New Hires, Promotions, Partners

Megan Call, U.W. 2023, has joined Grzeca Law Group S.C., Milwaukee. Call is an immigration attorney with a focus on business immigration and helps guide employers through the immigration process from initial transfer through permanent residence.

Kevin G. Dague, Marquette 2020, has been promoted to partner at Herrick & Hart S.C., Eau Claire. Dague, also president of the Eau Claire County Bar Association, concentrates in family law, civil litigation, and personal injury matters.

Two attorneys have joined Godfrey & Kahn S.C. Ryan Myhre, Marquette 2012, has joined the Milwaukee office as special counsel in the Banking practice. Derek Punches, U.W. 2022 cum laude, has joined the Madison office as an associate in the Administrative and Regulatory practice.

Mark B. Hazelbaker, U.W. 1982, has joined Weld Riley S.C. and is based in Madison. He previously was legal counsel of the Wisconsin Counties Association; corporation counsel, administrative coordinator, and personnel director of Manitowoc County; and in private practice. In addition to representing municipalities, Hazelbaker handles real estate, business, and employment matters, including union-management labor relations, discrimination cases, and land use and zoning.

Liz Simonis, Marquette 2022, has joined Fox, O’Neill & Shannon S.C., Milwaukee, as an associate. Simonis is a member of the firm’s corporate, transactional, and real estate practice groups. In addition to providing direct legal services to business clients, she assists the firm’s transactional practice group in business mergers and acquisitions and counsels clients on both commercial and residential real estate transactions. Simonis began her legal career at a large national firm in Milwaukee and then provided general corporate and transactional legal services for a firm in southeastern Wisconsin.

Nicholas S. Cerwin, Marquette 2012, and Taylor A. Van Zeeland, Marquette 2022 cum laude, have joined the Milwaukee office of von Briesen & Roper s.c. Cerwin is a shareholder in the Government Law Group and Real Estate Section and focuses on governance issues, municipal licensing, public policy, and a wide range of law enforcement matters. Previously, he served as deputy city attorney for the city of West Allis and as a Milwaukee assistant district attorney. Van Zeeland is an associate in the Insurance Coverage and Risk Management Section and focuses on insurance coverage and analysis, coverage opinions, reservation of rights, and defense litigation.

Appointments, Elections

Rory Foster, Harvard 2010, has become national co-chair of the Intellectual Property (IP) practice group at
Quarles & Brady LLP, joining Lori Ruhly, Marquette 2001, who has been national chair since 2021. Tammy VanHeyningen, Washington Univ. 2005, succeeds Foster as Madison office chair of the IP group, and Matt Duchemin, Marquette 1999, succeeds Johanna Wilbert, U.W. 2006, as chair of the IP Litigation subgroup.

Foster, who previously was Madison office IP chair, primarily handles patent prosecution, strategic portfolio management, and IP transactions. His clients, which range from startups to multinational companies, span an array of industries, with a focus on mechanical, electronic, hydraulic, chemical processing, and algorithmic inventions. VanHeyningen’s practice includes all areas of IP counseling, particularly domestic and international patent prosecution. With more than 10 years’ experience as a research scientist, her technology concentrations are in biotechnology, biologics, and pharmaceuticals.

Duchemin is an experienced IP litigator and trial lawyer who has represented clients in state and federal courts throughout the country as well as before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Wilbert continues her practice at
Quarles, counseling clients in patent, trade secret, trademark, and false
advertising litigation and appeals.

Authors, Speakers

Hon. Alan J. White, Nebraska 1982, is again teaching a class on “The Value of War” at the Columbia County Correctional Institution in Portage. The class is using The Red Badge of Courage as its instructional text. White was elected to two terms on the Columbia County Circuit Court in Portage before taking reserve status.

Awards, Degrees, Honors

Kris Turner, U.W. 2020, Associate Director for Public Services at the University of Wisconsin Law School, has been named to Library Journal’s 2025 Movers & Shakers list. The Movers & Shakers list recognizes emerging talents in the library world who are making significant contributions as both leaders and behind-the-scenes innovators: up-and-coming individuals from around the world who demonstrate innovation, creativity, and dedication to improving libraries and communities. Turner was recognized in the educators category for his work combining traditional legal research with generative artificial intelligence (AI). He has helped prepare U.W. Law School students with essential AI literacy skills through his own Technology and Artificial Intelligence in Law Practice and Advanced Legal Research courses, as well as through guest lectures in other law school and university courses.

Beyond the classroom, Turner has helped lead the U.W. Law Library’s extensive outreach program of teaching AI literacy skills, reaching thousands of attendees through Wisconsin Lawyer articles and presentations at legal and library conferences throughout Wisconsin. In 2024, the U.W. Law School was recognized by the Bloomberg Law 2023-24 Law School Innovation Program for the innovative methods that Turner developed to teach legal technology skills.

In Memoriam

Kevin P. Caraher, Northwestern 1981, Deerfield, Ill., Aug. 17, 1956 – Feb. 15, 2025.

James L. Cummings, U.W. 1962, Neenah, July 13, 1936 – March 11, 2025.

John William DeWalt, Hamline 2002, Minneapolis, Nov. 12, 1973 – March 16, 2025.

John D. Hibbard, U.W. 1966, Minneapolis, Aug. 23, 1942 – April 1, 2025.

Walter H. Isaacson, U.W. 1982, Janesville, March 1, 1944 – April 10, 2025.

Brett Mares, Minnesota 2011, Oak Park, Ill., May 10, 1984 – March 2, 2025.

James W. H. McCord, U.W. 1972, June 15, 1945 – April 6, 2025.

Michael J. Remington, U.W. 1973, Madison, June 5, 1945 – March 30, 2025.

Dennis M. Selby, U.W. 1958, Milwaukee, June 29, 1933 – Jan. 15, 2025.

James R. Ungrodt, U.W. 1969, Kiel, April 21, 1944 – Oct. 12, 2024.

Allan B. Wheeler, U.W. 1953, Milwaukee, June 23, 1928 – Feb. 1, 2025.

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) 250-6127.

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.