Wisconsin Lawyer: Wisconsin Lawyer March 1998: Personal Mentions:

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March 01, 1998

Wisconsin Lawyer March 1998: Personal Mentions

Personal Mentions

Dennis R. Ainger, Illinois 1991, formerly an associate of Cook & Franke S.C., Milwaukee, has joined Schwartz, Cooper, Greenberger & Krauss Chtd., Chicago, Ill., as an associate practicing commercial real estate transactions.

Timothy J. Algiers, Marquette 1985 cum laude, has become a partner in O'Meara, Eckert, Pouros & Gonring. He will continue working out of both the Hartford and West Bend offices in the general practice of law, including civil and criminal litigation, personal injury, plaintiffs and defense, worker's compensation, traffic defense and municipal prosecution, and family law. He has been with the firm since 1990. He formerly was a member of the Judge Advocate General's Corps, practicing law in the United States Navy.

Gino M. Alia, Marquette 1995, has joined O'Connor & Willems S.C., Kenosha, where he continues his practice in civil litigation. He formerly was with Hinshaw & Culbertson, Milwaukee.

Kathryn S. Barker, Washington University 1991, has joined Heuer, Byrne & Rosenbaum S.C., Milwaukee. She will concentrate in subrogation and creditor's rights litigation.

Jeffrey L. Bassin, U.W. 1978, N.Y.U. 1984, LL.M.-Taxation, has been promoted to special trial attorney (international) in the Office of Regional Counsel, Internal Revenue Service, Cincinnati, Ohio. He will represent the IRS in the largest and most complex cases in the U.S. Tax Court, particularly those involving international issues.

The Brown County Bar Association has elected these officers: president - Curtis R. Czachor, Green Bay; president-elect - Jeffrey F. Jaekels, Green Bay; secretary - James R. Sickel, Green Bay; and treasurer - Patricia H. Brzezinski, Oneida.

Judge James Dannenberg, U.W. 1969, will retire from the District Court of the First Circuit, Honolulu, Hawaii, at the end of his second term in May.

Jane M. Knasinski, U.W. 1989, and Susan M. Love, Pepperdine 1990, have been elected shareholders of Davis & Kuelthau S.C., Milwaukee. Knasinski is a member of the labor and employment and school law sections, where she advises entities on matters involving employment discrimination, the ADA, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and general personnel matters. She also counsels on school and special education law, including defending against due process hearing requests. Love is a member of the labor and employment and health law sections, focusing on private and public sector labor and employment law.

James P. Diwik, U.W. 1989, has been named partner at Sedgwick, Detert, Moran & Arnold. He practices in surety, construction, and bankruptcy law in the firm's San Francisco, Calif., office.

The Douglas County Bar Association recently elected these officers: president - Chris A. Gramstrup; president-elect - Boad S. Swanson; and secretary/treasurer - Kyle H. Torvinen; all of Superior.

Ken Driggs, Mercer 1980, U.W. 1991 LL.M., has relocated his practice from Austin, Texas, to Atlanta, Ga., where he is senior staff attorney with the Multicounty Public Defender. The Multicounty Public Defender defends death penalty trials statewide. Since 1990 Driggs has focused on death penalty defense in Florida, Texas, and now Georgia. His book Ye Need Not Suppose the Righteous Are Lost Because They Are Slain has been accepted for publication by Signature Press in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Jerome Thomas Feldner, Southwestern 1994, has accepted a position with the Buenos Aires law firm of Le Pera & Lessa Abogados, concentrating in international arbitration. He previously was an associate at Laun Law Offices, Kiel.

The Fond du Lac County Bar Association has elected these officers: president - Richard H. Wehner, Fond du Lac; president-elect - Henry H. Conti, Waupun; secretary - Sam E. Kaufman, Fond du Lac; and treasurer - Kathryn M. Bullon, Fond du Lac.

The Fox Valley Client Service Center (FVCSC) of Clifton Gunderson L.L.C., Certified Public Accountants and Consultants, has relocated its Oshkosh office to the Park Plaza Mall & Office Complex at 100 Park Plaza. The FVCSC has local offices in Oshkosh, Neenah and Green Bay. David P. Weller, U.W. 1997, recently joined the FVCSC concentrating in estate planning. The FVCSC also recently received the 1997 Teamwork Award at the Annual Members' meeting.

Jesus G. O. Garza (Jesse), U.W. 1996, has been appointed legal counsel to the Wisconsin Technical College System Board. He previously was labor relations specialist in the Wisconsin Department of Employment Relations.

