New Hires, Promotions, Partners
Michelle F. Achterberg, William Mitchell 2011, has joined Guelzow Law Offices Ltd., Eau Claire, as an associate focusing on personal injury, family law, and estate planning.
Reid H. Rayome, U.W. 2012, and Peter M. Silver, Marquette 1987, have joined Aplin & Ringsmuth LLC. Rayome is an associate in the Wausau office. Silver focuses on worker's compensation matters in the Milwaukee office.
Katherine Gaumond, DePaul 2011, has been promoted at Cross Law Firm S.C., Milwaukee, and Janice M. Pintar, U.W. 2002, has joined the firm. Gaumond focuses on employment discrimination and retaliation claims. Pintar focuses on plaintiffs' employment and civil rights claims.
Kelly M. Dodd, Marquette 2000, has joined the Milwaukee office of Stafford Rosenbaum LLP as a partner and focuses on family law.
Ten attorneys have joined Godfrey & Kahn S.C. in the practice groups indicated. Kerry L. Gabrielson, U.W. 2012 cum laude, litigation; Danny S. Tang, U.W. 2012, real estate; and Jennifer L. Vandermeuse, U.W. 2011 cum laude, business finance and restructuring, are with the Madison office. Thomas A. Bausch, U.W. 2012 cum laude, securities; Nina G. Beck, U.W. 2012 cum laude, and Michael S. Mather, U.W. 2012 cum laude, litigation; Rebecca M. Lopez, Marquette 2012 magna cum laude, labor, employment, and immigration; and Shannon Pitsch, George Washington 2012 with honors, Robert J. Shepard, U.W. 2012 magna cum laude, and Adam N. Ziebell, U.W. 2012 magna cum laude, corporate, are with the Milwaukee office.
Rebecca Grassl Bradley, U.W. 1996, has been appointed to the Milwaukee County Circuit Court by Gov. Scott Walker. She formerly was with Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C., Milwaukee.
G. Michael Halfenger, Chicago 1991 with honors, has been appointed a bankruptcy judge on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. He previously was a partner at Foley & Lardner LLP, Milwaukee.
Peter Helf, U.W. 2012 cum laude, has joined Peckerman, Klein & Van Kirk, Milwaukee, as an associate and focuses on family law.
Wendy S. Larson, Hamline 1996, has joined Olson, Kulkoski, Galloway & Vesely S.C., Green Bay, focusing on worker's compensation, personal injury, and family law matters.
Aaron P. McCann, Marquette 2012, has joined First, Albrecht & Blondis S.C., Milwaukee, as an associate and focuses on plaintiffs' side employment, personal injury, worker's compensation, and civil rights law.
Christopher “CJ” Murray, Marquette 2006, has been promoted to shareholder at Beck, Chaet, Bamberger & Polsky S.C., Milwaukee, and continues to focus on receiverships, creditor/debtor matters, and business law and litigation.
Todd A. Nova, U.W. 2004, has been named a shareholder at the Milwaukee office of Hall, Render, Killian, Heath & Lyman and continues to practice primarily in health care law.
Patton C. Prunty, William Mitchell 2004, has joined VanDerHeyden Law Office P.A., Rochester, Minn., as an associate practicing in creditor-collection matters. He previously worked for the Minnesota Third Judicial District.
Michael Jon Puerner, Marquette 2011, has joined Pruhs & Donovan S.C., Milwaukee, as an associate and focuses on criminal defense and general civil litigation.
Monica Riederer, U.W. 2001, has joined Northwestern Mutual as assistant general counsel on the investment products and services team. She previously was with Hansen Riderer Dickinson Crueger & Reynolds LLC, Milwaukee.
Peter J. Rindal, U.W. 2009, has joined Weld, Riley, Prenn & Ricci S.C. and focuses on business, estate planning, criminal defense, and municipal law matters in the Black River Falls and Eau Claire offices. He previously was the Monroe County assistant district attorney.
Rebecca Roeker, Marquette 2003 cum laude, has become senior counsel at Davis & Kuelthau S.C., Milwaukee. Her practice includes real estate, land use, commercial finance, and municipal law.
Ashley J. Roth, Marquette 2011, has joined the Minneapolis office of Fredrikson & Byron P.A. in the immigration group.
Todd R. Seelman, Hamline 1990, has joined the Denver office of Lathrop & Gage LLP as a partner and cochair of the antitrust practice group. He previously was with Ford & Harrison LLP, Denver.
Sven E. Skillrud, Marquette 2005 cum laude, has become director, executive compensation, with Time Warner Cable Inc., Charlotte, N.C. He previously was with Godfrey & Kahn S.C, Milwaukee.
