New Hires, Promotions, Partners

Ryann H. Beck, Marquette 2010, and Emily M. Chilson, Marquette 2011, have become partners in Andrus Intellectual Property Law LLP, Milwaukee. Beck’s practice includes domestic and international patent and trademark prosecution, licensing, and enforcement. Chilson focuses on domestic and international patent, design, and trademark prosecution.

Nicholas Boerke, Marquette 2012, has joined the transactions practice group of Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, Milwaukee, as senior counsel. He advises clients on real estate, tax, and corporate transactions and litigation matters, including acquisitions and sales, eminent domain, property tax assessments, and leasing.

Christopher C. Drout, Marquette 2004, Patricia C. Lonzo, Univ. of the Pacific 2002, and Robert M. Piette, Marquette 1992, have been named partners with Gray & Associates L.L.P., New Berlin, and continue to focus on representing lenders and creditors in mortgage, foreclosure, and bankruptcy matters.

Claire E. Hartley, Marquette 2009, has been promoted to shareholder with Buelow Vetter Buikema Olson & Vliet LLC, Waukesha. Her practice focuses on representing school districts, municipalities, and private employers in all aspects of labor and employment law, general school law, and litigation.

Michael W. Curry, U.W. 2009, and Lora L. Zimmer, Yale 2003, have been named partners at McCarty Law LLP, Appleton. Curry focuses on civil litigation, representing clients in commercial litigation, product liability defense, personal injury matters, and probate and estate disputes. Zimmer focuses on representing health-care providers in regulatory and transactional matters and on general business law. She also performs Title IX investigations for educational institutions.

Dave McCormack, Loyola Chicago 1987, has joined Axley Brynelson’s Waukesha office. His practice focuses on employment law, commercial real estate, contract drafting and negotiation, finance, and environmental law. Previously, he was in-house senior counsel for BMO Harris Bank N.A.

Melita M. Mullen, U.W. 2012, has joined Bell, Moore & Richter S.C., Madison, as an associate and focuses on civil litigation and worker’s compensation. She has practiced in the Madison area since 2012.

Craig T. Papka, Chicago Kent 2005, has been promoted to shareholder at von Briesen & Roper s.c., Milwaukee. He focuses exclusively on labor and employment law.

Three patent attorneys have joined the intellectual property group at Quarles & Brady LLP.

Tolga Gulmen, Berkeley 2010, Ph.D. U.W.-Madison, is of counsel in the Madison office. He works with a wide range of technologies in chemical sciences, nanotechnology, life sciences and biotechnology, engineering, and software. Previously, he founded a law firm focused on university technology transfer offices and startups and was an instructor at the U.W. Law School.

M. Scott McBride, Marquette 2002, Ph.D. U.W.-Madison, is a partner in the Milwaukee office. He focuses on domestic and international patent prosecution and enforcement and provides counseling and opinion work related to freedom-to-operate, non-infringement, and patent invalidity. He has worked for university technology transfer offices, small startups, and large research companies.

Tambryn VanHeyningen, Washington Univ. 2005, Ph.D. Washington Univ., is a partner in the Madison office and focuses on domestic and international patent prosecution, licensing, and portfolio development and management. She also provides strategic counseling regarding patentability, freedom-to-operate, non-infringement, and invalidity opinions.

Two attorneys have joined the Milwaukee office of Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c. Danielle E. Marocchi, Marquette 2018, is with the litigation practice and focuses on the defense of complex product liability claims.

Karla M. Nettleton, Marquette 2017 magna cum laude, is with the tax practice and counsels clients on matters including tax controversy, litigation, and planning. Previously she was a tax consultant for a Big Four accounting firm.

Andrew O. Christianson, U.W. 2005, has rejoined the Waukesha office of Reinhart as a shareholder in the employee benefits, institutional investor services, and corporate law and securities practices, representing public and closely held companies and institutional investors. Before rejoining the firm, he was a senior attorney at Sensient Technologies Corp.

Greg Rutzen, Indiana Univ. (Maurer) 1987, has joined the U.W.-Whitewater Office of University Advancement as director of corporate philanthropy.

