New Hires, Promotions, Partners

Brandon J. Brown, Marquette 2019, has joined Domer Law S.C., Milwaukee. Domer Law exclusively practices worker’s compensation, only representing injured workers.

Lisa Bergersen, Marquette 1989, Mary Gerbig, Marquette 1994, and Saveon Grenell, Texas Southern 2014, have joined Buelow Vetter Buikema Olson & Vliet, Waukesha, a boutique labor and employment law firm. Bergersen formerly was human resources director for the city of Pewaukee and a partner at Lindner and Marsack. Gerbig formerly was with Davis & Kuelthau. Grenell formerly was a Milwaukee assistant city attorney.

James Cirincione, Vanderbilt 2003, and Brent Nistler, Marquette 1999, have joined Hansen Reynolds LLC, Milwaukee, as partners. Cirincione concentrates on general business litigation and counseling in federal and state courts. He previously practiced with Foley & Lardner and DLA Piper and served as an 11th Circuit and Eastern District of Wisconsin clerk. Nistler focuses on business, real estate, and probate litigation and complex criminal defense cases.

Noelle H. Long, U.W. 2019, has joined Krause Donovan Estate Law Partners LLC, Oregon. She helps families through all stages of estate planning and administration.

Scott Diring, U.W. 2003 cum laude, and Christian (Nick) Schaefer, Marquette 2017 cum laude, have joined the intellectual property practice group of Michael Best & Friedrich LLP. Diring, senior counsel in Waukesha, focuses on patent prosecution and counseling and pre-litigation management of patent disputes. Schaefer, an associate in Milwaukee, focuses on patent portfolio management, procurement, strategy, and prosecution.

Lauren E. Raupp, Marquette 2013, has joined Wauwatosa-based MacGillis Wiemer LLC as an associate focusing on personal injury law.

Maggie Seifert, U.W. 2015, has joined Mallery & Zimmerman S.C., Milwaukee, with the real estate team and represents clients in areas including the purchase, sale, leasing, development, and financing of commercial real estate. She previously worked for a local title insurance company assisting commercial clients on title and closing issues and also has worked as claims counsel.

Chad M. van Dernoot, New England 2005, has joined Wangard Partners Inc. as corporate counsel.

Gina C. Ziegelbauer, Marquette 2012, has joined Steimle Birschbach LLC, Manitowoc, and focuses on estate planning and Medicaid planning.

Mergers, Relocations, New Offices

Gayle Jebbia, Oregon 1991, owner of Gayle Jebbia, Attorney at Law S.C., has merged her family law practice with the full-service law firm of Murphy Desmond S.C., effective September 1, 2019. Jebbia remains in her current office at 210 North Iowa Street, Dodgeville, and continues to serve clients in Iowa, Grant, LaFayette, Richland, Sauk, and Crawford counties.

Appointments, Elections

Jeff Billings, Michigan 2006, has been elected to the board of the Friends of Boerner Botanical Gardens, Milwaukee. Billings is a shareholder with Godfrey & Kahn SC, Milwaukee, and focuses on estate planning, including business succession planning, complex gifting strategies, intergenerational wealth planning, and charitable giving.

The following lawyers have been named to the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, which Gov. Tony Evers recently recreated. John Chisholm, U.W. 1994, is Milwaukee County District Attorney. Fran Deisinger, U.W. 1982, practices with Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren SC, Milwaukee, and is a past president of the State Bar of Wisconsin. Jorge Fragoso, U.W. 2012, is with the State Public Defenders Office Appellate Division, Milwaukee. The Hon. Randy Koschnick, Hamline 1985, is Director of State Courts, Madison. The Hon. James Morrison, Minnesota 1973, is on the Marinette County Circuit Court and chair of the Committee of Chief Judges. David O’Leary, Marquette 1988, is with the Rock County District Attorney’s Office, Janesville. Kelli Thompson, Marquette 1996, is the State Public Defender, Madison. The Hon. Maxine White, Marquette 1985, is Chief Judge of the First Judicial District, Milwaukee.

Olivia Kelley, Marquette 2009 cum laude, and Barret Van Sicklen, U.W. 2006, are among new co-chairs of the litigation practice group at DeWitt LLP. Kelley practices primarily in the Brookfield office and focuses on preservation and handling of electronic information. Van Sicklen practices in the Madison office and focuses primarily on complex business disputes and labor and employment litigation.

Michael W. Drumke, U.W. 1991, has been elected to the American Bar Association Board of Governors for a three-year term. He is a partner at Swanson, Martin & Bell LLP, Chicago, and focuses on trials involving complex business litigation matters, including toxic tort, product liability, pharmaceutical, class action, and commercial litigation.

Emily I. Lonergan, Marquette 2011, has been appointed to the Outagamie County Circuit Court by Gov. Tony Evers. The appointment fills a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Nancy Krueger, U.W. 1979. Lonergan is with Peterson, Berk & Cross S.C., Appleton, focusing in criminal defense and personal injury law. She previously was with Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown LLP, Milwaukee.

