New Hires, Promotions, Partners
Bryan Becker, Marquette 1998, has joined Hanson & Payne LLC, Milwaukee, and continues to practice in creditor rights, commercial banking, business law, and real estate transactions
Kevin B. Cronin, Alabama 2012, has been promoted to counsel in the Office of Supervision Policy, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (formerly the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB)), Washington, D.C. He received his Consumer Protection Examiner Commission from the CFPB after overseeing several bank and nonbank financial examinations, completing classroom instruction, and passing written and oral examinations.
David J. Gold, U.W. 2009, has been promoted to partner at Perkins Coie LLP, Chicago. His practice concentrates on financial restructuring, bankruptcy (representing debtors, creditors, and trustees), general commercial litigation, and distressed real estate. He has experience in Chapter 11 reorganizations, Chapter 7 liquidations, and hotel industry restructurings.
Lee Jones, U.W. 1997, has joined the Ethics Branch for the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Washington, D.C. He provides legal advice and guidance on all ethics-related matters within the agency.
Eileen Kelley, U.W. 2011, has been promoted to partner at Stafford Rosenbaum LLP, Madison. Her practice areas include real estate transactions; lease negotiation and enforcement for landlords and tenants; formation, acquisition, and sale of businesses; and estate planning, marital property, and probate and trust administration.
Rick Manthe, U.W. 2014, has joined the Madison office of Strang, Patteson, Renning, Lewis & Lacy s.c. and represents public and private sector clients in school and higher education law, labor and employment, and municipal law. He previously was legal counsel and lobbyist for the Wisconsin Towns Association.
Mark N. Mathias, Western Mich. 1985 with distinction, has joined Nicolet Law Office S.C. as of counsel attorney with the Eau Claire office. His focus is debt relief and bankruptcy through Chapters 7, 11, 12, and 13. He also is a senior lecturer for U.W.-Eau Claire’s College of Business and the U.W. MBA Consortium. Previously, he was associated with Christianson & Freund LLC, was a Chapter 7 trustee, and served as in-house counsel to financial institutions in Detroit and Chicago.
Pamela M. Ploor, Harvard 1993, has joined the legal department of Fiserv, Milwaukee, as lead global investigator in ethics and compliance. She previously was a labor and employment partner at Quarles & Brady LLP’s Milwaukee office.
Two attorneys have joined the Milwaukee office of Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c. Mary E. Johnson, Chicago 2018, is with the litigation practice. Blake A. Knickelbein, U.W. 2013, is with the corporate law practice. Previously, Knickelbein was with a Wisconsin law firm focused in the agricultural industry.
Billie Jean Smith, U.W. 1992, has joined Boyle Fredrickson, Milwaukee. She previously was chair of the intellectual property law department at another southeastern Wisconsin law firm. She works with clients to procure, manage, and enforce IP portfolios including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets.
Gianna Tenuta, Marquette 2017, has joined Madrigrano, Aiello & Santarelli LLC, Kenosha, as an associate practicing in civil litigation. She previously was a staff attorney with the Wisconsin State Public Defender.
Mergers, Relocations, New Offices
Haley Palmersheim S.C. is now Palmersheim Dettmann S.C. Shareholders Kevin Palmersheim, U.W. 1992, and Cathleen Dettmann, U.W. 2009, lead the firm, which continues to focus on business law and business litigation.
Littler, a management-side labor and employment firm, has opened an office in Madison with the addition of special counsel Michael Gotzler, U.W. 1997. Jonathan Levine, Georgetown 1988, current managing shareholder of Littler’s Milwaukee office, will also lead the Madison office. Previously, Gotzler was a founding partner of employment boutique Clark & Gotzler and also was general counsel of a human resources firm that provided temporary staffing, executive recruiting, consulting, and other services.
The intellectual property law firm of Nikolai & Mersereau P.A., Minneapolis, has combined its practice with Wisconsin-based DeWitt Ross & Stevens S.C. and DeWitt’s affiliate DeWitt Mackall Crounse & Moore S.C.
Appointments, Elections
Recent appointments to the LOTUS Legal Clinic board include the following: Aaron Bernstein, Marquette 2002, Galanis, Pollack, Jacobs & Johnson SC; Melissa Blair-Espin, Marquette 2004, Manpower Group Inc.; Christa Wittenberg, Michigan 2012, O’Neil, Cannon, Hollman, DeJong & Laing SC; and Hon. Barry C. Slagle (also president-elect), Indiana 1978, Milwaukee County Small Claims Court, all of Milwaukee. LOTUS provides free, direct, comprehensive legal services, advocacy and education, and investment in survivors as change agents throughout Wisconsin.
