New Hires, Promotions, Partners
Thomas A. Agnello, U.W. 2007, has joined the Milwaukee office of Michael Best & Friedrich LLP in the intellectual property group and focuses on the acquisition, enforcement, and exploitation of domestic and international intellectual property rights, particularly related to trademarks and copyrights. He previously was a federal prosecutor at the U.S. Department of Justice, most recently with the tax division in Washington, D.C.
Jessica E. Slavin, Minnesota 1998, has been promoted to shareholder at Averbeck, Hammer & Slavin S.C., Fond du Lac, and continues to focus on personal injury, civil litigation, estate planning, real estate, and business law. Before joining the firm, she was judicial clerk at the District II Court of Appeals. Her background also includes a Wisconsin Supreme Court clerkship, 10 years as a full-time legal writing professor at Marquette University, and litigation practice at Foley & Lardner. Charles W. Averbeck, Marquette 1978, is transitioning from shareholder to an “of counsel” role, reducing his work hours but continuing active practice in the new role.
Christine Senty, Hamline 1997, has become vice president and general counsel for Gundersen Health Plan, Onalaska. She also is vice president, general counsel for Unity Health Plans Insurance Corp., Middleton. Richelle Ladwig, U.W. 2008, has been promoted to senior managing attorney for both organizations and oversees the legal team supporting strategic expansion and contract management and providing counsel for regulatory and general corporate matters. Kristie Meier, Drake 2003, has been promoted to senior managing attorney for both organizations, is the corporate compliance officer responsible for Unity’s commercial product lines and oversight of grievances and appeals, and is assistant secretary to the respective boards. Gundersen and Unity consolidated in a transaction completed earlier this year.
William E. Keeler III, Marquette 2007, has joined the Milwaukee office of Scopelitis, Garvin, Light, Hanson & Feary PC and focuses on representing clients in the transportation industry with litigation, regulatory, and administrative issues.
Tom Krukowski, Marquette 1970, has joined the Milwaukee office of Mallery & Zimmerman S.C. as a shareholder and focuses on complex employment and labor matters involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, family and medical leave, and disability issues. He also is the author of Employment Law Manual for Wisconsin Employers and the FMLA Manual for Wisconsin Employers.
Shannon K. Cummings, Hamline 1998, has joined Miller & Miller Law LLC, Milwaukee, as managing attorney of the Chapter 13 practice. Gregory P. Kruse, Marquette 2013, has joined the firm as an associate.
Ryan A. Onosko, Marquette 2016, has joined O’Neil, Cannon, Hollman, DeJong & Laing S.C., Milwaukee, and is a member of the corporate practice group.
Marissa A. Reynolds, U.W. 2016, has joined Davczyk & Varline LLC, Wausau, as an associate, focusing on defense of insurance companies and all forms of civil litigation.
Mark Ruszkiewicz, U.W. 2010, has joined the Schroeder Group S.C., Attorneys at Law, Waukesha, and focuses on business and real estate transactions. Previously, he worked for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and for the Waukesha County Juvenile Court as guardian ad litem and advocate counsel.
Alyssa Skoyen, U.W. 2014, has joined the wealth management division at State Bank of Cross Plains, Madison, as vice president and personal trust officer. She has private-practice experience in family law and estate planning.
Mergers, Relocations, New Offices
Carlson, Blau & Clemens SC has relocated to 3535 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee. The firm continues to concentrate on personal injury, worker’s compensation, Social Security, and criminal matters.
The Law Office of Kevin M. Gaertner has relocated to 633 W. Wisconsin Ave., Suite 1930, Milwaukee. Gaertner, Michigan State 2005, is a general practitioner concentrating in criminal litigation.
Appointments, Elections
2016-17 board members of the Association for Women Lawyers are the following: president – Malinda Eskra, Marquette 2007, Reinhart, Boerner, Van Deuren s.c.; president-elect – Shannon B. Braun, U.W. 2009, Godfrey & Kahn SC; secretary – Hon. Rebecca Dallet, Case Western Reserve 1994, Milwaukee County Circuit Court; treasurer – Kelly Noyes, U.W. 2007, von Briesen & Roper S.C.; past president – Caroline Spongberg, Marquette 2005, Northwestern Mutual; director of membership – Jennifer Hong, U.W. 2001, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin; director of professionalism – Patricia Jenness, Case Western Reserve 2010, Michael Best & Friedrich LLP; director of programs – Renee Nawrocki, Marquette 2010, Diane Diel S.C., all of Milwaukee; and director of special events – Shauna Manion, Penn State 2013, Nistler Law Office s.c., Wauwatosa.
Nancy Bonniwell, North Dakota 1984, Weiss Berzowski LLP, Milwaukee, has been appointed to her third term on the Waukesha County Board of Adjustment. She is managing partner of the Delafield office and focuses on estate, business succession, and marital property planning, estate administration, and business law.
Husch Blackwell has named managing partners for its Wisconsin offices. Jack A. Enea, Marquette 1989, is managing partner of the Milwaukee office and a member of the financial services industry group. Mindi Giftos, University of Florida 2000, is managing partner of the Madison office, a member of the technology, manufacturing, and transportation industry group and co-leader of the data privacy, security, and breach response team, and serves on the partner board. Timothy Nettesheim, McGeorge 1981, is managing partner of the Waukesha County office and a member of the financial services industry group.
Peter White, U.W. 2009, has been appointed to the Milwaukee Young Lawyers Association board. He focuses on business law and tax law at Weiss Berzowski LLP, Milwaukee, and also is a CPA.
Awards, Degrees, Honors
Nathan J. Wautier, U.W. 2003, has become an American College of Mortgage Attorneys fellow. He is a shareholder in the real estate practice at Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c., Madison, primarily advising real estate developers, business owners, operators, borrowers, and lenders on development projects and related financings.
In Memoriam
Steven R. Boex, Hamline 1981, Green Bay, July 30, 1953 – June 26, 2016.
Remo Z. Cameranesi, Marquette 1948, Milwaukee, Jan. 1, 1924 – July 7, 2016.
Gerald M. Crawford, Marquette 1964, Racine, May 23, 1940 – Feb. 14, 2016.
W.T. Doar Jr., U.W. 1947, New Richmond, Aug. 30, 1920 – June 20, 2016.
Dennis M. Gall, U.W. 1986, Milwaukee, July 21, 1944 – April 23, 2016.
William T. Gaus, Marquette 1954, Milwaukee, April 23, 1928 – June 29, 2016.
Geoffrey James Gnadt, Marquette 2001, Milwaukee, May 12, 1976 – Aug. 9, 2016.
Michael J. Knoeller, Marquette 1969, Milwaukee, June 26, 1944 – Nov. 13, 2015.
Marvin A. Margolis, U.W. 1958, Milwaukee, Sept. 30, 1934 – Aug. 1, 2016.
Dean T. Massey, U.W. 1958, Cottage Grove, Sept. 13, 1931 – June 9, 2016.
Berton D. Sherman, U.W. 1953, Black River Falls, Dec. 8, 1924 – April 16, 2016.
Philip M. Theisen, Marquette 2007, Mequon, March 27, 1949 – Dec. 30, 2015.
Natalia C. Walter, U.W. 1994, Milwaukee, May 25, 1959 – May 18, 2016.
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