Shawn Phelan, U.W. 1992, has been elected chair of the management committee of Thompson Coe Cousins & Irons LLP, with offices in Dallas, Austin, and Houston, Texas, New Orleans, St. Paul, Minn., and Los Angeles.

Authors, Speakers

Lawrence G. Albrecht, Valparaiso 1973, presented a lecture on sovereign immunity and human rights at the June 2019 Canterbury Christ Church University, England, conference on normative developments in international law, to be published by the university in a book of conference papers.

Leonard W. Wang, U.W. 1978, has written a portfolio published by Bloomberg Tax, titled Corporate Governance of the Financial Reporting Process and SEC Regulation of ESG Disclosures (Tax Accounting Portfolio 5506-3rd).

Awards, Degrees, Honors

Roy B. Evans, U.W. 1979, is the recipient of the 2019 City of Milwaukee Frank P. Zeidler Community Service Award. Evans maintains a solo practice in Milwaukee, focusing in business development and contract law.

Odalo Ohiku, Marquette 2002, received the Attorney of the Year Award from the Wisconsin Association of African-American Lawyers at the VelandDale Annual Scholarship Dinner in Milwaukee in September. He practices criminal defense at Law Office of Odalo J. Ohiku, Milwaukee, and is on the State Bar of Wisconsin Board of Governors.

Karen McKenzie, Marquette 2017, has been selected for a two-year appointment to the American Bar Association’s Diverse Leaders Academy. The academy selects a handful of lawyers from underrepresented groups to participate in leadership roles within the ABA, promoting diversity and inclusion and creating a pipeline of future leaders. McKenzie is a law clerk to the Hon. Judge Robert A. Molloy, U.S. Virgin Islands Complex Litigation Class Action Division. Previously, she served as an assistant attorney general in Guam where she prosecuted numerous criminal cases, including high-profile government corruption, white-collar, and Medicaid fraud cases.

Lawrence M. Rocheford, Hamline 1983, has achieved recertification as a civil trial law advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He is with Jardine, Logan & O’Brien PLLP, Lake Elmo, Minn., and represents clients in matters including products liability, equipment accidents, premises liability, defamation and libel, governmental liability, and construction litigation.

Robert B. Rondini, Northern Illinois 1990, has been honored by Marquette University as the Helen Way Klingler College of Arts and Sciences Adjunct Faculty of the Year in recognition of his outstanding effort and contributions to academic excellence though teaching and instruction. Rondini has been an adjunct faculty member at Marquette University since 2011 teaching law-related classes and has served as a mentor for the McNair Scholars Program. A long-time partner with Sayas, Schmuki, Rondini & Plum S.C., he is the register in probate for Jefferson County and a circuit court commissioner.

Rebecca L. Salawdeh, U.W. 1996, has been elected a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. She is president of the Employee Rights Advocacy Institute for Law and Policy after serving as executive secretary for 10 years and also has been an active member of the Wisconsin Employment Lawyers Association and the National Employment Lawyers Association. She operates Salawdeh Law Office LLC, Wauwatosa, representing individuals in employment disputes.

Legal Action of Wisconsin will receive a $371,554 Pro Bono Innovation Fund grant from the Legal Services Corporation. LSC’s Pro Bono Innovation Fund is intended to encourage and expand pro bono efforts and partnerships to serve more low-income clients. Legal Action of Wisconsin will use the grant to help low-income students attending technical colleges. The project will develop new pro bono opportunities to improve the education and employment outcomes of these students by resolving or mitigating civil legal problems that prevent them from getting a degree, using their degree, or achieving the highest level of occupational credentialing and licensing. The project also aims to build and test a new place-based model of pro bono delivery for replication in other communities that have technical or community colleges as partners.

Retirements

The Hon. William Atkinson, Nebraska 1979, retired from the Brown County Circuit Court on Aug. 11, 2019.

In Memoriam

James T. Barry Jr., U.W. 1959, Milwaukee, Aug. 21, 1933 – Aug. 13, 2019.

Albert F. Beck, Marquette 1942, Waukesha, June 24, 1917 – Nov. 28, 2010.

Daniel M. Berkos, Lewis Univ. 1978, Sept. 12, 1952 – Aug. 26, 2019.

Thomas J. Drought, U.W. 1959, Milwaukee, Dec. 4, 1932 – Aug. 9, 2019.

LaVerne E. Evans, U.W. 1957, Waukesha, March 26, 1929 – Jan. 18, 2019.

John Paul Fernandes, Marquette 1997, Milwaukee, May 27, 1971 – July 16, 2019.

Frances J. Hill, U.W. 1982, Harbor Springs, Mich., Jan. 21, 1936 – Sept. 30, 2018.

Michael Aaron Jacobson, Minnesota 1996, New Richmond, Dec. 26, 1970 – Aug. 30, 2019.

