Wisconsin Lawyer
Vol. 84, No. 7, July 2011

New Hires, Promotions, Partners

Amanda Matulle Belville, Drake 2009, has joined Schwab Legal Group LLC, Oshkosh, as an associate and focuses in business, collections, and real estate law.

Ryan M. Billings, Harvard 2004, has joined Weiss Berzowski Brady LLP, Milwaukee, and focuses on business law and litigation. He previously was with Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, New York, N.Y.

Jennifer Binkley, U.W. 2001, has been appointed development director at Community Justice Inc., a Madison nonprofit law firm. She also is the organization’s managing attorney.

Mary Ann Christopher, Northwestern 1991, has joined Michael Best & Friedrich LLP as a partner in the Milwaukee office and works with the energy and sustainability industry team and the transactional practice group. She previously was with Foley & Lardner LLP.

Jeanette Corbett, Marquette 1999, has joined First, Albrecht & Blondis S.C., Milwaukee, and focuses on plaintiffs’ personal injury matters, worker’s compensation, and civil rights litigation. She previously was with the violent crimes unit of the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office.

Patrick S. DeMoon III, DePaul 1996, has joined Godfrey, Leibsle, Blackbourn & Howarth S.C., Elkhorn, and practices with the business and commercial law practice group. He previously practiced in Lake Geneva.

Jonathan G. Gonzalez, Marquette 2006, has joined Offit Kurman’s labor and employment group as an associate, in the Baltimore/Washington office.

Thomas D. Hickey, Washington Univ. 1986, has become chief legal officer of Iridium Communications Inc., McLean, Va. He previously was with Primus Telecommunications Group.

Jonathan B. Lundeen, William Mitchell 2010, has joined Mudge, Porter, Lundeen & Seguin S.C., Hudson, as an associate in the general practice and employment law areas.

Keith J. Nelsen, U.W. 1989, has been promoted to executive vice president, general counsel of Best Buy Co., headquartered in Richfield, Minn. He formerly was general counsel of the company’s international businesses.

Joost Kap, U.W. 2005, has been named a director at Bell, Moore & Richter S.C., Madison, and continues to concentrate in insurance defense and civil litigation.

Kim S. Magyar, Marquette 1999, has joined Farhang & Medcoff PLLC’s Phoenix office as a partner, focusing on the defense of labor and employment matters, products liability, and commercial litigation. She previously was with Snell & Wilmer LLP, Phoenix.

Matthew O’Neill, Marquette 1991 magna cum laude, has joined Fox, O’Neill & Shannon S.C., Milwaukee, and practices in commercial litigation.

Two attorneys have joined Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c. in the Milwaukee office. James D. Borchardt, Iowa 2007 with distinction, is with the intellectual property practice. He previously was with Foley & Lardner LLP. Jennifer L. Naeger, St. John’s 2005, is with the litigation practice. She previously was with Mayer Brown, New York, N.Y.

Cari Anne Renlund, U.W. 2001 cum laude, has rejoined DeWitt Ross & Stevens S.C. as a partner in the environmental, transportation, and government relations practice groups in the Madison office. She previously was with the Wisconsin Department of Administration division of legal services.

Audrey Skwierawski, Georgetown 1992, has joined the Wisconsin Department of Justice as the violence against women resource prosecutor. She previously was a Milwaukee County assistant district attorney and a coordinator for the Milwaukee Commission on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.

Four attorneys have joined the Milwaukee office of Stafford Rosenbaum LLP. Francis R. Croak, U.W. 1953, concentrates in corporate, construction, and administrative law. Margaret T. Lund, U.W. 1979, focuses on tax-exempt organization work, estate planning, probate, entertainment law, taxation, and business law. Michael J. Lund, U.W. 1979, focuses in real estate, real estate finance, and commercial transactions. Denasha A. Scott, U.W. 1997, focuses on estate planning, business succession planning, business law, probate and trust administration, and nonprofit law. The attorneys previously were with Cook & Franke S.C.

Sara Ackermann, William Mitchell 2003 magna cum laude, and Melissa Kampmann, U.W. 2003 cum laude, have been promoted to shareholder at Ruder Ware LLSC, Wausau. Ackermann focuses on employment law. Kampmann focuses on estate planning. Bryan T. Symes, Chicago-Kent 2004 with honors, has joined the firm as a member of the employment, labor, and benefits practice group and the litigation and dispute resolution practice group in the Eau Claire office.

Nick Hennemann, Lewis & Clark 2010, and Dustin Von Ruden, Marquette 2009, have joined Weld, Riley, Prenn & Ricci S.C., Eau Claire. Hennemann is with the government relations section. Von Ruden is with the business and real estate sections.

