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    Wisconsin Lawyer
    October 01, 2005

    In the News

    Wisconsin LawyerWisconsin Lawyer
    Vol. 78, No. 10 October 2005

    In the News


     

    New Hires, Promotions, Partners

    Ryan M. Benson, Minnesota 2000 with honors, has joined the Benson Law Office, Siren, where he practices with his father, George W. Benson, U.W. 1969, and his brother, Adam C. Benson, Marquette 2001. He previously was an associate with Niebler, Pyzyk, Klaver & Wagner LLP, Menomonee Falls.

    Melissa R. DeVantier

    DeVantier

    Melissa R. DeVantier, DePaul 2004, has joined Epiphany Law LLC, Appleton, where she practices business transactional law, business formation and development, real estate transactions, business transfers, and succession planning. She previously was with Wolf & Wolfe Ltd., Chicago.

    Jonathan Fritz

    Fritz

    Jonathan Fritz, Hamline 2002, has joined the intellectual property practice group in the Madison office of Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C. He litigates intellectual property and patent law infringement cases in the mechanical, computer, and chemical fields.

    Brian W. Guilbeault, Marquette 2003, has joined Menn Law Firm Ltd., Appleton, where he practices personal injury, insurance defense, business litigation, securities litigation, and real estate. He previously was with Gutglass, Erickson, Bonville, Seibel & Falkner S.C., Milwaukee.

    Lee Jones, U.W. 1997, has been promoted to lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps. He is assigned to the Milwaukee detachment of Commander Amphibious Group 2.

    Len Kachinsky, U.W. 1978, has resumed private practice in Appleton and his position as Menasha municipal judge after completing his tour of duty as chief of legal support operations at Camp Atterbury, Ind.

    Coleen Kennedy, U.W. 1978, has been appointed a Wisconsin Supreme Court commissioner in Madison. She previously was a district staff attorney for the Wisconsin Court of Appeals.

    Sonia Komisar, U.W. 2005, has joined Julian, Musial & Friedrich S.C., Madison, as an associate, focusing on bankruptcy, estate planning, probate, and family law.

    Keith E. Kopplin, Marquette 2005, has joined the Milwaukee office of Davis & Kuelthau s.c. as an associate, focusing in public- and private-sector labor and employment law.

    Gordon Leech

    Leech

    Gordon Leech, Pittsburgh 1990, has joined Samster, Konkel & Safran LLC, Milwaukee, where he represents plaintiffs in employment discrimination, wage claim, fair credit reporting, and debt collection harassment litigation. He previously practiced law in Florida.

    Todd J. Liebman, U.W. 1990, has been promoted to lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, Judge Advocate General's Corps, and has become director of legal services and team leader for the 214th Legal Support Organization, Madison. He also is Sauk County corporation counsel.

    Three attorneys have joined the firm now known as Maier McIlnay Schmitt Button & Maynard Ltd., Grafton. Jim Button, Indiana 1986 magna cum laude, is a shareholder, focusing on business and commercial law. John Maynard, (L.L.M.) Harvard 1973, is a shareholder, focusing on closely held businesses, succession planning, and trusts and estates. Elizabeth Roat, Marquette 2001 cum laude, is an associate, concentrating on real estate development and construction law. The firm has relocated to 1150 Washington St., Grafton.

    Abraham Michelson, Thomas Cooley 2004, has joined the Michelson Law Office, Racine, as an associate, concentrating in consumer bankruptcy and fair debt collection violation matters.

    Three attorneys have joined the law department of Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co., Milwaukee. Susan Cerbins, Michigan 1989, is assistant general counsel and assistant secretary on the real estate investment team. She previously was an associate with the Milwaukee office of Quarles & Brady LLP. Michael S. Chick, Marquette 2000, is counsel on the products and dis-tribution team. He previously was a vice president - attorney for Robert W. Baird & Co., Milwaukee. John M. Thompson, Marquette 2000, is counsel on the corporate team. He previously was an associate with the Milwaukee office of Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c.

    Jessica A. Palmer-Denig, U.W. 1999 cum laude, has become manager of the residential and small business utilities division of the Minnesota Attorney General's Office. She previously focused on bankruptcy, probate, and general civil litigation in the Office.