R. Gilman Johnson, Chicago-Kent 1963, Ingleside, Ill, July 11, 1938 – June 11, 2019.

Douglas W. Kammer, U.W. 1970, Portage, May 14, 1945 – Sept. 11, 2019.

Daniel H. Mundt, Minnesota 1954, Duluth, Minn., July 28, 1927 – Sept. 2, 2019.

Mark S. Poker, Marquette 1988, Waukesha, Sept. 6, 1953 – Sept. 5, 2019.

Paul B. Rudolph, U.W. 1991, Scottsdale, Ariz., Feb. 3, 1965 – Oct. 1, 2016.

Howard B. Scheckman, American Univ. 1954, Alameda, Cal., Oct. 28, 1922 – July 1, 2019.

Gretchen U. Stevens, U.W. 1986, Hartland, June 30, 1946 – March 13, 2019.

Thomas E. Wilson, Hamline 1982, Madison, July 28, 1950 – Nov. 5, 2018.

Congratulations to Recent Certified Paralegals

Through a State Bar program, paralegals in Wisconsin are eligible to be certified – a credential that demonstrates a paralegal’s dedication to professional development and excellence. The State Bar of Wisconsin Certified Paralegal^™ program is a self-funded, voluntary program for all paralegals in Wisconsin who meet the program’s criteria. For information about the program, visit www.wisbar.org/paralegal.

The following individuals were certified as of Sept. 17, 2019 (see July/August 2019 Wisconsin Lawyer for previously listed certified paralegals):

Sharon Adel, Becker French & Durkin, Racine.

Kimberly Lynn Bacik, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District Legal Department, Milwaukee.

Alex M. Becker and Shari Blanke, Stafford Rosenbaum LLP, Madison.

Kayce Blatz, Van Horn Automotive Group, Plymouth.

Brenda L. Buddenhagen, City of La Crosse Legal Department, La Crosse.

Lisa Christians, Aspirus Inc., Wausau.

Brittani Cole, Ruder Ware LLSC, Green Bay.

Stefanie L. Coller, Leib Knott Gaynor LLC, Bayside.

Toni Dahms, von Briesen & Roper SC, Milwaukee.

Angela DeCicco and Steven Lant, Gimbel Reilly Guerin & Brown LLP, Milwaukee.

April M. DeValkenaere, Waukesha County District Attorney’s Office, Waukesha.

Alicia Eggert, Alicia Stern, and Zachariah S. Zierson, Everson, Whitney, Everson & Brehm SC, Green Bay.

Lisa Felt, Johns, Flaherty & Collins SC, La Crosse.

Phyllis Filter, Eustice, Laffey, Sebranek & Auby SC, Sun Prairie.

Samantha J. Forrest, Book Law Group SC, Brookfield.

Tamara A. Gates, Leah S. Johnson, and Saundra E. Williams, Bemis Co., Neenah.

Amy E. Goss, Gill & Gill SC, Appleton.

Christine M. Jahncke, Leanna E. Sarah, and Jennifer A. Waterstraat, Crivello Carlson SC, Milwaukee.

Lynelle R. John, Godfrey & Kahn SC, Milwaukee.

Tanya Lenzner, von Briesen & Roper SC, Manitowoc.

Karen L. Literski, Borgelt, Powell, Peterson & Frauen SC, Milwaukee.

Jennifer B. Livingston, Regal Beloit Corp., Beloit.

JoAnn Mancl, Swid Law Offices LLC, Mosinee.

Ogiene Layne C. Manrique, Andrews & Wirtz Law Office LLC, Plymouth.

Jessica Millis, Sentry Insurance Co., Port Edwards.

Tanya M. Murphy and Kathryn L. Trickle, Habush Habush & Rottier SC, Madison.

Paulette M. Oas, Ruder Ware LLSC, Eau Claire.

Christine Perkovich O’Brien, Fox Valley Technical College, Appleton.

Ann K. Olson, Reff Baivier Lim Muza Sundet & Dunham SC, Oshkosh.

Christine Pawlak, One Law Group SC, De Pere.

Sarah J. Pederson, von Briesen & Roper SC, Waukesha.

Renee J. Koleta Pietrowiak, Kershek Law Offices, Milwaukee.

Tyler Richardson, Ruder Ware LLSC, Wausau.

Derek B. Schuld, Madison City Attorney’s Office, Madison.

Jennifer J. Springer, AlphaTech Counsel SC, Madison.

Christine Starr, Hebl, Hebl & Ripp LLP, Sun Prairie.

Tracy Tiegs, Simpson & Deardorff SC, Milwaukee.

Todd Van De Kreeke, Godfrey & Kahn SC, Madison.

Emily Walker, West & Dunn, Waunakee.

Richard K. Weber Jr., Legal Action of Wisconsin Inc., Oshkosh.

Wendie Witzke, Western Technical College Paralegal Program, La Crosse.

Angela M. Zills, City of De Pere, De Pere.

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.