New Hires, Promotions, Partners

Three attorneys recently joined Bakke Norman S.C. in locations throughout northwest Wisconsin. Christine Gimber, Hamline 1992, and William Wallo, Oklahoma 1992,have joined as shareholders. Gimber focuses on representing local financial institutions, businesses, and individuals in creditor matters and other legal disputes. Wallo focuses on representing businesses, individuals, and financial institutions in commercial transactions, financial restructuring, bankruptcy, and related litigation and also is a Small Business Bankruptcy Trustee for the Wisconsin and Northern Illinois Bankruptcy Court Districts.

MaiVue Xiong, U.W. 2010, has joined the firm as of counsel and focuses on the transactional and contractual needs of small and large businesses, including compliance with trademark law. She is also the executive director of the Eau Claire-based Pablo Foundation.

Cherish Buss, Marquette 2021, has joined Wilson Law Group LLC, Madison, and focuses on estate and business planning.

Rebecca R. DeMarb, U.W. 1997, has become senior managing director of Development Specialists Inc. and will be launching a new office in Madison to expand the company’s geographic presence and provide additional expertise in financial reorganization. DeMarb has experience in financial workouts, reorganizations, receiverships, and bankruptcy proceedings.

Megan L. Drury, Marquette 2021, has joined Milwaukee-based Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown LLP with the family law team. She recently received the Milwaukee Bar Association’s Pro Bono Publico Award, given to one law student per year, in recognition of her nearly 250 hours of volunteer service.

Gabriel Grahek, Marquette 2021, has joined Herrling Clark Law Firm Ltd., Appleton, and focuses primarily on family law matters.

Carly Boder, Marquette 2021, and Jennifer Dombrowski, Marquette 2021, have joined Grzeca Law Group S.C. as associates in the Milwaukee office. Both focus on corporate immigration law. 

Alana Leffler, Marquette 2013, has been promoted to a shareholder of Buelow Vetter Buikema Olson & Vliet, Waukesha, an employment and labor law firm. Leffler focuses on advising public and private schools in general school law, special education law, and labor and employment law. She regularly counsels clients on topics such as student discipline; bullying, harassment, and discrimination complaints; open meetings and public records law; special education mediation and due process; LGBTQ+ student issues; employee misconduct investigations; and school board policies.

Nilesh Patel, U.W. 2002, has joined the American Museum of Natural History in New York City as an associate director of human resources. His role focuses on labor and employee relations, internal investigations, and negotiation and administration of labor agreements. He was formerly counsel at the Day Care Council of New York.

Michael. A. Pflughoeft Jr., U.W. 2021, has joined Town Counsel Law & Litigation LLC, Kaukauna, as an associate and focuses on counseling local municipalities and representing them in civil litigation.

Naomi R. Smith, U.W. 2021, has joined Hawks Quindel S.C., Madison, as an associate. She practices in worker’s compensation, disability benefits, and family law.

Mergers, Relocations, New Offices

Bakke Norman S.C. has opened a new office at 130 S. Barstow St., Suite 1C, Eau Claire.

Appointments, Elections

Olivia Kelley, Marquette 2009 cum laude, has been elected to the Milwaukee Bar Association board. She is a partner in the Metro Milwaukee office of DeWitt LLP, cochair of the litigation practice group, and chair of the diversity, equity, and inclusion committee.

Edmund Manydeeds, U.W. 1978, has been elected president of the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents. He practices at Manydeeds Law SC, Eau Claire, and is an enrolled member of South Dakota’s Standing Rock Sioux tribe.

Jordan Rohlfing, U.W. 2014 cum laude, has been elected to a director-at-large position on the Dane County Bar Association board. She is a senior associate in the Madison office of DeWitt LLP and a member of the litigation, employment, and construction law practice groups.

Authors, Speakers

Authors of the recently revised volume 2 of Advising Older Clients and Their Families (State Bar of Wisconsin 4th ed. 2021) are the following: Sara B. Andrew, Marquette 2006, Andrew Law Offices S.C., Fond du Lac & Whitefish Bay; Maren Beermann, U.W. 2008, Fitchburg; Melanie L. Cairns, U.W. 2007, Disability Rights Wisconsin, Madison; Shana Dunn, Marquette 2009, and Travis James West, U.W. 2006, Dunn & West, Waunakee; Margaret Wrenn Hickey, U.W. 1986, Dayna J. Lefebvre, Marquette 2013, and Heather B. Poster, Marquette 2002, Becker, Hickey & Poster S.C., Milwaukee; Ann S. Jacobs, U.W. 1992, Jacobs Injury Law S.C., Milwaukee; Mark T. Johnson, U.W. 2008, Johnson Teigen LLC, Fitchburg; Robert J. Lightfoot, Hamline 1995, Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c., Milwaukee; Amy M. Risseeuw, U.W. 2005, Peterson, Berk & Cross S.C., Appleton & Green Bay; Kate Schilling, Univ. of Detroit 2008, Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources Inc., Madison; Gretchen Viney, U.W. 1978, U.W. Law School, Madison; and Carol J. Wessels, U.W. 1988, Wessels & Liebau LLC, Mequon.