    Megan A. Senatori

    Senatori

    Megan A. Senatori, U.W. 2001, has joined the adjunct faculty at Marquette University Law School, where she will teach a course on animal law. She concentrates on complex litigation in the Madison office of DeWitt Ross & Stevens S.C.

    Angela M. Paulsrud, U.W. 1999, has joined Hill, Glowacki, Jaeger & Hughes LLP, Madison, as an associate, focusing on estate planning, estate and trust administration, real estate, and business.

    Kelly Klick Smitsdorff

    Smitsdorff

    Kelly Klick Smitsdorff, Marquette 2002, has joined the Milwaukee office of Godfrey & Kahn S.C. She counsels employers on issues including harassment, disability, family and medical leave, wage and hour law, unemployment compensation, workplace policies, and discipline and termination.

    Michael G. Tobin, U.W. 1987, a colonel with the Wisconsin Army National Guard, has been mobilized in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and is assigned to Combined Forces Command - Afghanistan. He is a Milwaukee assistant city attorney.

    Timothy J. Walther, U.W. 2002, has joined Eggert & Cermele S.C., Milwaukee, as an associate. The firm focuses on representation of law enforcement unions and officers in employment and other civil matters.

    Doris E. Brosnan, Janet L. Crnich

    Brosnan

    Crnich
    Salzer John G. (Jack) Goller
    Salzer Goller
    MacCarthy
      MacCarthy

    Several attorneys have been promoted at von Briesen & Roper s.c. Doris E. Brosnan, U.W. 1998 cum laude, has become a shareholder in the Milwaukee office. She is with the immigration and labor and employment sections. Janet L. Crnich, Illinois 1996 cum laude, has become a shareholder in the Madison office. She is with the litigation and risk management practice group. Craig M. Salzer, Marquette 1998, has become a shareholder in the Milwaukee office. He is with the litigation and risk management practice group. John G. (Jack) Goller, Gonzaga 1998, has become a principal associate in the Milwaukee office. He is with the litigation and risk management practice group and the school law section. Sara J. MacCarthy, Marquette 1996, has become a principal associate in the Milwaukee office. She is with the appellate and litigation and risk management sections.

    Jennifer M. Olk John Edward Hintz

    Olk

    Hintz

    Jennifer M. Olk, U.W. 2000 cum laude, has joined the firm's Mequon office as an associate in the estate and trust planning and administration section. John Edward Hintz, Marquette 1994, has joined the health care practice group in the Milwaukee office as of counsel.

    David L. Weir, Marquette 1983, has joined Warshafsky, Rotter, Tarnoff & Bloch S.C., Milwaukee, as an associate, focusing on worker's compensation and social security disability claims. He previously was a partner with Zubrensky & Weir.

    Lisa A. Wilson, Northern Illinois 1999, has joined the U.W.-Madison Office of Administrative Legal Services as associate university legal counsel, focusing on personnel, employment, medical malpractice, health law, risk management, human subjects research, and medical records issues. She previously was an associate with Hill, Glowacki, Jaeger & Hughes LLP, Madison.

    Tracy Wrycha

    Wrycha

    Tracy Wrycha, Chicago-Kent 1997, has been promoted to division vice president - North American legal counsel at Spectrum Brands Inc. (formerly Rayovac Corp.), Madison.

    Carrie L. Dinwiddie, Marquette 2001, has joined Poulos, Sengstock, Budny & Ludwig, S.C., West Allis, as an associate, practicing family law, probate and bankruptcy.

    Mergers, Relocations, New Associations

    Eckert, Kost & Vocke LLP has relocated to 729 Lincoln St., Rhinelander.

    Kristine Cervera Garcia, Marquette 1998, has joined with Earlean A. Laster, U.W. 1997, and Lee Jones, U.W. 1997, of Laster & Jones LLC, Brookfield, as a partner concentrating in family law. The firm, now called Laster, Jones & Garcia LLC, focuses on municipal finance law, real estate, corporate services, and family law. Garcia previously was with John T. Fields & Associates.

    Lois E. Rentmeester, U.W. 1984, has relocated her office and can now be contacted at P.O. Box 952, Sun Prairie.

