Wisconsin Lawyer
Vol. 84, No. 2, February 2011
New Hires, Promotions, Partners
Alicia M. Augsburger, Marquette 2009, has joined Duxstad & Bestul S.C., Monroe, as an associate and focuses on business law, estate planning, probate, and real estate transactions.
Aaron J. Bernstein, Marquette 2002, has joined Galanis, Pollack, Jacobs & Johnson S.C., Milwaukee.
Nicholas R. DiUlio, U.W. 2006, has joined Godfrey, Braun & Frazier LLP, Milwaukee, as an associate and concentrates in litigation, business law, and estate planning.
John T. Domaszek, U.W. 2004, has joined the Milwaukee office of Davis & Kuelthau s.c. as an associate and concentrates in construction, professional liability, and business and commercial litigation. He previously was with Crivello Carlson S.C., Milwaukee.
Former Gov. Jim Doyle, Harvard 1972, has joined Foley & Lardner to counsel its Wisconsin and national clients in the firm’s health care and energy practices on policy and regulatory issues faced by those and other highly regulated industries. He also will work with national and local foundations, corporate and nonprofit boards, and other projects that have been important to him throughout his 20 years in public service. He will work out of the firm’s Wisconsin offices.
Dennis J. Elverman, Marquette 2009, has joined Howard, Solochek & Weber S.C., Milwaukee, as an associate and practices creditors’ rights law.
Jennifer (Frakes) Farley, U.W. 2003, has joined Voith Holding Inc., Appleton, as associate regional counsel – employment. She previously was with Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c., Milwaukee.
Brett D. Koeller, Michigan 2002 magna cum laude, and Patrick S. Murphy, Marquette 2002 magna cum laude, have been elected shareholders at Godfrey & Kahn S.C. Koeller is with the corporate practice group and Murphy is with the banking and financial institutions practice group, both in the Milwaukee office. Alexander W. Hansch, Marquette 2006 with honors, has joined the firm in the corporate practice group in the Milwaukee office. He previously was with Meissner Tierney Fisher & Nichols S.C.
James C. Green, Marquette 1991, has become vice president – human resources, general counsel, and corporate secretary at Gehl Co., West Bend.
Megan K. Heinzelman, Marquette 2008, LL.M. (taxation) Northwestern, has joined the Wausau office of Ruder Ware L.L.S.C. as a member of the business transactions and trusts and estates practice groups.
Ginger L. Murray, Mississippi College 1995, has been elected president of Lawton & Cates S.C., Madison. She continues to focus her practice on family law matters. Levi J. Bjork, U.W. 2010, and Daniel S. Lenz, U.W. 2010, have joined the firm as associates and focus their practices on general litigation.
Ryan L. Woody, Marquette 2004, has been promoted to partner at Matthiesen, Wickert & Lehner S.C., Hartford, and continues to focus on nationwide large-loss subrogation, ERISA litigation, and insurance defense and coverage issues. Peter M. Silver, Marquette 1987, and Melissa M. Stone, Marquette 2007, have joined the firm. Silver concentrates on defense of worker’s compensation matters and also handles national subrogation and civil litigation. Stone focuses on worker’s compensation and personal injury insurance defense, national subrogation, and civil litigation.
Three attorneys have become associates with the intellectual property group of Michael Best & Friedrich LLP. Andrew T. Dufrense, Berkeley 2010, is with the Madison office. Joshua C. Heitsman, Iowa 2010, is with the Waukesha office. Brian J.N. Marstall, Saint Louis Univ. 2010, is with the Milwaukee office.
Adrienne J. Olson, Marquette 2003, has joined the Milwaukee office of Quarles & Brady LLP and works with the corporate services group and the government affairs compliance team.
Eric T. Raskopf, Cleveland State 1992, has joined Schober Schober & Mitchell S.C., practicing primarily in the Oconomowoc office. He focuses on criminal and traffic law defense.
Three attorneys have been named shareholders in the Milwaukee office of Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c. Nathan K. Johnson, Marquette 2003 cum laude, is with the trusts and estates practice. Amy L. Lindner, Notre Dame 2003 cum laude, is with the litigation and intellectual property practices. Lucas J. Pagels, U.W. 2003 cum laude, is with the employee benefits practice. Eight attorneys have joined the Milwaukee office. Beth A. Bulmer, Denver 1998, is with the employee benefits practice. She previously was with Previant, Goldberg, Uelmen, Gratz, Miller & Brueggeman s.c., Milwaukee. Also with the employee benefits practice are Jessica P. Culotti, U.W. 2008 magna cum laude, and Stacie M. Kalmer, Marquette 2010 magna cum laude. Jessica L. Farley, Marquette 2010 cum laude, Brittany L. Lopez, U.W. 2010 cum laude, and Amy L. MacArdy, Marquette 2009 cum laude, are with the litigation practice. MacArdy previously was a judicial law clerk for the Hon. Patience D. Roggensack, Wisconsin Supreme Court. Mark A. Hill, Notre Dame 2010 magna cum laude, is with the business law practice. He previously was a clerk for the Hon. Thomas Appleton, Illinois Appellate Court. Benjamin T. Kurten, U.W. 1997, has joined the labor and employment practice and heads the firm’s immigration law group.
