New Hires, Promotions, Partners

Nicole M. Beitzinger, Marquette 2020, has joined O’Neil, Cannon, Hollman, DeJong & Laing S.C., Milwaukee, in the estate and succession planning practice group. She assists clients in estate planning, succession planning, and trust and estate administration matters.

Nathan W. Eckley, John Marshall 2003 magna cum laude, has become a shareholder at Affeldt Law Offices S.C., West Allis. He continues to practice in estate planning, trust administration, probate, corporate law, and real estate transactions.

Makda Fessahaye, Marquette 2014, has been named associate vice chancellor for human resources at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Fessahaye previously was chief human resources officer and director of the Department of Employee Relations for the city of Milwaukee and before that worked for the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, most recently as administrator of the Division of Adult Institutions.

Miriam Horwitz, Northeastern 1978, has joined Goldstein Law Group S.C., Milwaukee. Previously, she was a deputy city attorney for the city of Milwaukee, supervising the section on litigation, employment, employee benefits, contracts, and municipal law; an assistant city attorney in Milwaukee; and in private practice, focusing on labor, employment, and worker’s compensation law.

Gary D. Koch, U.W. 2002, has joined Petrie + Pettit S.C., Milwaukee, and works primarily with the real estate law practice group, focusing on landlord-tenant law. He is well versed in all facets of landlord-tenant law and in debtor and creditor matters.

Bryan T. Kroes, Marquette 2013, has been promoted to shareholder at Hurtado Zimmerman SC, Wauwatosa, and continues to focus in construction, real property development, municipal bond finance, and entertainment law. He represents clients in matters involving construction contracts, lien and bond claims, design and construction defect litigation and alternative dispute resolution, property sale and acquisition, commercial leasing, and intellectual property rights protection. He also represents clients in entertainment contract preparation and negotiation, copyright and trademark applications, licensing agreements, and claims resolution. Kroes is a founding member and the treasurer of the Wisconsin Entertainment Lawyers Association and an advisor to the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Construction and Public Contract Law Section.

Mollie Newcomb, Marquette 2001, has joined the Law Offices of Gretchen McCord PLLC, based near Austin, Texas, as a trademark attorney. She has been practicing intellectual property in various capacities for more than 20 years and now focuses exclusively on trademark law.

Diane J. Raines, Marquette 2019, has joined the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District and focuses on environmental law. Previously she was assistant legal counsel in the office of Gov. Tony Evers.

Scott T. Reigle, Washington Univ. St. Louis 2012, has been named a shareholder at Meissner Tierney Fisher & Nichols S.C., Milwaukee. He helps clients navigate complex insurance coverage disputes and general business litigation and advises on issues related to general business strategy, transactions, and regulatory compliance. His litigation practice includes work in state and federal courts.

Two attorneys have joined Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c. in the Milwaukee office. John L. Barlament, Duke 1997, has joined the employee benefits practice as a shareholder. Barlament has counseled plan fiduciaries, employers, multiemployer plans, pharmacy benefit managers, insurers, insurance brokers, third-party administrators, and other plan service providers on employee benefit matters and has assisted on matters involving ERISA, HIPAA, the Affordable Care Act, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, and the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. He is a coauthor of HIPAA Portability, Privacy & Security and Consumer-Driven Health Care, both published by Thomson Reuters.

Erica D. Kolo, Marquette 2019, has joined the firm as an associate with the corporate law and mergers and acquisitions practices. Kolo advises business owners in transactional matters, mergers and acquisitions, and tax strategies and guides clients through due diligence, writing contracts and purchase agreements, handling stock sales, and more.

Hannah M. Stewart, U.W. 2020, has joined Hanaway Ross Law Firm, Green Bay, as an associate and focuses on civil litigation and criminal defense.

Mergers, Relocations, New Offices

Amy Shapiro, Boston Univ. 1981, has opened Amy Shapiro Family Law LLC, 250 W. Coventry Court, Suite 111, Glendale, representing parties in divorces and other family law matters and providing mediation services.

Appointments, Elections

Mark T. Johnson, U.W. 2008, has been appointed to the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) board for a two-year term that begins June 1, 2022. NAELA members work with the legal issues of older adults and people with disabilities. Johnson, a partner in Johnson Teigen LLC, Fitchburg, is an active member and past president of the Wisconsin chapter of NAELA and is a Certified Elder Law Attorney as conferred by the National Elder Law Foundation and as recognized by the American Bar Association for specialty certification.

Authors, Speakers

Authors of the recently revised Collections and Bankruptcy in Wisconsin (State Bar of Wis. 3d ed. 2022) are the following: Kristin K. Beilke, Loyola Chicago 2010, Robert A. Pasch, U.W. 1972, Nicole I. Pellerin, Chicago-Kent 2008, and Jane F. (Ginger) Zimmerman, U.W. 1985, Murphy Desmond S.C., Madison; Hon. Catherine J. Furay, U.W. 1980, U.S. Bankruptcy Court Western District of Wisconsin, Madison; Randy J. Pflum, U.W. 2016, Quarles & Brady LLP, Madison; and James D. Sweet, U.W. 1978, Steinhilber Swanson LLP, Madison.

Cutting the Dusk in Half, a book of poetry by Thomas J. Erickson, Marquette 1985, was published by Bent Paddle Press in February. It is his fifth book of poetry with cover art by Jeffrey W. Jensen, Marquette 1985.

Garrett A. Soberalski, Marquette 2012,and William T. Stuart, Marquette 1997, shareholders at Meissner Tierney Fisher & Nichols S.C., Milwaukee, spoke at the 2021 Annual Conference for the Association of Corporate Counsel Wisconsin on the topics of seller-protective provisions in purchase and sale contracts and the effects of “as-is, where-is” clauses in commercial real estate contracts.

Awards, Degrees, Honors

Brenton D. Teeling, Iowa with distinction 2007, vice president of client services and administration at Legacy Private Trust Co., Neenah, received an Under 40 in Wealth Management Award from the American Bankers Association. These awards recognize wealth management and fiduciary professionals who are committed to the highest standards of achievement at work and in their communities. He also holds the Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor designation.

In Memoriam

Michael J. Colgan, Hamline 1979, La Crosse, May 21, 1954 – Nov. 18, 2021.

Frederic G. Friedman, Northwestern 1973, Milwaukee, May 8, 1947 – Feb. 6, 2022.

Bruce A. Hanna, Marquette 1990, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., April 26, 1954 – Oct. 27, 2021.

Paul V. Lucke, Marquette 1958, Milwaukee, June 27, 1931 – Feb. 19, 2022.

Michael J. McCabe, Marquette 1967, Glendale, March 20, 1942 – Feb. 22, 2022.

Anthony Arthur Meyer, Marquette 2011, Highland Park, Nov. 13, 1981 – Feb. 28, 2022.

Michael J. Rielly, Iowa 1988, Minocqua, May 4, 1962 – Feb. 2, 2022.

J. Dennis Thornton, Marquette 1974, Kewaskum, Sept. 17, 1949 – Jan. 30, 2022.

Robert G. Woodard, Cumberland Law School 1970, Tyler, Texas, Jan. 29, 1945 – Feb. 10, 2022.

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.