New Hires, Promotions, Partners

Reid H. Rayome, U.W. 2012, has been elected shareholder at Aplin & Ringsmuth LLC, Wausau. Molly Horwitz, U.W. 2021, has joined the firm as an associate in the Madison office.

Jamie Barwin, Chicago-Kent 2013, has become an associate with Fox, O’Neill & Shannon SC, Milwaukee, and practices primarily with the taxation and estate planning and administration groups. Barwin previously worked as an attorney and a CPA in Michigan and Illinois.

James Casey, Dayton 1988, is interim associate vice president for research administration at Florida Gulf Coast University. He also serves as an adjunct associate professor at the City University of New York, teaching a graduate course in research administration.

Janel George, U.W. 2005, has joined Georgetown Law School as an associate professor of law and the founding director of the Racial Equity in Education Law and Policy Clinic. She also has been named a Fellow of the American Bar Association Foundation.

Three attorneys have joined Godfrey & Kahn S.C. Lillie Conrad, Marquette 2005, is with the data privacy & cybersecurity and technology & digital business practice groups in the Appleton office and advises clients on matters related to data privacy, cybersecurity, technology licensing and procurement, and digital advertising and technology and due diligence in these areas in mergers and acquisitions. Previously, Conrad was in-house counsel at a Fortune 200 consumer products company.

Conor Leedom, Thomas Jefferson 2015, is with the corporate practice group in the Milwaukee office. He focuses on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and joint ventures, drafting commercial contracts, and serving as outside general counsel.

Caroline Verbeten, Iowa 2019, is with the real estate practice group in the Milwaukee office and focuses on negotiating commercial leases on behalf of tenants and landlords for office, retail, and industrial space. She also assists lenders and borrowers in construction and mortgage loan transactions and represents clients in purchases and sales of real estate.

Brendan M. Juno, U.W. 2021, has joined Rose & deJong S.C., Milwaukee, as an associate with the corporate team.

Ross R. Kornowske, U.W. 2015, has joined Davis|Kuelthau SC with the corporate team and primarily focuses on business strategy, commercial real estate transactions, and mergers and acquisitions. Kornowske is located in the Appleton office serving clients throughout the Fox Valley and greater Green Bay regions. Previously, he was managing partner for Kornowske Law LLC.

Emily L.R. Wilson, CUNY 2011, and Annabelle K. Vang, Marquette 2014, are now shareholders of Kowalski, Wilson & Vang LLC, formerly known as Kowalski Family Law LLC. The firm has offices in Madison and Baraboo and focuses on all areas of family litigation, including divorce, child custody and placement, support, guardianship, restraining orders, termination of parental rights, stepparent adoptions, and prenuptial and postnuptial agreements.

Aleina McGettrick, Marquette 2021, has joined Cordell & Cordell LLP in the Milwaukee office and focuses on family law matters.

Madison R. Mears, Marquette 2020, has joined Wessels & Liebau LLC, Mequon, as an associate and focuses on elder law, guardianship, Medicaid, probate, estate planning, and dispute resolution.

Kristen Odijk, DePaul 2016, has joined Pitman, Kalkhoff, Sicula & Dentice S.C., Milwaukee, and concentrates primarily on nursing home abuse and neglect matters. Odijk formerly was an assistant state attorney for Broward County, Fla., prosecuting crimes against the elderly and other serious felony offenses.

Randall W. Ollie, U.W. 2021, has joined O’Neil, Cannon, Hollman, DeJong & Laing S.C., Milwaukee, with the litigation practice group.

Isaac S. Brodkey, U.W. 2021 cum laude, has joined Stafford Rosenbaum LLP’s Madison office as an associate and focuses on litigation, appeals, business law, and dealership and franchise law. Jane Landretti, Drake 2004, has joined the firm’s Madison office as a partner. Landretti has represented and advised local, state, and federal public agencies and organizations, focusing primarily on environmental law.

Melita M. Mullen, U.W. 2012, has become a director at Bell, Moore & Richter S.C., Madison. She continues to focus on general liability defense, insurance coverage litigation, and medical and professional malpractice defense. Morgan K. Stippel, U.W. 2018, has joined the firm as an associate and focuses on civil litigation and general liability defense.

Nancy Lynch, U.W. 1996, has been named vice chancellor for legal affairs at U.W.-Madison, serving as the university’s chief legal officer leading the Office of Legal Affairs and Office of Compliance. She previously was deputy to the vice chancellor. Brian Vaughan, U.W. 1999, has been named assistant vice chancellor for legal affairs at U.W.-Madison.

Mergers, Relocations, New Offices

Weld Riley S.C. and the Wausau branch of Mallery & Zimmerman S.C. are joining together under the Weld Riley name. Areas of practice continue to include labor and employment, family law, civil and criminal litigation, and estate planning. The firm will relocate and expand at the downtown office located at 500 Third St., Suite 800, Wausau.

Erica T. Gittings, U.W. 2008, has launched Wisconsin Divorce Solutions LLC, Madison, and exclusively serves as a neutral mediator and arbitrator in family law cases. Gittings also offers fixed-fee mediation, arbitration, and mediation-arbitration services.