Tara M. Spoon, Michigan State 2006 with honors, has joined Brennan Steil S.C., Janesville, and focuses in business law and estate planning.
Kelli Taffora, U.W. 2001, has joined Michels Corp., Brownsville, as senior legal counsel. She previously worked for the Wisconsin Department of Administration.
Nicholas D. Thompson, Minnesota 2008, has joined O’Flaherty Heim Egan & Birnbaum Ltd., La Crosse, as an associate and focuses in sports, employment, corporate, and criminal law.
Eric Toney, Hamline 2009, has joined O’Rourke Law Office and focuses on juvenile law and mental-health commitments. The firm has moved to 21 N. Portland St., Suite 201, Fond du Lac.
Seven attorneys have joined Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C. Matthew Rutlin, U.W. 2005 cum laude, is with the corporate transactions and business acquisitions team in the Madison office. The following attorneys are in the Milwaukee office: Michael L. Bohn, Minnesota 2010, is with the business and commercial finance and corporate transactions and business acquisitions teams; Erik Eisenmann, George Washington 2007 with honors, is with the labor and employment team; Michael Gosman, Chicago 2009, is with the business restructuring, creditors’ rights, and bankruptcy and the public finance teams; Lindsey Johnson, Marquette 2010 magna cum laude, is with the corporate transactions and business acquisitions team and also works with the litigation and environmental law teams; Yousuf Khan, U.W. 2010, is with the taxation team; and Kathryn M. West, Cornell 1988, is with the environmental team.
Mark Bromley, U.W. 1977 with honors, and Maria Lazar, Georgetown 1989, have joined the Wisconsin Department of Justice State Program Administration and Revenue Unit. Lazar previously was with Galanis, Pollack, Jacobs & Johnson S.C., Milwaukee.
Mergers, Relocations, New Associations
Elizabeth Feyrer Bagley, Hamline 1997, has formed Bagley Law Firm LLC, 16535 W. Bluemound Rd., Suite 300, Brookfield, and continues to concentrate in family law and guardian ad litem work. Thomas R. Fahl, U.W. 1965, has joined the firm in of-counsel capacity.
Patricia R. Foley, Dayton 2009, has formed the Law Office of Patricia R. Foley LLC, 131 W. Layton Ave., Milwaukee, and focuses on family law, estate planning, and criminal defense.
Graham P. Wiemer, Notre Dame 2006, and Christopher J. MacGillis, Marquette 2008, have opened MacGillis Wiemer LLC, 2360 N. 124th St., Suite 200, Wauwatosa, and focus on personal injury, labor and employment, criminal, and family law.
Melnick & Melnick S.C. has moved to 10555 N. Port Washington Rd., Suite 202, Mequon.
Deborah Opolion-Elovic, Bar Ilan Univ. (Israel) 1988, has founded Deborah Opolion Law Offices LLC, 2510 E. Capitol Dr., Milwaukee, and focuses on real estate, U.S.-Israel estate planning, and Israeli investment in Wisconsin.
Quarles & Brady LLP and The Capitol Group, a governmental affairs firm, have formed a strategic affiliation.
Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c. has opened an office in Phoenix. Attorneys leading the office are John A. Erich, Chicago 1972, a shareholder in the real estate and business law practice areas; William F. Flynn, Michigan 1978, chair of the banking and finance practice area; and William (Will) Invie Shroyer, Minnesota 1987, a shareholder in the real estate, banking and finance, and business law practice areas.
SmithAmundsen LLC and Madsen, Farkas & Powen LLC, which concentrates on aerospace and aviation matters, have merged. SmithAmundsen has offices in Milwaukee and in Chicago, Rockford, St. Charles, and Woodstock, Ill., and recently opened its second office in St. Louis, Mo.
David K. Sparr, U.W. 1978, has opened a Madison office of his firm, David K. Sparr & Associates SC, at 448 W. Washington Ave. The Madison office focuses on plaintiffs’ personal-injury work.
Appointments, Elections
Jon Anderson, Marquette 1981, has been named to the Education Law Association board. He is a shareholder and leader of the labor and employment practice group in the Madison office of Godfrey & Kahn S.C.
Freya K. Bowen, Berkeley 2002 with honors, has been elected to the Henry Vilas Park Zoological Society board. She is a member of the commercial litigation and appellate litigation groups in the Madison office of Quarles & Brady LLP.
