New Hires, Promotions, Partners

Alexei E. Gasiorkiewicz, Marquette 2009, has become a partner-shareholder in Robinson & Kole Attorneys At Law, Bellingham, Wash. He concentrates in litigating plaintiff personal injury, worker’s compensation, and maritime cases.

Evelyn G. Hamilton, U.W. 2018, has joined Zetley Law Offices S.C., Milwaukee. Before coming to the United States, she practiced labor and corporate law in Venezuela. Hamilton complements the firm’s team of tax attorneys who combine tax and litigation expertise.

Andrew C. Hanson, Lewis & Clark 2001, has been promoted to partner at Perkins Coie LLP. He is a member of the environmental and natural resources practice in the Madison office.

Jesse L. Leichsenring, Hamline 2001, has joined Probst Law Offices, Milwaukee, as an associate and focuses on divorce, child custody and placement, termination of parental rights, children in need of protection or services, and guardian ad litem matters. He previously was with Krueger, Hernandez & Thompson, Middleton, and also was Wisconsin Dells municipal judge from 2011 to 2015.

James W. Goonan, Marquette 2000, and Andrew J. Quartaro, Marquette 1994, have been promoted to equity shareholders withLindner & Marsack S.C., a management-side labor, employment, and worker’s compensation defense firm. Goonan heads the firm’s new office in Manitowoc, and Quartaro heads the new office in Madison. Both frequently speak and write about worker’s compensation issues.

Julie T. Bittner, St. Louis Univ. 2008, and Warren E. Buliox, Syracuse 2004, have become equity partners with MWH Law Group LLP. Bittner focuses in employment and general civil litigation and works from the West Des Moines, Iowa, office. Buliox focuses in employment and general civil litigation and works from the Milwaukee office.

Garrett A. Soberalski, Marquette 2012, has become a shareholder withMeissner Tierney Fisher & Nichols S.C., Milwaukee, and continues to focus on complex commercial and real estate litigation and commercial real estate transactions. His practice includes the purchase and sale of commercial real property, easements, commercial leases, and condominium creation and governance.

The Hon. Karen Seifert, Iowa 1987, retired from the Winnebago County Circuit Court, effective Jan. 4, 2021. She provides mediation services through Seifert Law Office, Menasha.

Ariane Strombom, Marquette 2013, has become general counsel and compliance officer at String & Key, a stealth financial technology studio with offices in Brooklyn, N.Y., and Chapel Hill, N.C. She is based in Milwaukee. Strombom previously was assistant general counsel, technology and marketing, at Northwestern Mutual.

Jerry Vang, U.W. 2013, has been promoted to attorney, legal and compliance, privacy officer at Madison National Life Insurance Co. and continues to focus in regulatory and privacy law.

Susan M. Caldwell, U.W. 2003, has been promoted to senior vice president, general counsel, and secretary, and Cheryl R. Lutz, U.W. 1997, has been promoted to associate general counsel and vice president.

J. Wesley Webendorfer, Loyola-Chicago 2012 cum laude, has been promoted to partner at DeWitt LLP, Madison. He is with the environmental and government relations practice groups and has a particular emphasis on environmental remediation, local land use regulation, and water issues.

Mergers, Relocations, New Offices

Willms-O’Leary S.C., Thiensville, is now named O’Leary-Guth Law Office S.C. Andy Willms, Univ. of Miami 1984, formerly of counsel with the firm, has retired from the practice of law and continues to work with his investment management firm, The Milwaukee Co. Maureen O’Leary-Guth, Marquette 2008, Samuel Azinger, Marquette 2017, and Peter Smiley, Marquette 2015,continue practicing with the firm.

Appointments, Elections

Timothy L. Stewart, U.W. 1997 cum laude, has been elected president and managing partner of DeWitt LLP. He also is managing partner of the firm’s Brookfield office. Michele L. Perreault, U.W. 2003 magna cum laude, has been named managing partner of the Madison office. Stewart is an employee benefits and ESOP attorney. Perreault chairs the firm’s family law group and has an appellate practice representing clients in the Wisconsin Court of Appeals and Supreme Court and also is a mediator.

Christopher M. Scherer, John Marshall 1999, has been named to the firm’s executive committee. He is co-chair of the intellectual property group. He focuses on patent and trademark prosecution and is in-house corporate counsel for a Kenosha-based manufacturing company.

Ron Tusler, Marquette 2010, has been appointed chair of the Wisconsin Assembly Judiciary Committee and the Law Review Commission. He is serving his third term as a state representative of the Third Assembly District. He also practices law in Appleton.

Authors, Speakers

Gregg M. Herman, U.W. 1977, has authored the recently revised Settlement Negotiation Techniques in Family Law: A Guide to Improved Tactics and Resolution (ABA, 2d ed. 2020). He is a family law attorney with Loeb & Herman, Milwaukee, and is a certified family law and divorce mediator.

Awards, Degrees, Honors

Lawrence J. Glusman, U.W. 1995, received the Minority Business Development Award during the 39th Governor’s Conference on Diverse Business Development, hosted in December 2020 by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. He is with Davis Kuelthau SC, Milwaukee.

Wisconsin Judicare recently recognized its 2020 Top 10 Volunteer Attorneys: Stephanie Balmer, William Mitchell 2005, Falsani, Balmer, Peterson & Balmer, Duluth; Robert Forseth, Thomas M. Cooley 2011, Rural Access to Justice Inc., Waupaca; Cathy J. Gorst, U.W. 1982, Gorst Law Offices, Marshfield; Robert J. Gray, Marquette 1991, Gray Law Firm SC, Wausau; Philomena Kebec, Minnesota 2008, Great Lakes Fish & Wildlife Commission, Odanah; Jane Krueger Smith, U.W. 1981, Jane Krueger Smith Law Office, Oconto; Miranda Lezcano, Hamline 2013, Lezcano Law Office LLC, Schofield; Matthew C. Lein, Marquette 2011, Lein Law Offices, Hayward; Daryl R. Waters, Oak Brook 2007, Waters Legal Services LLC, Florence; and Kathryn zumBrunnen, U.W. 1977, zumBrunnen Law Offices, Spooner.

Retirements

Richard M. Lawson retired and closed Lawson Law Office in Wausau, effective Dec. 30, 2020.

Richard A. Rechlicz, Marquette 1977, has retired from the practice of law, effective Dec. 31, 2020. In addition to working at Rechlicz & Hanson LLP, Rechlicz was active in Menomonee Falls village government, including being elected for two terms as village board president.

In Memoriam

Hon. Shirley Abrahamson, Indiana Univ.-Bloomington 1956, Madison, Dec. 17, 1933 – Dec. 19, 2020.

Thomas M. Boykoff, Michigan 1967, Madison, May 3, 1943 – Dec. 28, 2020.

Thomas A. Merkle, Marquette 1972, Milwaukee, Dec. 29, 1944 – Dec. 8, 2020.

Hon. Virginia A. Wolfe, U.W. 1971, Madison, March 8, 1942 – Dec. 26, 2020.

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! Email announcements to: MembersOnly@wisbar.org. Notices about State Bar members in good standing are printed as space is available, and subject to editing. Writing guidelines are available here. Questions? Email us or call (608) 250-6139.

Photo placement: Submit a professional-quality photo. If the photo is used, the State Bar will issue an invoice ($35 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.

Ineligible announcements: Talks, speeches (unless they are of national stature), honors from other publications, and political announcements are not accepted.