovich, U.W. 1990, has been named a partner of Crosby, Heafey, Roach & May, San Francisco. Bovich concentrates in intellectual property and product liability litigation.

    Nancy C. Wettersten
    Wettersten
    Trisha A. Fillbach
    Fillbach

    Nancy C. Wettersten, U.W. 1986, and Trisha A. Fillbach, Hamline 2000, have joined DeWitt Ross & Stevens S.C., Madison, practicing in family law, juvenile law, and criminal defense. Wettersten has practiced in Dane County for more than 15 years. She has a special interest in serving as guardian ad litem for children and has taught classes in this area and in family law generally for the State Bar and the University of Wisconsin. She is chair of the Office of Lawyer Regulation's District 9 Investigative Committee, of which she has been a member since 1995. Fillbach previously was clerk for the Hon. Debra A. Jacobson, Third Judicial District, Rochester, Minn. Wettersten and Fillbach are members of the Collaborative Family Law Council of Wisconsin, Inc.

    Park M. Drescher, St. Louis University 1988, has joined Bank One, Appleton, as a trust advisor. He previously was in private practice in Appleton.

    Jason M. Fey, William Mitchell 2001, has joined Heywood & Cari S.C., Hudson, as an associate, practicing family law, real estate law, and estate planning.

    Kelly M. Dodd

    Dodd

    Kelly M. Dodd, Marquette 2000, has joined Petrie & Stocking S.C., Milwaukee, as a shareholder, continuing her practice in family law, commercial litigation, and real estate.

    James Friedman, U.W. 1992 with honors, Tim McCoy, Hamline 1992 cum laude, and Mark Witt, Michigan 1994 cum laude, have been promoted to shareholder by Godfrey & Kahn S.C. Friedman is a member of the litigation practice group in the Madison office (LaFollette Godfrey & Kahn). McCoy is a member of the corporate team in the Green Bay office. Witt is a member of the corporate team in the Milwaukee office.

    Peter M. Garson
    Garson

    Peter M. Garson, Marquette 1998, has joined the business practice group in the Madison office of von Briesen & Roper s.c., practicing in business formation; merger, acquisition, and reorganization transactions for acquiring and disposing companies; business succession planning; real estate acquisition and development; estate and trust planning; business and tax planning; and taxpayer representation on compliance, audit, and collection matters.

    Joseph S. Heino, Marquette 1982, has joined Davis & Kuelthau s.c., Milwaukee, as a shareholder in the business and corporate law section. Heino will focus on intellectual property law including: patent, trademark and service mark searches; infringement study, assessment and enforcement; programs for trade secret protection; negotiation and drafting of publishing contracts; and software and intellectual property licensing agreements. Prior to joining Davis & Kuelthau, s.c., he was with Knutson and Heino, S.C.

    Thomas C. Hofbauer, Loyola Univ.-Chicago 1987, has joined Bode, Carroll, McCoy & Mihal S.C., Waukesha, as a shareholder, continuing his practice in insurance defense, business litigation, commercial litigation, and product liability.

    Melvyn L. Hoffman, Southwestern University 1977, has been admitted to practice in Minnesota. Hoffman, a partner in Hoffman, Pittman & Associates, La Crosse, and a Chapter 7 panel trustee, focuses on bankruptcy, debtor/creditor relations, and collections.

    Scott T. Kowalski, John Marshall 1995, has been promoted to senior manager at RSM McGladrey Inc., Madison, responsible for coordinating the firm's practice development activities and expanding its consulting services practice. Kowalski previously was president of The Prairie Group, a multidisciplinary consulting company.

    Michael Lueder, Indiana 1987 cum laude, has joined Foley & Lardner as a partner in the litigation department, practicing in labor and employment, general litigation, and bankruptcy. Lueder previously was chief litigation counsel for U.S. Bancorp. Before 1999, he was with Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, where he headed the litigation and labor/employment practices in the firm's Cleveland office.