    Appointments, Elections

    Joseph A. Ahern

    Ahern

    Joseph A. Ahern, Marquette 1984, has been elected chair of the board of Advance Capital I Inc., a family of mutual funds based in Southfield, Mich. He is president of Stark Reagan, Troy, Mich.

    The Hon. Ann Walsh Bradley, U.W. 1976, was sworn in to her second term on the Wisconsin Supreme Court in August in a ceremony at the state capitol.

    Gerald Fellows, Marquette 1992, has been named managing partner of the Milwaukee office of Michael Best & Friedrich LLC. He focuses on intellectual property law.

    Daniel W.   Hildebrand

    Hildebrand

    Daniel W. Hildebrand, U.W. 1964, has been appointed chair of the ABA Board of Governors operations and communications committee and has become a member of the board's executive committee. He is a senior member of the litigation practice group at DeWitt Ross & Stevens S.C., Madison, where he focuses on appeals, business litigation, and ethics.

    The Jefferson County Bar Association has elected the following officers: president - Theresa A. Beck, Jefferson; vice president - Jennifer L. Weber, Johnson Creek; and secretary/treasurer - Tamara S. Kiewit, Johnson Creek.

    The La Crosse County Bar Association has elected the following officers: president - Michael C. Ablan; president-elect - David B. Russell; and secretary/treasurer - Edward S. Rue, all of La Crosse.

    Peter Peshek

    Peshek

    Peter Peshek, U.W. 1968, has been elected to the board of trustees of the Wisconsin chapter of The Nature Conservancy. He is with DeWitt Ross & Stevens S.C., Madison, where he focuses on environmental law.

    The Sauk County Bar Association has elected the following officers: president - Franklin R. Kirk, Prairie du Sac; secretary - Natalie T. Bussan, Baraboo; and treasurer - Jeffrey M. Blessinger, Baraboo.

    The Society of Family Lawyers has elected the following officers: president - Julie A. O'Halloran, Milwaukee; president-elect - Mary E. Leonard, South Milwaukee; secretary - Judith M. Budny, West Allis; and treasurer - Thomas D. Klein, Milwaukee.

    The Winnebago County Bar Association has elected the following officers: president - Colleen Bradley, Oshkosh; president-elect - Thomas P. Chalchoff, Menasha; and secretary/treasurer - Brenda Bann, Appleton.

    Authors, Speakers

    Paul E. Conrad, U.W. 1981, was a seminar convenor, presenter, and panelist at the National Bar Association Annual Convention in Orlando in August. He spoke about "Servicing the Servicemember." He is an associate general counsel for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Washington, D.C.

    Awards, Degrees, Honors

    Christine Bakeis Esser, Drake 1994, has been certified as a civil trial advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. The credential is reserved for lawyers who possess an enhanced level of skill and expertise in trial advocacy and have demonstrated integrity and dedication to their clients. She is a partner with the Sheboygan office of Habush Habush & Rottier S.C.

    Charles P.   Fischbach

    Fischbach

    Charles P. Fischbach, U.W. 1967, was inducted as a Fellow in the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers at the ABA Annual Meeting in Chicago in August. He is an arbitrator in Chicago.

    Foley & Lardner has received its fourth CIO-100 award from CIO magazine, in recognition of exemplifying leadership in business or organizational excellence by effectively integrating technology and processes to improve efficiency and cost effectiveness.

