New Hires, Promotions, Partners
Kate Bodenbach, Marquette 2019, Cecilia Heberling, Michigan State 2019 cum laude, and Noah Rusch, U.W. 2020, have joined Axley Brynelson LLP as associates. Bodenbach, based in the Waukesha office, practices general business, contract negotiation and drafting, and commercial real estate law. Heberling, based in the Madison office, practices insurance defense and civil litigation and previously worked at a Milwaukee-area firm and with the Federal Public Defenders office for the Western District of Wisconsin. Rusch, based in the Madison office, practices insurance defense and civil litigation and previously worked at two different Madison-area firms.
Aaron J. Bibb, U.W. 2019, has joined Hawks Quindel S.C., Madison, as an associate after clerking for Judge James D. Peterson of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin. His practice areas include labor law, employment law, wage-and-hour law, and class-action litigation.
Roy W. Froemming, U.W. 1976, has joined Johnson Teigen LLC, Fitchburg, as an of counsel attorney and continues to focus on estate planning, special needs planning, and trust administration.
Jason R. Just, Minnesota 2016, has joined Davis|Kuelthau s.c. as a senior attorney with the commercial litigation team in the Fox Valley and greater Green Bay region. He assists clients with risk management and litigation in areas such as insurance coverage disputes, professional negligence, construction defects, wrongful-death claims, and intellectual property disputes. He also counsels municipalities and police officers in civil rights claims. Just previously practiced with another civil litigation firm and is a U.S. military veteran.
Michele Miller Hayes, U.W. 1991, has been promoted to chief operating officer and general counsel, principal, for SVA Certified Public Accountants, SVA Consulting, and their affiliated entities, in Madison and Brookfield. She also leads the IT, human resources, business development, and facilities areas.
Robert Crowley, Marquette 2013, Barbara McPherson, Marquette 1996, and Christine Wolk, John Marshall 1982, have joined Krekeler Strother S.C. McPherson and Crowley are based in the Madison office. Wolk splits her time between the Oshkosh and Madison offices.
Felicia Miller-Watson, Western Michigan-Thomas M. Cooley 2005, has joined Vivent Health, Milwaukee, as director of the Legal Services Program. Previously she was an administrative law judge with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development – Unemployment Insurance Division and a solo practitioner in the areas of labor and employment, worker’s compensation, Social Security benefits, and guardian ad litem – Children’s Court.
Kurt J.H. Mueller, Boston Univ. 1991 cum laude, has joined Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale P.C. as counsel in its business services practice group and is based in the Chicago office. He focuses on mergers and acquisitions, venture capital and private equity investments, fund formations, and sophisticated joint venture transactions. Previously, Mueller practiced as a partner and senior counsel at several national firms and was in-house counsel for a large bank’s private equity and strategic investing business.
Emily Paust, 2014, has joined Symbiont, West Allis, as assistant general counsel and contracts manager, developing and negotiating contracts with clients and vendors, particularly for the firm’s construction, design-build, and engineering, procurement, and construction services; and advising on terms and conditions for service, standard teaming, master services, and nondisclosure agreements. She previously was senior finance and corporate associate with Husch Blackwell.
Jacob Simon, U.W. 2019 cum laude, has joined DeWitt LLP as an associate in the Madison office and is a member of the litigation practice group. He has experience conducting research, drafting legal documents, and conducting discovery in state and federal courts.
Gavin L. Wardzala, Minnesota 2021, has joined Godfrey, Leibsle, Blackbourn & Howarth S.C., Elkhorn, as an associate, focusing on civil litigation.
Several attorneys have joined or been promoted at Weld Riley S.C. Eau Claire office: Brian Braziel, U.W. 2015, has been elected a shareholder. He is with the litigation section. Jennifer N. Brown, DePaul 2006, has joined the firm with the divorce and family law section. Wausau office: Dean R. Dietrich, Marquette 1977, has joined the firm as a shareholder and a member of the labor and employment section, focusing on municipal law, labor relations, employment law, and professional responsibility matters. He has represented attorneys from throughout Wisconsin in proceedings before the Wisconsin Supreme Court and the Office of Lawyer Regulation.