Kristin A. Occhetti, Marquette 2007 cum laude, has been appointed to the board of the Zoological Society of Milwaukee. She is an associate with the trusts and estate group in the Milwaukee office of Quarles & Brady LLP.
Douglas Poland, Loyola-Chicago 1994 summa cum laude, has been elected vice chair of the Defense Research Institute’s Toxic Torts and Environmental Law Committee. He is a shareholder and member of the litigation practice group in the Madison office of Godfrey & Kahn S.C.
Christopher M. Seelen, Marquette 1997, has been appointed to the panel of Chapter 7 bankruptcy trustees for the Western District of Wisconsin. He focuses on creditor-side bankruptcy matters in the Eau Claire office of Ruder Ware LLSC.
Authors, Speakers
Jeffrey P. Aiken, Marquette 1972 cum laude, spoke to the Hungarian Parliament in November about the advantages of a bicameral legislature in a unicameral system of government. He is senior counsel with Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C., Milwaukee.
Ralph Adam Fine, Columbia 1965, has authored the revised fifth edition of The How-To-Win Trial Manual (Juris, 5th ed. 2011). He is a judge on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals.
Michael S. Heffernan, U.W. 1977, has authored the revised fifth edition of Appellate Practice and Procedure in Wisconsin (State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE 5th ed. 2011).
Authors of the recently released Commercial Real Estate Transactions in Wisconsin (State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE 2010) include the following: Lead authors Jesse S. Ishikawa, Michigan 1980, and Harvey L. Temkin, Illinois 1978, are both with the Madison office of Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c. Other authors with the Madison office of Reinhart are Melanie S. Lee, Iowa 1998; Justin F. Oeth, Ohio State 2004; Raymond M. Roder, U.W. 1977; and Nathan J. Wautier, U.W. 2003. Daniel P. Cooper, Michigan 1998, is with the firm’s Milwaukee office. Robert W. Habich, Marquette 2004; Rebecca Leair, Marquette 1982; Bush Nielsen, Marquette 1981; and Pamela H. Schaefer, U.W. 1976, are with the Waukesha office. Shana Feuling Weber, U.W. 2005, is with Elle Ventures, Madison.
The following attorneys served as editorial board members for the upcoming revision of the System Book for Family Law (State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE 2011): Steven A. Bach, U.W. 1974, Madison; Stephen C. Beilke, U.W. 1972, Madison; John E. Bermingham, Marquette 1977, Osh-kosh; Lynn M. Galbraith-Wilson, Hamline 1993, Janesville; Thomas H. Geyer, U.W. 1977, Platteville; Howard T. Healy Jr., Marquette 1975, Neenah; Jeffrey A. Hertz, U.W. 1978, Wausau; Lee H. Kummer, U.W. 1977, Manitowoc; Robert B. Loomis, U.W. 1983, Appleton; Barbara Kay Miller, Hamline 1984, Hudson; Rebecca W. Oettinger, U.W. 2007, Baraboo; Susan M. Perry, Marquette 1986, Racine; Thomas S. Sleik, Marquette 1971, La Crosse; and Thomas J. Walsh, Hamline 1992, De Pere.
Awards, Degrees, Honors
Jason F. Abraham, Marquette 1992, was named “Lawyer of the Year” by the Milwaukee branch of the NAACP in recognition of his many legal achievements and his firm’s commitment to the NAACP’s scholarship fund. He is managing partner of Hupy & Abraham S.C., Milwaukee.
The Association for Women Lawyers Foundation has honored the following attorneys: Christy Brooks, U.W. 1977, von Briesen & Roper SC, Milwaukee, received the Pro Bono Award. Diane S. Diel, U.W. 1976, Diane S. Diel SC, Milwaukee, received the Founders Award. Maria E. Gonzalez Knavel, Marquette 1993, Foley & Lardner LLP, Milwaukee, received the Community Involvement Award. Brenda Sunby, John Marshall 1998, Habush Habush & Rottier S.C., Wausau, received the Mentoring Award.
Crystal A. Banse, U.W. 2010, has been commissioned as a first lieutenant, Judge Advocate General Corps, with the Wisconsin Army National Guard and is assigned to the 64th Troop Command based in Madison.
Christine Bremer Muggli, Loyola-Chicago 1978, received the Robert L. Habush Trial Lawyer of the Year Award from the Wisconsin Association for Justice in December. She is with Bremer & Trollop Law Offices S.C., Wausau, and focuses on representing personal-injury plaintiffs. The award is presented annually to an attorney who excels professionally and demonstrates exceptional commitment as an advocate for injured consumers.
Robert O. Burr Jr., Marquette 1966, has been certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a circuit civil mediator.