John Domaszek, U.W. 2004, and Melissa Malecki, Marquette 2006 magna cum laude, have joined Sorrentino Burkert Law Group LLC, Waukesha. Domaszek, formerly with Davis & Kuelthau S.C., Milwaukee, focuses on commercial litigation. Malecki, formerly with Godfrey & Kahn S.C., Milwaukee, focuses on real estate law.
Phoebe A. Taurick, Minnesota 2012 magna cum laude, has joined the Minneapolis office of Wessels Sherman Joerg Liszka Laverty Seneczko P.C., a management-side labor and employment law firm, as an associate.
Tonya Vachirasomboon, Indiana-Indianapolis 2008 cum laude, has joined the Milwaukee office of Quarles & Brady LLP as an associate in the corporate services group.
Marcus Weden, Marquette 2006, has joined Sweet & Maier S.C., Elkhorn, concentrating in business law, estate planning, real estate, and tax law. He previously was with Deloitte Tax LLP, Milwaukee.
Jill Wegner, U.W. 2012, has joined Liebmann, Conway, Olejniczak & Jerry S.C., Green Bay, with the litigation team.
Shanna Yonke, Minnesota 2012 magna cum laude, has joined the Wausau office of Ruder Ware, practicing with the trusts and estates practice group.
Mergers, Relocations, New Offices
Steven M. Biskupic, Marquette 1987, and Michelle L. Jacobs, U.W. 1993, have formed Biskupic & Jacobs S.C., 1045 Glen Oaks Lane, Suite 106, Mequon, concentrating on complex business disputes, government investigations, appellate work, and white-collar-criminal defense. Both attorneys previously were with Michael Best & Friedrich LLP.
Lisa L. Holahan, Valparaiso 1997, has joined Louis D. Kaiser, Baylor 1971, and Michael D. Kaiser, U.W. 2003, to form Kaiser Holahan LLC, 138 North Ave., Hartland. Michael Kaiser, a partner, focuses on estate planning, probate, real estate, family law, guardianship, adoption, and juvenile matters. Holahan, also a partner, focuses on family law matters. Louis Kaiser, of counsel, focuses on estate planning, probate, real estate, family law, small business, and tax matters.
The Milwaukee office of Peterson, Johnson & Murray S.C. has relocated to the 788 Building, 788 N. Jefferson St.
Wilson Elser has opened an office in Milwaukee, staffed by 11 attorneys from the former Leib & Katt LLC. Partners are Samuel J. Leib, Southwestern 1977, William J. Katt, Marquette 1979, Kevin A. Christensen, U.W. 1990, Sean Gaynor, Marquette 2001, and Douglas S. Knott, Iowa 1990. Krista K. Buchholz, U.W. 2005, Jennifer M. Jackson, Marquette 2010, Christina A. Katt, Marquette 2002, Mark C. Severino, Marquette 2009, Heather L. Utlaut, Marquette 2007, and Corey J. Wright, Marquette 2008, are associates.
Appointments, Elections
Jason Gerlach, U.W. 1996, has been elected president of the California Hedge Fund Association. He is managing director of Sunrise Capital Partners, San Diego.
Timothy T. Kay, Marquette 1984, has been elected municipal judge for the Lake Country Municipal Court, located in Waukesha County. He maintains a private general practice, Kay & Kay Law Firm, Brookfield.
Benjamin Wagner, U.W. 2003, has been elected to the Wisconsin Association for Justice board. He is with the Milwaukee office of Habush Habush & Rottier S.C.
Authors, Speakers
Joseph S. Goode, Syracuse 1994, presented “Group Litigation: Strategic Considerations for Cases Involving Numerous Parties, Mass Actions, Class Actions and Claims Brought by Franchise Associations,” at the ABA's 35th Annual Forum on Franchising, held in Los Angeles. He is a shareholder with Kravit, Hovel & Krawczyk S.C., Milwaukee.
C. Thomas Sylke, U.W. 1985, presented a program on patent and other gaming-industry intellectual property issues to the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries in Orlando, Fla. He is principal of Sylke Law Offices LLC, with offices in Milwaukee and the Silicon Valley.
Awards, Degrees, Honors
Lt. Col. Robyn Blader, U.W. 1995, and Major Michael Gould, Virginia 1994, have been awarded Bronze Star Medals for meritorious service in Afghanistan. Blader is with the Wisconsin National Guard's 505th Trial Defense Team, Madison, and practices with Blader Law Office LLC, Wautoma. Gould is with the U.S. Army Reserve and was honored for his work as chief of detainee operations, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Combined Joint Interagency Task Force 435.