    Margaret C. Kelsey
    Kelsey

    Margaret C. (Peggy) Kelsey, Georgetown 1989 magna cum laude, has been appointed senior counsel and assistant secretary at Modine Manufacturing Co., Racine. Kelsey formerly was a partner in the Milwaukee office of Quarles & Brady LLP.

    John D. Finerty Jr., Marquette 1992, and Charles B. Palmer, Marquette 1990, have joined the Waukesha office of Michael Best & Friedrich LLP as partners. Finerty is a trial lawyer, focusing on complex litigation in federal and state courts and before administrative agencies. Palmer focuses on Equal Employment Opportunity law, labor relations, labor contract negotiation, wage and hour law, restrictive covenants and trade secrets, independent contractor and employment contracts, worker's compensation, and OSHA laws and regulations. Both attorneys previously were with Palmer & Finerty S.C.

    Michael Best & Friedrich LLP has hired the following associates in the Milwaukee office: Luis I. Arroyo, U.W. 1998, in the labor and employment law practice area and the education law focus group, where his work includes counseling K-12 school districts, colleges, and universities on student/faculty discipline, open records/meetings law, student and faculty disability accommodation issues, general policy development, and drafting student and staff handbooks; Elizabeth M. Drew, U.W. 1999 cum laude, in the employment relations law practice area, focusing on employment discrimination, OFCCP compliance, and noncompete litigation; William T. Kryger, Marquette 1999, in the intellectual property law practice area; and Douglas A. Pessefall, John Marshall 2002 cum laude, in the tax law practice group.

    Lynne M. Mueller, U.W. 1988, has joined the Milwaukee office of Litchfield Cavo as a partner, focusing in insurance coverage and defense litigation, creditors' rights, bankruptcy, and commercial litigation. Mueller previously was associated with Cook & Franke S.C., Milwaukee.

    Norman C. Nelson, Illinois 1984, has joined the Michael Ablan Law Firm, La Crosse. Nelson has done trial work in Wisconsin since 1995, concentrating on criminal and civil litigation, municipal matters, and financial institution work, and before that practiced in Chicago for 10 years.

    Sean O'Flaherty, Fordham 1998, has been promoted to partner at Parke O'Flaherty Ltd., La Crosse, concentrating on business, banking, and real estate law, and civil litigation.

    Dennis J. Purtell
    Purtell

    Dennis J. Purtell, Minnesota 1965, has joined Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C., Milwaukee, as a shareholder, serving health care and not-for-profit organizations. He previously was with von Briesen, Purtell & Roper S.C.

    Shanti A. Ariker, Virginia 1995, Enrique T. Breceda, U.W. 2000 cum laude, Peter J. Manghera, U.W. 1994 cum laude, and Brant T. Maurer, Chicago-Kent College of Law 2001, have joined Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c. as associates. Ariker and Breceda are with the litigation department in the Milwaukee office, Manghera is with the intellectual property department in the Madison office, and Maurer is with the intellectual property department in the Milwaukee office.

    Nicholas (Chip) Retson, Marquette 1972, has been named deputy general counsel for the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA), Alexandria, Va., focusing on acquisition law, dispute resolution, and the provision of leadership and professional development for other DCMA attorneys throughout the U.S. and overseas. Retson has experience in government contracting, international logistics, construction, ethics, fiscal issues, personnel, and environmental law. He retired as a colonel in March 2001 after more than 28 years of active duty. He is treasurer of the State Bar's Nonresident Lawyers Division.

    Kimberly Shaul
    Shaul

    Kimberly Shaul, U.W. 1989, has been named director of life/health compliance for American Family Life Insurance Company and Health Division, Madison, responsible for monitoring internal health and life insurance operations, field force practices and training to assure state and federal regulatory compliance, and corporate standards and ethical codes. She previously was assistant general counsel with the company.

    James Wendland, Marquette 1974, has been appointed an administrative law judge with the Office of Hearings and Appeals, Social Security Administration, Fort Worth, Texas. He previously practiced employment law in Milwaukee and was Dunn County Circuit Court judge from 1985 to 1997.