    Fifty-one attorneys from the Wisconsin offices of Foley & Lardner are included in the 2006 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in recognition of their work in specific practice areas. The "10" designation indicates an attorney has been included for at least 10 consecutive years, and "20" indicates an attorney has been included for at least 20 consecutive years. Alternative Dispute Resolution: Allan R. Koritzinsky (20) (also Family Law); Antitrust Law: James T. McKeown, Maurice J. McSweeney (10) (also Commercial Litigation and Corporate Law); Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights Law: Richard H. Casper (10), Mark F. Foley (10), Thomas L. Shriner Jr. (10) (also Commercial Litigation), Michael B. Van Sicklen (10), David G. Walsh (10) (also Corporate Law); Commercial Litigation: Michael A. Bowen (10), Jon P. Christiansen (10), James R. Clark (10), Nancy J. Sennett; Corporate Law: William J. Abraham Jr. (10), Ralf-Reinhard Boer (also International and Trade and Finance Law), Benjamin F. Garmer III (10), Joseph P. Hilde-brandt (10), Blaine R. Renfert, Jay O. Rothman, Luke E. Sims; Employee Benefits Law: Christopher S. Berry (10), Lloyd J. Dickinson (10), Gregg H. Dooge, Harvey A. Kurtz, Greg W. Renz (10); Energy Law: Bradley D. Jackson (10), Allen W. Williams Jr. (10) (also Environmental Law); Environmental Law: Linda E. Benfield (10), Douglas B. Clark, Mark A. Thimke (10); Health Care Law: Michael M. Biehl (10), James P. Connelly (10); Intellectual Property Law: Russell J. Barron, John C. Cooper III (10), Harry C. Engstrom (10), Richard S. Florsheim; Labor and Employment Law: Michael A. Auen (10), Bernard J. Bobber, George D. Cunningham (10), Stanley S. Jaspan (10); Real Estate Law: Benjamin J. Abrohams (20), Michael W. Hatch (10); Tax Law: Carl D. Fortner, Timothy C. Frautschi (10), Richard S. Gallagher (20) (also Trusts and Estates); Trusts and Estates: John F. Callan, Keith A. Christiansen (10), George A. Dionisopoulos (10), Wayne R. Lueders (10), Gregory F. Monday, David W. Reinecke (10), Adam J. Wiensch.

    David B. Karp, Marquette 1982, is included in the 2005-06 edition of Who's Who in American Law. He is with Karp, Karp & Zirgibel S.C., Milwaukee.

    John P. Macy, Marquette 1980, has been elected a Fellow in the American Bar Foundation. He is with Arenz, Molter, Macy & Riffle S.C., Waukesha.

    Carlton D. Stansbury, Iowa 1990 with distinction, was honored by the ABA Family Law Section for "meritorious service exceeding what is expected of our leadership" during the ABA Annual Meeting in Chicago in August. He is a shareholder with Burbach & Stansbury S.C., Milwaukee, and practices family law, collaborative law, mediation, and appellate work.

    Thomas K. Zander, U.W. 1977 cum laude, earned a doctorate in psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology, Chicago. He practices in Mequon.

    Pro Bono, Public Service

    Michael F. Hupy, Marquette 1972, and Michael F. Hupy & Associates S.C., Milwaukee, donated $10,000 to the NAACP Convention held in Milwaukee in July.

    Four attorneys from Michael Best & Friedrich LLP participated in the 13th Annual Scenic Shore 150 Bike Tour in July to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Team Michael Best raised more than $2,800.

    In Memoriam

    George A. Borden, U.W. 1954, Shorewood, Aug. 28, 1926 - April 22, 2005.

    Gilbert E. Brach Jr., U.W. 1951, New Berlin, April 14, 1926 - Oct. 3, 2004.

    Ernest E. Bruns, U.W. 1942, Madison, Nov. 16, 1918 - Feb. 1, 2005.

    Ronald P. Dales, U.W. 1965, Sheboygan, Jan. 4, 1938 - June 29, 2004.

    Erwin E. Fritz, Marquette 1934, Wauwatosa, Jan. 25, 1908 - Aug. 20, 2004.

    Robert R. Johnson, U.W. 1948, Port Edwards, June 1, 1919 - Aug. 25, 2004.

    Jerome Hendrickson, U.W. 1942, Charlottesville, Vir., July 25, 1918 - Dec. 20, 2004.

    John T. Kelly, U.W. 1947, Stanley, May 2, 1922 - Nov. 12, 2004.

    Patrick Kinney, U.W. 1946, Lancaster, Oct. 29, 1917 - June 29, 2004.

    William O. Kupfer, U.W. 1954, Kenosha, Oct. 13, 1929 - March 28, 2005.

    Prentice H. Marshall Sr., Illinois 1951, Markesan, Aug. 7, 1926 - May 24, 2004.

    Jeanette Mett, Marquette 1942, Milwaukee, Nov. 14, 1917 - Dec. 1, 2004.

    Allan L. Mueller, Marquette 1954, Mequon, Aug. 23, 1930 - Feb. 18, 2005.

    Leo Shinken, Marquette 1952, Wauwatosa, June 6, 1926 - June 27, 2004.


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