Mergers, Relocations, New Offices

Hayden O. Creque, U.W. 2004, has opened Creque Law LLC, 2008 11 St. N., St. Cloud, Minn., which focuses on Internet law, privacy, contracts, corporate governance, and civil disputes.

Tom Halloran, U.W. 1977, has relocated his principal office to N21 W23350 Ridgeview Parkway, Waukesha, where he is of counsel to Godfrey & Kahn S.C. He continues to focus his litigation practice on business, commercial, employment, disability rights, and criminal defense matters.

Nell & Associates S.C. has relocated to the De Pere Library building, 280 Main Ave., De Pere. Shareholder Richard E. Nell, Marquette 1988, continues to focus in real estate, business transactions, health law, and litigation. Associate Bridget M. Erwin, William Mitchell 2007, continues to practice in estate planning and elder law.

Appointments, Elections

Linda E. Benfield, Chicago 1985, has been named managing partner of the Milwaukee office of Foley & Lardner LLP. She previously was chair of the firm’s environmental regulation practice.

Kelly Fortier, Loyola-Chicago 2003 magna cum laude, has been elected chair of the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. She is a partner in the immigration and international migration practice in the Milwaukee office of Michael Best & Friedrich LLP.

The Milwaukee Bar Association has elected the following officers and board and committee members: vice president – Beth E. Hanan, Gass Weber Mullins; directors – Maria L. Kreiter, Godfrey & Kahn; and the Hon. Maxine A. White, Milwaukee County Circuit Court; judicial selection committee – Jacques C. Condon, Hale & Wagner; Steven W. Jelenchick, Beck, Chaet, Bamberger & Polsky; and Brent D. Nistler, Nistler Law Office. Michael J. Cohen, Meissner Tierney Fisher & Nichols, has become president after serving as president-elect.

Benjamin Wagner, U.W. 2003, has become a board member of Safe & Sound Inc., a nonprofit organization committed to reducing violent crime by blending law enforcement, neighborhood organizing, and youth development. He is a partner in the Milwaukee office of Habush Habush & Rottier S.C.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has appointed or reappointed five circuit court judges as chief judges of their respective judicial administrative districts. The Hon. Scott R. Needham, U.W. 1978, St. Croix County, was appointed chief judge of the Tenth Judicial District. The Hon. Robert J. Wirtz, Missouri-Kansas City 1984, Fond du Lac County, was appointed chief judge of the Fourth Judicial District. Judges who were reappointed are the Hon. William D. Dyke, U.W. 1960, Iowa County, Seventh Judicial District; the Hon. C. William Foust, U.W. 1978, Dane County, Fifth Judicial District; and the Hon. Jeffrey A. Kremers, U.W. 1975, Milwaukee County, First Judicial District.

Authors, Speakers

Ellen M. Kozak, U.W. 1969, has authored The Everything U.S. Constitution Book (Adams Media 2011). She is with Kozak Law Offices, Milwaukee.

The Hon. Charles B. Schudson, U.W. 1974, an emeritus Wisconsin reserve judge, presented a paper on the treatment of young sexual abuse victims and pedophiles in U.S. courts at the Second International Conference on Constitutional Process in May in Lima, Peru.

Authors of the revised seventh edition of the System Book for Family Law (State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE 7th ed. 2011) are Sharon A. Drew, Marquette 1988; Gregg M. Herman, U.W. 1977; and Kelley J. Shock, Marquette 2005. Drew has a solo practice in Milwaukee. Herman and Shock are with Loeb & Herman SC, Milwaukee.

The following attorneys contributed to the revised fourth edition of Wisconsin Attorney’s Desk Reference (State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE 4th ed. 2011): Craig Albee and Stephen M. Glynn, Glynn, Fitzgerald & Albee S.C., Milwaukee; Thomas W. Anderson, Gary L. Bakke, and Deanne M. Koll, Bakke Norman S.C., New Richmond; Richard L. Binder, Rohde Dales LLP, Sheboygan; Bruce T. Block, Benjamin T. Kurten, and Robert J. Misey Jr., Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren S.C., Milwaukee; Eugenia G. Carter, Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C., Madison; Drew J. Cochrane, Robert Horowitz, and Meg Vergeront, Stafford Rosenbaum LLP, Madison; Anne Daugherty-Leiter, AIDS Network Inc., Madison; Kevin J. Demet and Margadette M. Demet, Demet & Demet SC, Milwaukee; Jerome M. Elliott, Elliott Monahan & Associates S.C., Beloit; Michael Heffernan, Foley & Lardner LLP, Madison; Margaret W. Hickey and Heather B. Poster, Becker, Hickey & Poster S.C., Milwaukee; Susan Howe Rauti, Mary Kasparek, and John C. Talis, Dane County Corporation Counsel office, Madison; Christopher J. Hussin, Lathrop & Clark LLP, Madison; Jack Longert, private practice, Madison; Steven W. Martin, CMT Legal Group Ltd., Waukesha; Mary Ann McCarthy, Mary A. McCarthy Attorney at Law, Milwaukee; James W. McNeilly Jr. and Jennifer M. Schank, McNeilly Law Office LLC, Salem; Tess Meuer, Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Madison; Robert J. Misey, Robert J. Misey Attorney at Law, Milwaukee; John C. Mitby, Steven M. Streck, and Jodi S. Yin, Axley Brynelson S.C., Madison; Teresa A. Mueller, Safway Services LLC, Waukesha; Lori Nitzel, Fort Collins, Colo.; Roy L. Prange Jr., Quarles & Brady LLP, Madison; Theresa L. Roetter, Annen Roetter LLC, Madison; Shelley J. Safer, Waunakee; Charles S. Sara, DeWitt Ross & Stevens S.C., Madison; Timothy G. Schally, Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, Milwaukee; Tracey L. Schwalbe, Labor & Industry Review Commission, Madison; Lawrence A. Towers, Towers Law Firm, Milwaukee; Heidi Acker Yelk, Wisconsin State Law Library, Madison; and Robert H. Zilske, Zilske Law Firm, Brookfield.