Michael F. Hupy, Marquette 1972, received an honorary service award at the Center for Teaching Entrepreneurship (CTE) Harvest of Hope Dinner in Milwaukee in December, for his 17 years' service on the CTE's board and his leadership as CTE board president. He is with Hupy and Abraham S.C., Milwaukee.
The Hon. Chad G. Kerkman, U.W. 1997, received the Governor's Champion of Adoption Award at the annual Governor's Outstanding Adoptive Parent award ceremony at the State Capitol in November. He sits on the Kenosha County Circuit Court.
Thomas Kyle, Hamline 1996, has satisfied the requirements to be designated a Master Advocate by the National Institute for Trial Advocacy. He is with Pitman, Kyle, Sicula & Dentice S.C., Milwaukee.
Bruce A. Lanser, Marquette 1982, has been elected a fellow in the American College of Bankruptcy. He is owner of Lanser Law Office, Waukesha, concentrating in representation of individual and small-business debtors in bankruptcy cases, and also is a Chapter 7 panel trustee.
The Hon. Marshall B. Murray, New England 1986, was named Jurist of the Year by the Justinian Society of Lawyers at a ceremony in Milwaukee in October. He sits on the Milwaukee County Circuit Court.
Tom Olejniczak, Marquette 1974, received the Darwin Nelson Community Service Award from Wisconsin Business Development in recognition of his assistance to small business and community programs, including the NEW Community Shelter, Casa ALBA Melanie-Hispanic Community Resource Center of Green Bay, and the Green Bay Packers board. He is a managing partner with Liebmann, Conway, Olejniczak & Jerry S.C., Green Bay.
Francis D. Schmitz, Marquette 1983, received the Attorney General's Award for Distinguished Service for his work on several investigations conducted in Washington, D.C. on behalf of Attorney General Eric Holder. He is a senior litigation counsel with the Office of the U.S. Attorney, Milwaukee.
Vicki Seltun, William Mitchell 1992, received the John Kell Making a Difference Award from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Wisconsin in November. She is with Weld, Riley, Prenn & Ricci S.C., Eau Claire.
Daniel D. Cary, U.W. 1995, and Miriam S. Falk, U.W. 1985, are recipients of the Wisconsin District Attorneys' Association 2012 State Prosecutor of the Year awards. Cary, Monroe County district attorney, was selected as the 2012 State District Attorney of the Year. Falk, a Milwaukee County assistant district attorney, was selected as the 2012 State Assistant District Attorney of the Year.
Pro Bono, Public Service
Foley & Lardner LLP has become the first Gold Founding Member of the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce.
Godfrey & Kahn S.C. has announced its 2012 Fellowship in Law recipients, Maria De Arteaga, a first-year student at the U.W. Law School, and Paul Staisiunas, a first-year student at Marquette University Law School. The fellowship program, under which recipients receive full three-year scholarships, mentoring, and summer associate positions, is designed to promote diversity at the U.W. and Marquette law schools.
Retirements
Michael J. Bruch, Marquette 1967, has retired as a Milwaukee County family court commissioner.
The following Wisconsin judges recently announced their retirements: Hon. Thomas P. Donegan, New York Univ. 1974, Milwaukee County Circuit Court; Hon. Vincent K. Howard, Marquette 1972, Marathon County Circuit Court; and Hon. Gregory A. Peterson, U.W. 1973, Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District III.
In Memoriam
Hon. John L. Coffey, Marquette 1948, Milwaukee, April 15, 1922 – Nov. 10, 2012.
Harry F. Franke, U.W. 1949, Milwaukee, Oct. 13, 1922 – Feb. 4, 2012.
Eugene J. Hayman, Cornell 1951, Mequon, Nov. 18, 1923 – June 16, 2012.
Reginald M. Hislop Jr., Marquette 1960, West Allis, April 2, 1931 – Jan. 17, 2012.
Paul Kirton, Texas 1956, Arlington, Va., July 24, 1932 – Nov. 1, 2012.
Marvin E. Marks, Thomas M. Cooley 1982, Ironwood, Mich., June 21, 1957 – Jan. 27, 2012.
George F. Miller, Marquette 1948, Algoma, Nov. 9, 1920 – May 7, 2011.
J. Paul Morrow, U.W. 1957, Dodgeville, July 16, 1932 – Nov. 12, 2012.
Kenneth J. Sippel, Marquette 1954, Mount Calvary, June 5, 1927 – Nov. 24, 2012.