    Julie A. Zavoral, U.W. 1994, has joined Nilles & Nilles S.C., Milwaukee, as an associate in intellectual property law, concentrating in patent prosecution, licensing, and patent portfolio management. Zavoral previously was corporate patent counsel for Quad/Graphics Inc., Sussex. She also has an M.S. in electrical engineering, with a focus on integrated circuit design and fabrication.

    Mergers, Relocations, New Associations

    Jerome Block, U.W. 1956, Joel Seymour, Marquette 1969, Bruce Chudacoff, Harvard 1969, Harvey Samson, U.W. 1973, and Larry Liebzeit, U.W. 1976, have formed Block, Seymour, Chudacoff, Samson & Liebzeit S.C., 512 W. College Ave., Appleton. The attorneys combined their previous firms, Block, Seymour & Samson S.C. and Chudacoff & Liebzeit LLP. Pamela McAvoy, Drake 1992, has joined the firm as an associate. Legal services offered by the new firm include family law, personal injury, bankruptcy, civil litigation, appellate practice, corporate law and business transactions, real estate, probate, estate planning, criminal law, traffic, guardianships, and adoption.

    P.J. Boylan, Marquette 1982, has established a practice providing dispute resolution services, including mediation and arbitration. She previously was senior legal counsel for technology development and transfer with the U.W. System and U.W.-Milwaukee after being director of legal affairs at UWM. In addition to higher education, she has expertise in contracts, employment, and intellectual property, and also serves as a public arbitrator for the National Association of Securities Dealers and the New York Stock Exchange.

    Lori S. Eshleman, Marquette 2000, has joined David F. Traver, U.W. 1992, in his Social Security law practice in Milwaukee. Eshleman will continue to practice employment law with Brenda Lewison, U.W. 1995, at the Law Office of Brenda Lewison, Milwaukee. She previously was a respiratory therapist and an intern with Legal Action of Wisconsin, representing clients before the Social Security Administration.

    Lisa M. Gehrke, Marquette 1990, has opened Gehrke & Associates S.C., 123 N. 86th St., Wauwatosa, concentrating in intellectual property and regulatory law. Gehrke previously was a shareholder at Nilles & Nilles S.C., Milwaukee.

    Michael Gendlin, Marquette 1968, has changed the name of his firm to Gendlin & Liverman S.C., reflecting partner and new shareholder Andrew R. Liverman, Valparaiso 1992.

    Hutchison & Benson S.C. has relocated to the Midway Office Centre, 1025 S. Moorland Rd., Suite 500, Brookfield. Scott J. Hutchison, Marquette 1990, and Scott M. Benson, Marquette 1991, continue to practice in real estate and family law.

    Nikola P. Kostich, U.W. 1970, Robert LeBell, Iowa 1973, John Dobroski, U.W. 1973, and Jeffrey Morgan, Hamline 1996, have opened Kostich, LeBell, Dobroski & Morgan LLP, 735 W. Wisconsin Ave., Suite 800, Milwaukee, a general practice concentrating on civil and criminal litigation, business law, and international law. Aleks Kostich, Marquette 2001, has joined the firm as an associate, practicing in criminal defense and international law.

    Alan A. Panek, Hamline 1983, Susan C. Schill, Marquette 1991, and Timothy S. Gebert, Detroit College of Law 1995, have established Panek Schill & Gebert LLP, 110 E. Grand Ave., Suite 130, Wisconsin Rapids. Panek practices business law, estate planning and probate, credit union law, and real estate. Schill is a general practitioner emphasizing family law. Gebert, also a general practitioner, emphasizes civil and criminal litigation.

    Fellows, Piper & Schmidt has changed its name to Piper & Schmidt. The firm is located in Milwaukee.

    Richard J. (Rick) Schroeder, Hamline 1992 cum laude, has moved his law office, Schroeder & Mandel, to 111 Third Ave. S., Suite 110, Minneapolis. The firm continues to represent people who have been injured in motorcycle and car crashes as well as personal and work-related injury victims.