Attorneys joining Weld Riley from the Wausau office of Mallery & Zimmerman SC are the following: John A. Cravens, Marquette 1990, focuses on civil litigation, creditor rights and insolvency, mediation, real estate, and banking and financial law. Evan Mayer, St. Thomas 2020, focuses on general litigation, family law, adoption, creditor rights, and estate planning. Matthew S. Mayer, Marquette 1990, focuses on civil litigation, family law, insurance defense, mediation, and personal injury law.
Sheldon Oppermann, Marquette 2016, practices in business and corporate sectors as well as real estate. He previously worked in commercial real estate development, construction, property management, leasing, and financing. Mark Sauer, Ohio Northern 1996, is a member of the firm’s business and corporate, labor and employment, and civil litigation law sectors. Robert Zimmerman, Marquette 1977, focuses on business, real estate, estate planning, and tax law.
Mergers, Relocations, New Offices
The board of Strang, Patteson, Renning, Lewis & Lacy s.c. has changed the firm’s name to Renning, Lewis & Lacy s.c. The firm, with offices in Madison, Green Bay, and Oshkosh, continues its emphasis in school law and its practices in management-side labor and employment law, business law, corporate law, real estate law, immigration, creditor rights, estate planning, and landlord-tenant law, representing public, private, and nonprofit clients throughout Wisconsin.
Appointments, Elections
Patrick P. Gill, Marquette 2003, has joined the board of directors for Sb Bancorp Inc. and Settlers Bank. He is a partner at Gill & Gill S.C., Appleton, a third-generation firm representing family-owned and other privately held businesses in corporate legal matters throughout the United States, in industries including insurance, manufacturing, education, service, technology, and food production.
Awards, Degrees, Honors
End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin is one of 40 organizations in 25 states to receive a grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to help prepare lawful permanent residents for naturalization.
In Memoriam
Patrick C. Brennan, Marquette 1988, Milwaukee, June 23, 1960 – Sept. 22, 2021.
John R. Broadnax, U.W. 1952, Milwaukee, May 13, 1923 – May 2, 2020.
Linda Dawson, U.W. 1984, Madison, July 14, 1950 – March 14, 2021.
Randall E. Doyle, Marquette 2002, Beaver Dam, July 13, 1970 – Sept. 17, 2021.
David Bergfeld Falstad, U.W. 1964, St. Peters, Mo., May 15, 1936 – Sept. 29, 2021.
Hon. John Vincent Finn, St. John’s Univ. 1970, Stevens Point, July 20, 1945 – Sept. 19, 2021.
Raymond Gamez, U.W. 2008, Racine, Aug. 5, 1958 – Aug. 9, 2021.
Jason Lorne Kennedy, Indiana Univ.-McKinney 1996, Chicago, Ill., Feb. 2, 1970 – June 5, 2020.
Acalia Noelle Kleven, William Mitchell 2013, Feb. 22, 1986 – Aug. 27, 2021.
Hon. John D. Koehn, John Marshall 1967, Sturgeon Bay, Sept. 22, 1936 – July 21, 2021.
Warren L. Kreunen, U.W. 1961, Mequon, Oct. 26, 1934 – Feb. 18, 2021.
Vernon Molbreak, U.W. 1949, Madison, June 13, 1920 – Oct. 23, 2020.
Hon. Randall E. Morey, U.W. 1949, Missoula, Mont., Sept. 15, 1923 – Aug. 1, 2019.
Kenneth K. Port, U.W. 1951, Hartford, March 2, 1924 – Sept. 25, 2021.
Thomas G. Ragatz, U.W. 1961, Madison, Feb. 18, 1934 – Sept. 3, 2021.
Jon Carl Schuster, Valparaiso 1996, Wausau, July 28, 1969 – Sept. 1, 2021.
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.