Thomas M. Domer, U.W. 1983, received a special recognition award from the Workers’ Injury Law & Advocacy Group at its annual conference in Florida in November, in honor of his work as editor of the national publication Workers’ First Watch. He also gave a presentation on ethics and worker’s compensation at the conference. He is with Domer Law S.C., Milwaukee.
Charles Fischbach, U.W. 1967, was admitted to the National Academy of Arbitrators in October. He is a commissioner with the Chicago Commission on Human Relations.
Gregg Formella, U.W. 1990, has been board certified in labor and employment law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and also has been appointed by the ABA Labor and Employment Law Section as liaison to the Commission on Disability Law. He practices labor and employment law with American Airlines Inc., Dallas.
Godfrey & Kahn S.C. became the first law firm to receive Green Tier status in December. The state program rewards environmentally responsible businesses that make legal commitments to superior environmental performance through agreements with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Patrick T. Harrigan, Hamline 1995 cum laude, has been designated a Certified Exchange Specialist by the Federation of Exchange Accommodators. He is president and chief operating officer of Gain 1031 Exchange Co. LLC, Brookfield.
Stephen W. Hayes, Illinois 1969, received the Friend of Adoption Award from Adoption Resources of Wisconsin in November. Hayes, a partner with Grady, Hayes & Neary LLC, Waukesha, was honored for his decades of practicing children’s law, working on legislative committees, and providing services to the adoption community.
Michael J. Remington, U.W. 1973, received a 2010 Burton Award for his coauthorship of “User-Generated Content, Online Fair Use and the DMCA’s ‘Good Faith’ Requirement,” originally published in the Patent, Trademark & Copyright Journal. He concentrates on intellectual property law and governmental affairs work at Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, Washington, D.C.
Tim Trecek, Marquette 1993, has been invited to be inducted as a fellow of the International Society of Barristers, which honors top-tier trial attorneys from around the world. He is with the Milwaukee office of Habush Habush & Rottier S.C.
David G. Walsh, Harvard 1970, with Foley & Lardner LLP, Madison, received the Wisconsin Law Foundation (WLF) Charles L. Goldberg Award in November 2010. The award recognizes legal professionals for lifetime service to the profession and the public. The following attorneys were inducted into the WLF’s 2010 Class of Fellows: Valerie L. Bailey-Rihn, U.W. 1991, Quarles & Brady LLP, Madison; Kathleen M. Baird, U.W. 1976, Kathleen M. Baird Attorney at Law, Wauwatosa; James E. Braza, Cornell 1981, Davis & Kuelthau SC, Milwaukee; Bruce J. Brovold, U.W. 1975, Kostner, Koslo & Brovold LLC, Arcadia; Cheryl A. Gemignani, Marquette 1984, Phillips & Gemignani, Waukesha; William C. Hess, U.W. 1970, Hess, Dexter, Reinertson & Brunner SC, Wausau; Thomas S. Hornig, U.W. 1972, von Briesen & Roper SC, Madison; Micaela H. Levine, Boston Univ. 1977, Drinka, Levine & Masson S.C., Milwaukee; John L. Maier Jr., U.W. 1973, Sweet Maier & Coletti SC, Elkhorn; Marta T. Meyers, U.W. 1993, Boardman Suhr Curry & Field LLP, Madison; and Karen Goldman Zimmermann, Marquette 1982, Zimmermann Law Office SC, Milwaukee.
Edward J. Williams, Louisville 1974, received the George Tipler Award from the Wisconsin School Attorneys Association for distinguished service in school law to Wisconsin school districts and also was named the 2010 Outstanding Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce Volunteer. He is a shareholder in the Oshkosh office of Davis & Kuelthau s.c. and focuses on labor and employment, municipal, and school law.
In Memoriam
Steven G. Gabriel, DePaul 1970, Racine, May 13, 1943 – Oct. 29, 2010.
John F. Hagemann, U.W. 1968, Belleville, Ill., Feb. 12, 1939 – Nov. 22, 2010.
Margaret E. Haggerty, Marquette 1989, Wauwatosa, June 21, 1953 – Dec. 13, 2010.
Patrick T. King, Marquette 1966, Sheboygan, Oct. 6, 1935 – Nov. 18, 2010.
Edmund A. Nix, U.W. 1954, La Crosse, May 24, 1929 – Dec. 6, 2010.
Perry A. Risberg, U.W. 1941, Hayward, Aug. 21, 1917 – Dec. 1, 2010.
Leon E. Sheehan, U.W. 1951, La Crosse, Jan. 18, 1924 – Nov. 8, 2010.
John H. Short, U.W. 1970, Ellison Bay, May 20, 1945 – Dec. 25, 2010.
James Urdan, Harvard 1956, Milwaukee, July 30, 1931 – Dec. 2, 2010.
Stephen C. Wood, Michigan 1968, Mequon, March 28, 1943 – Dec. 26, 2010.
Wisconsin Lawyer