    Ronald S. Stadler, U.W. 1989, and Kelly L. Centofanti, Marquette 1990 magna cum laude, have formed Stadler & Centofanti LLC, Mequon, practicing in personal injury, labor and employment law, and civil litigation. Stadler previously was a partner at Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, and Centofanti previously was a shareholder at Aiken & Scoptur S.C.

    Denise L. Stoker, U.W. 1997, has joined the intellectual property practice group in the Appleton office of Godfrey & Kahn S.C., counseling clients on patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, and other property and technology issues, including licensing and litigation. Stoker previously was with the firm's Milwaukee office and has also worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.

    Appointments, Elections

    James J. Casey, Dayton 1988, has been named editor of the Research Management Review, the scholarly journal of the National Council of University Research Administrators. Casey is director of sponsored programs at Bradley University and project manager of the Bradley Center for Agribusiness and Agrotechnologies, Peoria, Ill.

    Joseph M. Fasi II, Stetson 1983, has been elected to the board of directors of the Defense Research Institute, a national organization of attorneys devoted to the defense of civil litigation. Fasi, who is with Peterson, Johnson, & Murray S.C., Milwaukee, is board certified in civil trial law by the American Board of Trial Advocacy.

    Ralf Böer, U.W. 1974, will become chairman and chief executive officer of Foley & Lardner in July, replacing Michael W. Grebe, Michigan 1970. Before becoming chair of the firm's business law department in April 2000, Böer headed the firm's international practice. His practice areas include U.S. and transnational mergers and acquisitions and international business transactions. Grebe will become president and chief executive officer of the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation.

    John (Jack) Laffey, Ohio State 1985, has been appointed vice chair of the trucking law committee of the Defense Research Institute, a national organization of attorneys devoted to the defense of civil litigation. His practice centers on transportation and catastrophic injury litigation defense in Wisconsin and nationally.

    Paul V. Malloy, John Marshall 1985, has been appointed by Gov. Scott McCallum to serve as circuit court judge for Branch 1, Ozaukee County, filling the unexpired term of Walter Swietlik, Marquette 1960. Malloy previously was a partner with Housman & Feind LLP, Grafton.

    Steven R. Sorenson, Marquette 1977, has been nominated by Gov. Scott McCallum as a member of the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission and has been designated as chair of the agency, replacing retiring chair James R. Meier, U.W. 1972. Sorenson previously was in private practice in Ripon and Fond du Lac, including serving as village attorney for Fairwater and town attorney for Utica, Springvale, and Rosendale. He is a past president of the State Bar.

    The Washington County Bar Association has elected these officers: president - Timothy J. Algiers, West Bend; president-elect - Gary C. McGregor,Hartford; secretary - Christine E. Ohlis, West Bend; and treasurer - Maureen Murray Volk, West Bend.

    The Wisconsin Hispanic Lawyers Association has elected the following officers: president - Francisco Araiza; president-elect - Ana M. Berrios; secretary - Jennifer A. Ortiz; and treasurer - David A. Westrup, all of Milwaukee.

    The Wisconsin Supreme Court has appointed Judge Gerald P. Ptacek, Marquette 1974, as chief judge of the Second Judicial Administrative District. He will assume his new administrative duties on Aug. 1, 2002, replacing Chief Judge Barbara A. Kluka, Marquette 1978, Kenosha County Circuit Court, who has served the maximum number of terms. Ptacek will also continue to handle cases in Racine County, where he has been on the bench since 1988. He has served on a statewide committee to study videoconferencing in the courts, helped oversee the court system's automation program, and worked on issues related to legal representation for children (guardians ad litem). Before becoming a judge, Ptacek served as Racine County district attorney for eight years and worked for a short time in private practice.

    The court has reappointed the following current chief judges to new terms: Chief Judge Michael J. Skwierawski, Georgetown 1967, Milwaukee County Circuit Court, First Judicial Administrative District; Chief Judge Kathryn W. Foster, Marquette 1977, Waukesha County Circuit Court, Third Judicial Administrative District; Chief Judge James Evenson, U.W. 1973, Sauk County Circuit Court, Sixth Judicial Administrative District; Chief Judge Joseph M. Troy, U.W. 1980, Outagamie County Circuit Court, Eighth Judicial Administrative District; and Chief Judge James B. Mohr, U.W. 1976, Vilas County Circuit Court, Ninth Judicial Administrative District.