L. Michael Tobin, Texas 1977, has authored the revised fifth edition of the Wisconsin Criminal Defense Manual (State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE 5th ed. 2011). He is director of the State Public Defender’s trial division.

Awards, Degrees, Honors

Sarah E. Coyne, U.W. 1995 cum laude, has been named Wisconsin Health Law Attorney of the Year by the State Bar’s Health Law Section. She is a partner with and chair of the health law group in the Madison office of Quarles & Brady LLP and represents and advises health care providers and health plans.

John W. Daniels, Harvard 1974, received a 2011 Friends of the Hispanic Community Award from the United Community Center, Milwaukee. He is chair of Quarles & Brady LLP.

Webster “Web” Hart, William Mitchell 1967, received the James Huff Stout Award from the University of Wisconsin-Stout Alumni Association. The award recognizes a UW-Stout alumnus or employee who exemplifies learning through involvement. Hart focuses on civil and criminal litigation at Herrick & Hart SC, Eau Claire.

Andrew Herbach, Marquette 1985, has been awarded the 2011 Pro Bono and Public Service Award by the Seventh Circuit Bar Association for outstanding service to the bankruptcy courts. He is a partner with Howard, Solocheck & Weber SC, Milwaukee.

Two attorneys with Michael Best & Friedrich LLP received awards from the Dane County Bar Association. William F. White, Antioch 1976, received the Lifetime Achievement Award in honor of his pro bono contributions. Daniel A. O’Callaghan, U.W. 2005, received the Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year Award. White, a partner, and O’Callaghan, an associate, are members of the land and resources practice group in the Madison office.

Christopher M. Seelen, Marquette 1997, has earned national certification in creditors’ rights law from the American Board of Certification. He is a member of the banking and financial institutions focus team in the Eau Claire office of Ruder Ware L.L.S.C.

Sam Wayne, U.W. 2009, received the State Bar Young Lawyers Division Professional Achievement Award. He practices in the corporate and securities groups at Erhard & Payette LLC, Madison.

Retirements

The Hon. Daniel P. Anderson, U.W. 1973 cum laude, has retired from the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District II, on which he served for nearly 21 years. He previously was a Sheboygan County Circuit Court judge.

The Hon. James Mason, South Carolina 1975, has retired from the Wood County Circuit Court after almost 25 years on the bench.

In Memoriam

George M. Blauvelt, Nebraska 1982, Wisconsin Rapids, April 4, 1949 – May 9, 2011.

Robert F. Dopkins, U.W. 1951, Naples, Fla., March 12, 1925 – Jan. 24, 2011.

Frederic Eberlein, U.W. 1946, Shawano, Jan. 25, 1919 – July 1, 2010.

Ray D. Gardner, Calif.-Hastings 1981, Escondido, Calif., July 9, 1954 – Sept. 29, 2010.

Arthur J. Hansmann, U.W. 1949, Racine, May 8, 1923 – April 16, 2011.

William J. Kiernan Jr., Harvard 1959, Milwaukee, March 19, 1932 – Oct. 1, 2010.

James M. Klein, U.W. 1981, Milwaukee, June 29, 1956 – March 25, 2011.

Raymond E. Krek, Marquette 1972, Jefferson, Jan. 18, 1947 – June 4, 2011.

Richard W. Schroeder, George Washington 1969, La Crosse, Feb. 17, 1943 – May 11, 2011.

David G. Shafton, U.W. 1962, Stevens Point, Dec. 29, 1934 – April 26, 2011.

Sheila Wharton Wasserman, Marquette 1993, Milwaukee, April 22, 1931 – Dec. 10, 2010.