Authors, Speakers
Perry S. Granof, U.W. 1979, authored a chapter, “Introduction to Alternative Dispute Resolution in International Business Transactions,” in Resolving Insurance Claim Disputes Before Trial (ABA, 2018). He serves as an expert witness, consultant, and arbitrator/mediator on insurance coverage, specializing in directors and officers, professional liability, financial institutions, and domestic and international exposures. He is on the board of the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Dispute Resolution Section.
Awards, Degrees, Honors
Two lawyers with Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund Inc., Waukesha, recently received awards from the Wisconsin Land Title Association at its annual convention. Tom Cullen, Marquette 1986, vice president – Wisconsin operations, received the 2018 Michael F. Wille Leadership Award. Kate Marlin, Marquette 2012, underwriting and title operations counsel, received the 2018 Committee Chair of the Year Award.
Thomas E. Gausden, Marquette 1977, has become a Fellow in the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. Election as a Fellow is the highest recognition by colleagues of sustained outstanding performance in the labor and employment law profession, exemplifying integrity, dedication, and excellence. He recently started a labor and employment arbitration and mediation practice as a neutral with offices in Milwaukee, Scottsdale, Ariz., Marina Del Ray, Cal., Chicago, and New York City.
Two lawyers received awards in 2018 for their work with LOTUS Legal Clinic. Erika J. Petty, Marquette 2006, senior staff attorney, accepted the Partner of the Year award from the National Crime Victim Law Institute. Rachel Monaco-Wilcox, Marquette 2004, LOTUS CEO and founder, was named as a Woman in Philanthropy by the Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee and received the YWCA’s Empowering Women Racial Justice Award. LOTUS also was awarded an $800,000 federal Legal Assistance to Victims grant in partnership with UMOS to provide services to victims of human trafficking and sexual assault in the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
Scott Pryor, U.W. 1980, will spend the spring 2019 semester in India on his second Fulbright grant. Pryor is posted to National Law University-Delhi and will conduct research into the implementation of India’s new Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code. Pryor regularly teaches U.S. bankruptcy law at the Campbell University School of Law, Raleigh, N.C.
Marilyn Townsend, Potomac 1979, received the 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Dane County Bar Association. She operates Marilyn Townsend Law Office, Madison. The award recognizes Townsend’s dedication and commitment to pro bono service, particularly her work in winning a unanimous decision in the Wisconsin Supreme Court in Operton v. LIRC, 2017 WI 46, in which the court ruled that LIRC misinterpreted a new statute that permits the denial of unemployment compensation benefits for substantial fault and directed that Townsend’s client receive the benefits LIRC had denied.
Wisconsin Judicare recently recognized its 2018 Top 10 Volunteer Attorneys: Deborah Asher, North Dakota 2001, Asher Law Office, Chippewa Falls; Angela Biese, Western Michigan 2008, Buss Law Offices LLC, Robert Gray, Marquette 1991, Gray Law Firm SC, and Andrew Schmidt, Hamline 1998, Schmidt & Schmidt SC, all of Wausau; Janet Lattyak, U.W. 2007, Lattyak Elder Law LLC, Schofield; Joshua Christianson, U.W. 2006, Christianson & Freund LLC, Eau Claire; Cathy Gorst, U.W. 1982, Gorst Law Offices, Marshfield; Jonathan Olson, U.W. 1985, Jonathan Olson & Associates, Green Bay; Theresa Selenske, William Mitchell 1997, Selenske Law Offices LLC, Wisconsin Rapids; and Chelsea Whitley, Hamline 2000, Chelsea A. Whitley LLC, Amery.
In Memoriam
Joseph M. Bernstein, U.W. 1962, Milwaukee, Feb. 26, 1938 – Nov. 28, 2018.
Aaron Boxer, Marquette 1948, Boca Raton, Fla., Jan. 30, 1922 – Aug. 22, 2018.
Henry A. Field, U.W. 1952, July 8, 1928 – Nov. 5, 2018.
Richard G. Griffin, Marquette 2000, Cottage Grove, Sept. 9, 1951 – Aug. 10, 2018.
Jeanne Scklore Jacobs, U.W. 1954, Milwaukee, Dec. 21, 1928 – Jan. 4, 2018.
Paul E. Kremer, U.W. 1968, Elkhorn, March 4, 1942 – Nov. 21, 2018.
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. Talks, speeches (unless they are of national stature), honors from other publications, and political announcements are not accepted. Notices about State Bar members in good standing are printed as space is available, and at no cost, must be submitted in writing, and may be edited. Questions: (608) 250-6139.
Photo placement: Submit a professional-quality photo. If the photo is used, the State Bar will issue an invoice ($30 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. Email to: MembersOnly@wisbar.org. Include your State Bar membership number.