Jodie Leigh Grabarski, U.W. 1995, formerly of Krekeler & Scheffer, Madison, has joined the firm of Gislason, Dosland, Hunter & Malecki P.L.L.P., New Ulm, Minn., as an associate. She practices in agricultural law, family law and probate/estate planning, including Medicaid.

The Grant County Bar Association has elected these officers: president - Michael J. Olds, Platteville; and secretary/treasurer - Chris M. Even, Dubuque.

The Green County Bar Association has elected these officers: president - Thomas P. Donohue; president-elect - Gary L. Luhman; and secretary/treasurer - Todd W. Schluesche; all of Monroe.

The Green Lake County Bar Association has elected these officers: president - Bernard N. Bult, Appleton; vice president - Michelle L. Walters, Ripon; and secretary/treasurer - David P. Kettelson, Berlin.

Ernest Grumbles III, U.W. 1995 with honors, has joined Rider, Bennett, Egan & Arundel LLP, Minneapolis, Minn., as an associate in the litigation department practicing in commercial litigation, products liability litigation, insurance defense and employment law.

Susan Grzeskowiak, Thomas M. Cooley 1998, has joined SeniorLAW, a project of Legal Action of Wisconsin.

Markus Herbst, U.W. 1994, recently received an LL.M.-Mergers and Acquisitions from the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany. He also has begun working for KPMG in Frankfurt, Germany, practicing in international tax law, German corporate tax, and international corporate law.

Gary R. Johnson, U.W. 1996, has become an associate at the Kasieta Legal Group LLC, Madison, practicing in civil trial work, including personal injury, employment law, worker's compensation, and products liability.

Judge P. Charles Jones, U.W. 1963, received the Judge of the Year award from the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates in June. Jones has been a Dane County circuit court judge since 1972.

Christine A. Kapsos, Marquette 1997, has joined Green Law Offices Ltd., Milwaukee, as a partner practicing in bankruptcy, family, and real estate law.

Deborah J. Klein, U.W. 1981, has become vice president and general counsel of Transportation Components Co. of Saint Paul, Minn. She previously was with Halleland, Lewis, Nilan, Sipkins & Johnson, an offshoot of the now defunct Popham Haik firm.

Scott C. Lascari, Marquette 1997, has taken a position with Rivkin, Radler & Kremer, Chicago, Ill.

The Legal Association for Women has elected these officers: president - Jane F. Clokey; president-elect - Malina P. Fischer; secretary - Jennifer S. Mirus; and treasurer - Teresa A. Mueller; all of Madison.

Russell M. Lein, U.W. 1984, has left Hale & Lein S.C. and the private practice of law to run operations, conduct sales, and act as general counsel for Poblocki Paving Corp. in West Allis. He also will be of counsel to Hale Skorind Wagner S.C.

Michael Best & Friedrich LLP has assembled the 11-member Midwest Compliance Consortium to foster communication and share compliance programs and experience in response to the federal government's focus on the health-care industry fraud and abuse investigations. The consortium will meet regularly to exchange ideas and information on all aspects of compliance programs and plans, including developing, modifying and implementing such plans and programs. The consortium consists of Midwest-based universities, hospital-based medical teaching institutions, physician foundations and teaching physicians with university/teaching links.

Jeff W. Nichols, U.W. 1991, has opened Nichols Law Office, P.O. Box 1726, Madison, where he focuses on criminal defense, family law and general practice. He formerly was a staff attorney with the State Public Defenders Office.

Martin Wm. Penkwitz, Creighton 1976, has become general counsel of Enron Engineering & Construction Co., Houston, Texas. He practices primarily in international transactions and construction law.

The Ozaukee County Bar Association has elected these officers: president - Paul M. Dimick, Cedarburg; president-elect - Robert J. Asti, Cedarburg; vice president - Sandy A. Williams, Cedarburg; and secretary/treasurer - Jane E. Miller, Grafton.

Sabin S. Peterson, North Dakota 1986, formerly of Axley Brynelson, has relocated his practice to downtown Minneapolis, Minn. His practice concentrates in labor, employment, disability law, and general litigation.

Todd M. Podell, Marquette 1993, has been promoted to lead source manager at Advanced Micro Devices Inc., Sunnyvale, Calif. His primary duties include leading contract negotiations for the acquisition of capital equipment for AMD's Malaysia and Bangkok computer microchip manufacturing facilities.

The Portage County Bar Association has elected these officers: president - Susan K. Lynch, Plover; president-elect - Torren K. Pies, Stevens Point; and secretary/treasurer - David G. Keefe, Stevens Point.