The following attorneys authored the recently revised Immigration Consequences of Wisconsin Criminal Cases (State Bar of Wisconsin 2d ed. 2021): Erin M. Barbato, Marquette 2006, U.W. Law School Immigrant Justice Clinic, Madison; Ben M. Crouse, Marquette 2009, Chadwick & Crouse, Milwaukee; Angela B. O’Brien, U.W. 2020, Quarles & Brady LLP, Madison; and Aissa I. Olivarez, U.W. 2016, Community Immigration Law Center, Madison.

Authors of the recently revised LLCs and LLPs: A Wisconsin Handbook (State Bar of Wisconsin 7th ed. 2021) are the following: Joseph W. Boucher, U.W. 1978, Neider & Boucher S.C., Madison; Steven R. Battenberg, Iowa 1997, Carlson Black O’Callaghan & Battenberg LLP, Madison; Chris A. Jenny, U.W. 2001, and Marcus S. Loden, Marquette 1986, von Briesen & Roper s.c., Madison; Daniel M. LaFrenz, Marquette 2011, Milwaukee; and Sarah E. McNally, U.W. 2002, Douglas J. Patch, U.W. 1995, and Timothy C. Smith, U.W. 2011, Godfrey & Kahn S.C., Milwaukee.

Awards, Degrees, Honors

Rebecca Rapp, Chicago 2000, is a recipient of an American Bar Association Pro Bono Publico Award, given to individuals and entities that demonstrate outstanding commitment to volunteer legal services for low-income and disadvantaged people and communities. Rapp is general counsel and chief privacy officer at Ascendium Education Group, Madison, a nonprofit committed to improving access and success to education and meaningful employment for vulnerable cohorts. Rapp is known for using technology and innovation to increase the reach of pro bono and is involved with a project to provide legal help to technical colleges around Wisconsin, including in rural areas that have been coined “legal deserts” because of their lack of attorneys.

In Memoriam

Barry F. Bruskin, Marquette 1975, Milwaukee, April 10, 1950 – July 23, 2020.

Jeffrey P. Clark, U.W. 1979, Poynette, June 20, 1954 – May 9, 2021.

George A. Evans Jr., Yale 1965, Milwaukee, Dec. 7, 1940 – May 3, 2021.

Norman J. Fons, U.W. 1954, Muskego, May 25, 1929 – July 13, 2020.

Hon. Mark S. Gempeler, Marquette 1974, Oconomowoc, Jan. 3, 1949 – June 4, 2021.

George F. Graf, Marquette 1960, Brookfield, Jan. 29, 1937 – May 22, 2021.

Robert J. Hackman, Northwestern 1974, Honolulu, May 28, 1949 – Aug. 26, 2020.

Laurence C. Hammond Jr., U.W. 1955, Milwaukee, Jan. 21, 1927 – Nov. 21, 2020.

Charles J. Hartzheim, Marquette 1966, Menasha, May 2, 1941 – March 27, 2021.

Boyd F. Henry, U.W. 1959, Green Bay, March 14, 1923 – Jan. 16, 2021.

Hon. William A. Jennaro, Marquette 1968, Milwaukee, May 2, 1939 – Feb. 28, 2021.

R.L. McNeely, Marquette 1994, Menomonee Falls, Nov. 11, 1946 – Dec. 9, 2020.

Hon. Gordon G. Myse, Michigan 1960, Venice, Fla., June 9, 1935 – May 31, 2021.

W. Stuart Parsons, Harvard 1967, Cedarburg, Jan. 4, 1941 – Jan. 10, 2021.

Patrick George Ross, Marquette 1985, Anchorage, Alaska, Nov. 12, 1948 – April 14, 2021.

Thomas J. Schoendorf, Marquette 1959, Greendale, Aug. 14, 1931 – May 12, 2021.

Alexander George Sklenarz, U.W. 1971, Elm Grove, May 27, 1946 – April 9, 2020.

Esther Cody Splitt, U.W. 1949, Appleton, Aug. 13, 1919 – Nov. 1, 2020.

David L. Steele, U.W. 1965, Augusta, Aug. 7, 1935 – April 7, 2021.

Colleen R. Tyree, Loyola-Chicago 1986, Lake Geneva, Oct. 14, 1961 – March 23, 2021.

Herbert L. Usow, Marquette 1948, Milwaukee, June 20, 1923 – Oct. 17, 2019.

Arthur J. Vlasak, U.W. 1952, Milwaukee, July 7, 1928 – Feb. 4, 2021.

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.