New Hires, Promotions, Partners

Hannah Balder, U.W. 2023, has joined the Madison office of DeWitt LLP as an associate in the Litigation and Employment Relations practice groups. Balder represents employers, businesses, and individuals in employment law, workplace compliance, regulatory matters, and litigation involving discrimination claims, disability rights, and reasonable accommodations. Previously, Balder was a staff attorney with Disability Rights Wisconsin, representing clients in federal and state court litigation, administrative proceedings, and agency matters involving the Americans with Disabilities Act and other anti-discrimination laws.

Matthew D. LeVene, U.W. 2026, and Jason Sutherland, U.W. 2026, have joined the Law Firm of Conway, Olejniczak & Jerry, S.C., Green Bay. LeVene’s’s practice centers on general corporate and business transactions, including banking and finance, business formation and restructuring, creditor rights, intellectual property, mergers and acquisitions, nonprofit institutions, and real estate development and leasing. He also assists families with estate and retirement planning. Sutherland’s practice focuses on general corporate and business transactions, including employment law, labor negotiations and union matters, and business formation, governance, and restructuring. He also works with families on estate and retirement planning, probate management, and trust administration and with nonprofit institutions.

Halle Geiger, U.W. 2026, has joined Mays Law Office LLC, Middleton, as an associate and concentrates in criminal defense.

James R. Kurszewski, Creighton 1997, has joined the law firm of VanderWaal Law, S.C., Wausau, as a senior associate. His practice includes adult guardianships and protective placements, general civil litigation, and real estate litigation, including boundary and other property disputes.

Meghan McMahon, U.W. 2026, has joined Stafford Rosenbaum LLP’s Madison office and practices business law, focusing on matters involving technology, intellectual property, corporate law, and business transactions.

Beth Stevermer, Drake 2025, has joined Horizons Law Group, LLC, Brookfield, as an associate and practices estate planning, probate, and family law.

Three attorneys have been promoted to shareholder with von Briesen & Roper, s.c. Blayne Nicole Christy, U.W. 2014, is in the Madison office and focuses on insurance coverage matters and litigation. Anne M. Stacey, Notre Dame 2018 cum laude, is a member of the Business Practice Group in the Neenah office and works with business owners, entrepreneurs, nonprofit organizations and individuals on business, transactional, tax-exempt, and individual planning matters. Morgan L. Turner, Marquette 2007, is a member of the Trust & Estate Section in the Waukesha office and focuses on estate planning, special needs trusts, powers of attorney, and probate and trust administration.

Seven attorneys have joined von Briesen & Roper. James P. Anderson, U.W. 2012, and T. Alexander (“Alek”) Dee, U.W. 2024, are associates in the Business Practice Group in the Madison office. Anderson focuses on creditors’ rights, collections, civil litigation, corporate issues, real estate transactions, and probate administration. Dee focuses on corporate law, estate planning, succession planning, transactions, and real estate.

Anne E. Flinchum, Marquette 2016, and Ann L. Patteson, University of California Davis 1991, are with the Business Practice Group in the Green Bay office. Flinchum is an associate and focuses on helping businesses and nonprofits across a range of industries with corporate matters, commercial finance, and leases. Patteson is counsel and represents individuals, businesses, and school districts with a wide range of real estate, corporate, contractual, general litigation, creditors’ rights, and collection issues.

Claire A. McDonough, Marquette 2022, is an associate in the Trusts and Estates Section in the Milwaukee office and focuses on helping individuals, families, and business owners with estate planning and succession planning. Christian T. Oehrlein, U.W. 2024 cum laude, is an associate in the Insurance and Risk Management Section in the Milwaukee office. He focuses on insurance coverage and defense, employment discrimination, breach of contract, real estate disputes, and adverse possession.

Anthony S. Wachewicz III, William Mitchell 2001, is a shareholder in the Government Law Group in the Eau Claire office. He serves local government and school districts with labor and employment, real estate, public records and open meeting issues, intergovernmental matters, and special-education-related issues. He also advises private-sector employers in employment and labor matters, including employee leave and wage-and-hour issues.

Mergers, Relocations, New Offices

Briane Pagel, U.W. 1998, has opened his own practice, Pagel Law Firm, in Middleton, and continues to focus on consumer protection litigation.

Appointments, Elections

Bill Tobin, Boston Univ. 1997, and Debby Tomczyk, U.W. 1994, have been elected to the Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren, s.c. board of directors for three-year terms. Tomczyk was reelected to her second term.

Tobin is chair of the Employee Benefits Practice, where he advises trustees of Taft-Hartley multiemployer pension plans, health and welfare plans, and apprenticeship funds in several industries. He also provides counsel to retirement and health and welfare benefit plan sponsors, fiduciaries, and service providers on Employee Retirement Income Security Act compliance and other legal and regulatory requirements. Tomczyk is a member of the firm’s Real Estate Practice and co-chair of the Data Centers Group. She counsels clients in all aspects of real estate development, has extensive experience negotiating incentives with local and state governments, and works closely with developers, municipalities, businesses, individuals, and taxing jurisdictions to help shape the region’s landscape.

Awards, Degrees, Honors

John Hawley, U.W. 1982, has been selected for the Green Bay Area Public School District’s Alumni Hall of Fame. Hawley, a Preble High School graduate, was chosen for his community service, including decades on the Random Lake School Board and terms as president of the Wisconsin Association of School Boards and the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. He was also recognized for his support of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he endowed a scholarship, supported facility projects, and is included in the Van Hise Society, which recognizes the most dedicated supporters and advocates.

In Memoriam

Randall J. Andersen, Wake Forest 1985, Madison, June 17, 1960 — July 19, 2026.

Steven R. Barth, Michigan 1984, Milwaukee, Dec. 2, 1958 — June 26, 2026.

James A. Drill, U.W. 1961, New Richmond, August 26, 1936 — Aug. 7, 2026.

Nancy Rice Gruber, Marquette 1983, Milwaukee, June 27, 1955 — June 7, 2026.

Susanna D. Herro, U.W. 1975, Madison, April 15, 1948 — May 7, 2026.

John P. Higgins, DePaul 1977, Kenosha, Feb. 13, 1952 — Nov. 30, 2025.

James T. Locke, U.W. 1959, Milwaukee, Aug. 19, 1931 — March 26, 2026.

Robert E. Olsen, Jr., U.W. 1969, Madison, Nov. 15, 1940 — July 27, 2026.

Kenneth W. Schmiege, Mitchell Hamline 1994, River Falls, Sept. 18, 1947 — July 7, 2026.

Thomas G. Schober, Marquette 1973, Oconomowoc, Aug. 17, 1948 — May 31, 2026.

David M. Victor, Vanderbilt 1983, Brown Deer, May 9, 1958 — May 3, 2026.

Hon. Emmanuel J. Vuvunas (ret.), U.W. 1967, Green Valley, Ariz., March 13, 1942 — June 2, 2026.

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! Writing guidelines are available here. Questions? Email us or call (608) 250-6127.

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Deadline: Submit announcements by the first of the month preceding publication. For example, to place an announcement in the November issue, it must be received before October 1. Email to: MembersOnly@wisbar.org. Include your State Bar membership number.