David L. Bourne, Marquette 1988, and Jennifer V. Powers, Marquette 1987, have been promoted to partner status within Quarles & Brady, Milwaukee. Bourne practices in commercial, corporate and mergers/acquisitions law matters. Powers practices in commercial transactions, and corporate and equipment leasing law matters.

Claire Ann Resop, U.W. 1993, has become an associate with Todd C. Esser & Associates, Milwaukee, concentrating in bankruptcy law.

Thomas M. Rohe, Duke 1988, has become a shareholder with Otjen Van Ert, Stangle, Lieb & Weir S.C., Milwaukee.

John T. Schomisch Jr., Marquette 1989, has become a shareholder in Dilley & Associates Ltd. The firm has changed its name to Dilley, Schomisch & Associates LLC. Schomisch concentrates in plaintiff's personal injury litigation.

Gary Seeling, Marquette 1993, of Seeling Law Offices, Waukesha, has become a certified divorce mediator.

The Sheboygan County Bar Association has elected these officers: president - Michael J. Vowinkel, Sheboygan Falls; vice president - Patricia A. Chucka, Sheboygan; and secretary/treasurer - Richard B. Hahn, Sheboygan.

Oliver T. Skrivanie, U.W. 1970, has relocated his office to 1523 Washington St., P.O. Box 117, Two Rivers. He practices primarily in real estate, business, tax, and estate planning.

Christiane M. Stoffer, North Carolina 1986, has become a shareholder in Howard & Howard. Stoffer, based in the Peoria, Ill. office, concentrates in commercial loan transactions and financial institutions law.

Julie M. Storzer, U.W. 1994, formerly of Bellah & Harrian, Glendale, Ariz., has joined the firm of Goldberg, Fancher & Jones PLLC. She will continue practicing in family law at the firm's Phoenix office.

Boad S. Swanson, Hamline 1988, has been named a partner in Marcovich, Cochrane, Milliken & Swanson in Superior. He practices in personal injury, worker's compensation and general civil litigation in Minnesota, Wisconsin and the federal courts.

Anthony A. Tomaselli, U.W. 1988, has been named a partner in the Madison office of Quarles & Brady. He has worked as an associate with the firm since 1989. Tomaselli handles commercial litigation, with an emphasis on intellectual property and telecommunications law.

The Tri-County Bar Association (Buffalo, Pepin, Jackson and Trempealeau counties) has elected these officers: president - C. Michael Chambers, Cochrane; vice president - Robert A. Olsher, Black River Falls; secretary - Mark R. Franklin, Independence; and treasurer - Lawrence J. Broeren, Mondovi.

The Milwaukee law firm of von Briesen, Purtell & Roper S.C. announces the election of four shareholders to its health-care practice group: Laura M. Brown, U.W. 1990, Scott J. Geboy, U.W. 1990 cum laude, Eric W. Hoaglund, U.W. 1987 cum laude, and Patrick D. Walsh, Iowa 1982 cum laude.

Margaret A. Watt, Marquette 1992, continues in her own civil practice in Milwaukee under the new name Margaret W. McKenna, Attorney at Law, due to her recent marriage.

Steven M. Szymanski, Marquette 1996, has joined Weiss, Berzowski, Brady & Donahue as an associate. A former member of the tax department at Arthur Anderson LLP, Milwaukee, Szymanski practices taxation, corporate, and partnership law. Robert L. Gordon, U.W. 1975, recently was appointed to the newly formed Appellate Practice Subcommittee of the State Bar Litigation Section. Gordon practices taxation and litigation.

The Spokane, Wash., intellectual property law firm of Wells, St. John, Roberts, Gregory and Matkin P.S. announces that Deepak Malhotra, Marquette 1993, and George G. Grigel, Franklin Pierce 1984, formerly associates of the firm, have joined as shareholders.

The office of the Wisconsin State Public Defender (SPD) announces these changes: Patricia Flood, Michigan 1982, recently was promoted to first assistant state public defender in the Milwaukee Appellate Division office where she has litigated appeals since 1986; Joseph N. Ehmann, U.W. 1986, has joined the SPD as first assistant state public defender in the Madison Appellate Division office; Kenneth Lund, Minnesota 1979 cum laude, recently was promoted to deputy first assistant state public defender in the Madison Appellate Division office where he litigated appeals from 1981-84 and returned in 1990; and James L. Fullin, Ohio State 1972 cum laude, has joined the SPD as an assistant state public defender in the Madison Appellate Division office.