John Pienkos, Harvard 1997, and Tom Pienkos, U.W. 1999, have joined the intellectual property practice group of SmithAmundsen, Milwaukee, as partners. Both formerly were at Husch Blackwell. John Pienkos is co-chair of the intellectual property practice group. He prepares and prosecutes domestic and foreign patent applications, advises on corporate transactions involving the purchase or sale of intellectual property assets, prepares patent opinions, and provides guidance regarding the scope of intellectual property rights. 

Tom Pienkos counsels clients on the strategic protection, licensing, and enforcement of intellectual property rights and develops and negotiates licensing, cooperation, and joint development agreements; conducts intellectual property due diligence investigations for corporate mergers, acquisitions, and refinancing; and drafts and negotiates patent licenses, nondisclosures, and joint development agreements.

Clyde Wilson Tinnen Jr., Columbia 2006, has joined Foley & Lardner’s business law department and transactions practice group as a partner in the Milwaukee office. He advises clients ranging from startups to Fortune 100 companies across a variety of industries on transactional matters, particularly those related to financing and deal-making.

Appointments, Elections

Gov. Tony Evers has named the following lawyers to his Judicial Selection Advisory Committee: Jeanne M. Armstrong, U.W. 1993, is a litigation attorney with Fuhrman & Dodge S.C., Middleton. Cochair Christine Bremer Muggli, Loyola Chicago 1978, is the chief shareholder of Bremer & Trollop Law Offices S.C., Wausau.

Truscenialyn Brooks, U.W. 2011, practices labor and employment law, general commercial litigation, and patent litigation with Perkins Coie LLP, Madison, and is on the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Board of Governors. Michael J. Brose, William Mitchell 1991, practices civil litigation with an emphasis on plaintiff's personal injury at Doar, Drill & Skow S.C., New Richmond, and is a contributing author to The Wisconsin Rules of Evidence: A Courtroom Handbook (State Bar of Wis.).

Kristen D. Hardy, Marquette 2014, is legal counsel at Rockwell Automation Inc., Milwaukee, an adjunct professor at Marquette Law School, and a member of the State Bar’s Young Lawyers Division board. Rebeca M. López, Marquette 2012 magna cum laude, is an employment attorney with Godfrey & Kahn S.C., Milwaukee. Craig Mastantuono, DePaul 1992, focuses on criminal defense work at Mastantuono & Coffee S.C., Milwaukee, and is also an adjunct faculty member at Marquette University Law School.

Cochair Ryan Nilsestuen, U.W. 2012 cum laude, is Gov. Evers’ chief legal counsel and previously was chief legal counsel for the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, a communications director in the Wisconsin Legislature, and a congressional aide. Odalo J. Ohiku, Marquette 2002, is the founder of the Law Office of Odalo J. Ohiku, Milwaukee, focusing on criminal defense, family law, and mediation and arbitration, and also is on the State Bar’s Board of Governors. Jon J. Padgham, U.W. 1995, is the Deputy State Public Defender, State Public Defender’s Office, Appleton. John Sacia, U.W. 2013, is the Trempealeau County district attorney, Whitehall.

Miriam Seifter, Harvard 2007, is an assistant professor at the U.W. Law School, Madison, focusing on administrative, governmental, property, and regulatory law. Dana Wachs, Valparaiso 1985, is a partner with Gingras, Cates, & Wachs, Eau Claire, focusing on complex civil litigation matters. Benjamin Wagner, U.W. 2003 magna cum laude, is a civil trial lawyer and a shareholder at Habush, Habush & Rottier S.C., Milwaukee. MaiVue K. Xiong, U.W. 2010, is a partner at Weld Riley S.C., Eau Claire, and practices in business, real estate, copyright and trademark, and banking law.

Authors, Speakers

Mike Koehler, U.W. 2000, Elkhart Lake, is author of the recently published Strategies for Minimizing Risk Under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and Related Laws (Edward Elgar 2018). Koehler runs FCPA Professor LLC, including the FCPA Professor website, and is a law professor.