Appointments, Elections

Heather L. Nelson, DePaul 1993, has been elected president of Everson, Whitney, Everson & Brehm SC, Green Bay. She is the firm’s first woman president in its 105-year history. Her practice focuses on all aspects of personal-injury defense, including motor vehicle accidents; premises liability, wrongful death, and products liability claims; and insurance coverage.

Christopher B. Hughes, Indiana University 1993, has been elected to the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Public Utilities Section board. He is a partner in Stafford Rosenbaum LLP’s Madison office and focuses on utility, real estate, municipal, land use, and conservation law. Vanessa D. Wishart, U.W. 2011, has been elected vice chair of the Public Utilities Section board. She is a partner in Stafford Rosenbaum LLP’s Madison office and focuses on utility, environmental, and municipal law.

The Hon. Gregory B. Huber, U.W. 1981, Marathon County Circuit Court, has been selected by his fellow chief judges to serve as chair of the Committee of Chief Judges. He is chief judge of Wisconsin’s ninth judicial administrative district. Huber replaces the Hon. Robert P. VanDeHey, U.W. 1985, Grant County Circuit Court.

Authors, Speakers

Authors of the newly released Mental Health Law in Wisconsin: A Guide for Legal and Healthcare Professionals (State Bar of Wis. 2021) are the following: Comm. Patrice Baker, Marquette 1998, Milwaukee County Circuit Court; Colleen D. Ball, U.W. 1991, State Public Defender’s Office Appellate Division, Milwaukee; Hon. Cynthia M. Davis, Marquette 2006, Milwaukee County Circuit Court; Dr. Terri A. deRoon-Cassini, Medical College of Wisconsin; Andrew Hinkel, U.W. 2005 State Public Defender’s Office Appellate Division, Madison; Kaitlin Lamb, U.W. 2011, Milwaukee; Amanda R. Rabe Mayer, Marquette 2012, Wisconsin Judicare Inc., Wausau; Amanda Pirt Meyer, Marquette 2011, Haskins, Short & Brindley LLC, Madison; Monica Murphy, U.W. 1986, Disability Rights Wisconsin, Milwaukee; Megan L. Sprecher, St. Thomas 2007, Legal Action of Wisconsin Inc., Madison; Tara Teesch, Northern Illinois 2001, State Public Defender’s Office, Oshkosh; Hon. Mary E. Triggiano, U.W. 1988, Milwaukee County Circuit Court; Evan Weitz, DePaul 2011, State Public Defender’s Office Trial Division, Milwaukee; and Lauren Zwirlein, Marquette 2012, Tabak Law LLC, Glendale.

Awards, Degrees, Honors

Barbara S. Hughes, U.W. 1986, received the 2021 Powley Elder Law Award from the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). Hughes retired from Johnson Teigen LLC, Fitchburg, in June 2020 and continues to consult with the firm and to serve in various roles in the legal and charitable community. The Powley Award is presented annually to a NAELA member who is a leader in promoting a greater understanding of the rights and needs of elders and persons with special needs. In particular, Hughes was recognized for her significant contributions to national and Wisconsin NAELA, the State Bar of Wisconsin Elder Law and Special Needs Section, the ARC—Dane County, and WisPACT.

In Memoriam

Bruce A. Barnes, Hamline 1985, Tucson, Ariz., Nov. 22, 1959 – March 26, 2021.

Gordon F. Barrington, Marquette 1978, Milwaukee, Sept. 8, 1952 – Aug. 12, 2021.

David A. Blumberg, Univ. of Southern California 1970, Milwaukee, Feb. 10, 1946 – Aug. 22, 2021.

Warren R. Bovee, George Washington 1972, Stillwater, Minn., March 15, 1942 – June 8, 2020.

Robert B. Bradley, Harvard 1953, Milwaukee, Sept. 4, 1927 – Jan. 4, 2021.

Robert P. Goldstein, New York Univ. 1969, Milwaukee, Nov. 21, 1941 – June 12, 2021.

John A. Graeber, Marquette 1954, Menomonee Falls, Nov. 28, 1930 – July 12, 2021.

Betty J. Karweick, U.W. 1985, Verona, Jan. 21, 1948 – Dec. 10, 2020.

John R. Kenefick, Minnesota 1965, River Falls, May 27, 1940 – Sept. 26, 2020.

Judith C. Lansky, U.W. 1980, Little Rock, Ark., Nov. 11, 1950 – July 9, 2021.

Susan C. Lein, North Dakota 1983, Stone Lake, Dec. 7, 1948 – June 27, 2021.

John P. Miller, Marquette 1959, Franklin, Jan. 7, 1936 – Aug. 29, 2021.

Michael S. Nolan, Marquette 1965, Elm Grove, June 21, 1939 – Oct. 1, 2020.

James R. O’Brien, Marquette 1973, Saint Paul, Minn., Oct. 24, 1944 – Aug. 12, 2021.

Hon. S. Dean Pies, U.W. 1959, Green Bay, April 5, 1928 – Nov. 25, 2020.

William L. Seymour, U.W. 1953, Elkhorn, April 3, 1928 – Nov. 5, 2020.

Paul Temple, DePaul 2009, Madison, Jan. 14, 1982 – Aug. 23, 2021.

Catherine A. Thomas, Marquette 1985, New Berlin, July 22, 1959 – Aug. 21, 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.