    Authors, Speakers

    Tina Burnside, U.W. 1996, has authored the novel Have Mercy, in which an assistant district attorney is faced with prosecuting for murder a 14-year-old girl with post-traumatic stress disorder. Burnside works for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Minneapolis.

    Retirement

    James B. Gunz, Arizona 1974, Neenah city attorney/personnel director, retired after 26 years of service.

    Awards, Degrees, Honors

    Thomas J. Basting Sr., U.W. 1962, James D. Friedman, Notre Dame 1972, Adrian P. Schoone, Marquette 1959, and Thomas S. Sleik, Marquette 1971, have been named Life Fellows of the American Bar Foundation (ABF). The ABF is a research center for the empirical study of law, legal institutions, and legal processes in society. The Fellows is an honorary organization of practicing attorneys, judges, and law teachers whose professional, public, and private careers have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the welfare of their communities and to the highest principles of the legal profession. Basting is with Brennan, Steil, Basting & MacDougall S.C., Janesville; Friedman is with Quarles & Brady LLP, Milwaukee; Schoone is with Schoone, Leuck, Kelley, Pitts & Knurr, Racine; and Sleik is with Hale, Skemp, Hanson, Skemp, & Sleik, La Crosse.

    Albert F. Beck, Marquette 1942, celebrated 60 years in practice with an open house. He is with Albert Beck Law Office, Waukesha.

    René Hernández, U.W. 1994, MBA Univ. of Illinois-Chicago 2001, has been named to Minority MBA magazine's "Top Ten Next Generation Minority Business Leaders" list, which recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and vision in their careers and have served as role models for other minority business professionals.

    Theodore B. Hertel Jr., U.W. 1972, has received the Robert L. Fish Award for his short story "My Bonnie Lies." The Mystery Writers of America presents the award for best first short story by an American author. Hertel is with Hertel Law Offices, Milwaukee.

    Bruce A. Olson, Marquette 1981, has been named TechnoLawyer of the Year by the TechnoLawyer Community, a national organization of legal and information technology professionals. He was honored for his work in the areas of trial technology and the creation and adoption of paperless solutions for legal practices. He also has been appointed vice chair of the ABA's Techshow 2003 board of directors and will continue as litigation track leader. Olson, a shareholder in the Green Bay office of Davis & Kuelthau S.C., has been recertified as a civil trial advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy after being originally certified in 1997.

    Cherry A. Shaw, U.W. 1998, was honored as Gold Medal Employee of the 4th Quarter and Employee of the Year, both in 2001, by the Division of Medical Quality Assurance, Florida Department of Health. Criteria for the award include: demonstrating a direct or indirect positive impact on the health of Floridians; producing increased productivity and revenues, and reduced costs; demonstrating a positive attitude; providing a significant contribution toward work force cohesiveness; and demonstrating the department's values of integrity, accountability, professionalism, quality, and caring. Shaw, who practices administrative and health regulatory law as senior attorney and board counsel for the department of health in Tallahassee, is the first attorney to receive these awards. She has also been elected treasurer of the Florida Government Bar Association.

    Timothy M. Whiting
    Whiting

    Timothy M. Whiting, U.W. 1994, was named one of the top 40 lawyers under 40 to practice in Illinois. Whiting owns Whiting Law Group Ltd., which practices personal injury and medical malpractice. The firm has offices in Chicago, Ill. and Delavan, Wis.

    In Memoriam

    Colburn Cherney, Harvard 1942, Cary, N.C., Dec. 28, 1916 - Nov. 8, 2001.

    Louis L. Croy, U.W. 1937, Manitowoc, Apr. 16, 1914 - Dec. 24, 2001.

    Robert C. Kelly, U.W. 1950, Madison, Nov. 8, 1924 - July 31, 2001.


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