Carlton D. Stansbury, Iowa 1990 with distinction, and Colin A. Drayton, U.W. 2015 cum laude, authored Increasing the Likelihood of Enforcing a Prenup, American Journal of Family Law (Spring 2019). Stansbury and Drayton focus their practice in family law with Burbach & Stansbury S.C., Milwaukee.

Awards, Degrees, Honors

Jeff Billings, Michigan 2006, has been recognized as a Five Star Wealth Manager by Five Star Professional. His estate planning practice at Godfrey & Kahn S.C., Milwaukee, includes business succession planning, complex gifting strategies, charitable giving, and asset protection planning for families and business owners.

Timothy Edwards, Wayne State 1989, was recently recognized as the Adjunct Lecturer of the Year for 2018 by the U.W. Law School, where he has taught for almost 20 years.

The Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association recently honored three lawyers for their significant contributions to the practice of law and their positive impact on the legal community in the Eastern District of Wisconsin. Michelle L. Jacobs, U.W. 1993, Biskupic & Jacobs S.C., Mequon, received the Judge Robert W. Warren Public Service Award. David W. Asbach, U.W. 1988, U.S. Trustee Program, Milwaukee, received the Judge Dale E. Ihlenfeldt Bankruptcy Award. Nathan Oesch, Marquette 2018, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, received the Ruth W. La Fave Trailblazer Award.

Max Neuhaus, Mitchell Hamline 2008, has been named a Public Health Hero by the Pierce County Department of Health for his pro bono work related to public health initiatives.

In Memoriam

Robb Arent, Marquette 1996, New York, N.Y., Feb. 23, 1964 – Jan. 9, 2019.

James P. Burns, Marquette 1964, Greendale, Feb. 13, 1936 – Jan. 15, 2019.

John Stephen Carlson, Tennessee 1979, Crystal Lake, Ill., April 26, 1951 – Sept. 9, 2018.

William P. Croke, Marquette 1970, Milwaukee, June 8, 1943 – April 8, 2019.

Ronald S. Dague, Marquette 1990, Milwaukee, Jan. 5, 1954 – Aug. 31, 2018.

Hon. Candace J. DesArmo Coury U.W. 1992, Hales Corners, June 30, 1951 – Feb. 2, 2019.

Ray Eckstein, Marquette 1944, Paducah, Ky., Feb. 5, 1926 – April 20, 2019.

Kevin J. Hogan, Univ. of Denver 1984, Madison, March 16, 1959 – Oct. 29, 2018.

Harry G. Holz, Marquette 1958, Brookfield, Sept. 13, 1934 – Feb. 23, 2019.

Larry Eugene Nelson, U.W. 1988, Dodgeville, July 16, 1959 – April 16, 2019.

Jack A. Porter, Iowa 1969, Palm Beach, Fla., Nov. 20, 1945 – April 5, 2019.

Thomas S. Reynolds, Drake 1972, Sturgeon Bay, Jan. 6, 1945 – March 13, 2019.

David P. Schippers, Loyola Chicago 1959, Chicago, Ill., Nov. 4, 1929 – Sept. 28, 2018.

Dolores Topp Thimke, U.W. 1955, Stoughton, Sept. 8, 1930 – June 10, 2018.

John H. Zawadsky, U.W. 1980, Madison, Nov. 4, 1951 – Feb. 23, 2019.

How to Place your Announcement

If you have moved, become a partner or an associate, or received a promotion or an award, let us know! Email announcements to: MembersOnly@wisbar.org. Notices about State Bar members in good standing are printed as space is available, and subject to editing. Writing guidelines are available here. Questions? Email us or call (608) 250-6139.

Photo placement: Submit a professional-quality photo. If the photo is used, the State Bar will issue an invoice ($35 each). Group photos are not accepted. High-resolution electronic photos are preferred.

Deadline: The first of the month preceding publication. For example, to place an announcement in the May issue, it must be received before April 1.

Ineligible announcements: Talks, speeches (unless they are of national stature), honors from other publications, and political announcements are not accepted.