New Hires, Promotions, Partners
Melissa Blair, Marquette 2004 magna cum laude, has joined O’Neil, Cannon, Hollman, DeJong & Laing, Milwaukee. She assists secured and unsecured corporate and individual creditors and other entities with workouts of commercial loans, leases, and other obligations.
David S. Blinka, U.W. 2012, has joined the Madison office of Habush Habush & Rottier S.C. as an associate.
Suzanne Glisch, U.W. 2010, and Alana Leffler, Marquette 2013, have joined Buelow Vetter Buikema Olson & Vliet LLC, Waukesha. Glisch, formerly with Gonzalez Saggio & Harlan LLP, is with the litigation team, focusing on labor and employment matters. Leffler focuses on school law and employee benefit issues.
Cross Law Firm S.C., Waukesha, welcomes Mary Flanner, U.W. 1987, and Danielle Bailey, Marquette 2012. Flanner is a senior litigator focusing on employees’ rights, including severance agreements and other contracts, compensation and wrongful discharge claims, licensure and regulatory matters, special education, public accommodation, and False Claims Act and other fraud and whistleblower claims. Bailey, who is bilingual, focuses on employment litigation in the areas of discrimination and retaliation, medical-related employment claims, and wrongful discharge, wage/hour, and discrimination claims in housing, public accommodations, and education.
Jennifer Devitt, Washington Univ. 2005, has joined Wangard Partners, Milwaukee, a real estate company, as corporate counsel.
David W. Fell, Harvard 1988, has been promoted to general counsel and secretary of Broadwind Energy Inc., Cicero, Ill.
Sally Ihlenfeld, Marquette 2008, and Gregory Melgares, Loyola 1996, have joined the legal department at Froedtert Health Inc., Milwaukee. Ihlenfeld focuses on employment, clinical research, health-care contracts, medical staff, physician practice, HIPAA, and general health-law matters. Melgares focuses on corporate transactions and contracting, health-care regulatory matters, and federal and state tax-exemption issues.
Kelly H. Grebe, U.W. 1993, has been promoted to chief legal and corporate services officer at MillerCoors LLC, Milwaukee. She previously was vice president, deputy general counsel-commercial.
Eric L. Hafferman, Valparaiso 2002, has joined Simpson & Deardorff S.C., Milwaukee, and leads the firm’s new workers’ compensation department.
Joseph W. Hansen, New York Univ. 1978 (LLM), has been appointed chief financial officer of Zensun (Shanghai) Science & Technology Co., Shanghai and San Diego, which develops cardiovascular drugs. He previously was with Pacific Ethanol Inc., Sacramento.
Five attorneys have joined Hansen Reynolds Dickinson Crueger LLC, Milwaukee. Jeremy Adelson, U.W. 2009, is of counsel and focuses on intellectual property matters. James Barton, Marquette 2008, a senior associate, focuses on complex corporate litigation. Don Jacquart, Marquette 1968, is of counsel and focuses on civil litigation. Paul Jacquart, Marquette 2000, a partner, focuses on litigation. John Shanahan, Marquette 2012, an associate, focuses on complex corporate litigation.
Stephen J. Huebscher, U.W. 2011, has joined Thrasher, Pelish, Franti & Heaney Ltd., Rice Lake, as an associate focusing on litigation.
Marissa L. Iancu, Marquette 2013, has joined Karp Law Offices S.C., Milwaukee, as an associate and focuses on family law.
Lindsey A. Larson, Marquette 2010, has joined Beck, Chaet, Bamberger & Polsky S.C., Milwaukee, focusing on litigation and labor and employment matters.
The Law Center for Children and Families, Madison, welcomes new associates Matthew Giesfeldt, U.W. 2012 cum laude, and Meghan Roed, U.W. 2012. Giesfeldt practices in family law, school law, and general litigation. Roed practices in estate planning, assisted reproductive technology, and adoption, with a focus on LGBT families, and real estate, tax, and business law.
Dayna J. Lefebvre, Marquette 2013 cum laude, has joined Becker, Hickey & Poster S.C., Milwaukee, which handles divorce and related family matters, Title 19, estate planning, probate, and guardianship.
Brian McGrath, Harvard 1982, has joined the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, Milwaukee, as senior counsel on the litigation team. He previously was with Foley & Lardner LLP, Milwaukee.
Sarah N. Ehrhardt, U.W. 2005, Daniel A. O’Callaghan, U.W. 2005, and Melanie J. Reichenberger, Iowa 2006, have been elected to partnership at Michael Best & Friedrich LLP. Ehrhardt is with the wealth planning practice group and Reichenberger is with the intellectual property practice group, both in the Milwaukee office. O’Callaghan is with the land and resources practice group in the Madison office. Lucinda J. Schettler, Virginia 2003, has rejoined the labor and employment relations practice group in the Milwaukee office and focuses on employer-side matters.
Thomas B. Sewall, Northern Illinois 1996, has joined Di Renzo & Bomier LLC and practices bankruptcy law in the firm’s Oshkosh and Neenah offices.
Kate A. Thompson Wilkinson, U.W. 1998, has been promoted to vice president and general counsel of C&K Market Inc., Brookings, Ore., a grocery and pharmacy company.
von Briesen & Roper S.C. welcomes Patrick J. Cannon, Gonzaga 2010 cum laude, and Ralph V. Topinka, U.W. 1980 Order of the Coif, to the firm’s health law section. Cannon, previously with MediRevv Inc., Coralville, Iowa, is in the Milwaukee office. Topinka, previously with a multihospital health-care system, is in the Madison office.
Judith M. Bostetter, Marquette 1995, has joined Ziino, Germanotta, Knoll & Christensen, Milwaukee, as a partner. Daniel R. Shillinglaw, Marquette 2005, has been promoted to partner. The firm represents individuals and businesses in real estate, estate and succession planning, family law, and personal injury.
Mergers, Relocations, New Offices
Alexander M. Jadin, St. Thomas 2006, has formed Roeder Smith Jadin PLLC, 7900 Xerxes Ave. S., Suite 2020, Bloomington, Minn. focusing on insurance recovery and construction litigation.
Michael Best & Friedrich LLP has opened an office at 601 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C., focusing on energy, environmental, intellectual property, food and agriculture, and U.S. Food and Drug Administration matters. New partner Daniel L. Sanford, U.W. 1973, will lead the office. He previously was with American Transmission Co. He is joined by Anna J. Wildeman, Vermont 2007, who focuses on environmental law, and Brian J.N. Marstall, St. Louis 2010, who focuses on intellectual property.
Murphy Desmond S.C. has moved its Janesville office to 101 E. Milwaukee St., Suite 301.
Appointments, Elections
Joel Aziere, Creighton 1997, has been appointed president of the board at Buelow Vetter Buikema Olson & Vliet LLC, Waukesha. The firm represents employers in labor, employment, employee benefits, and school law matters.
Capt. Robert Blazewick, U.S. Navy, Marquette 1987, has been appointed circuit trial judge for the Navy-Marine Corps Southern Circuit, Jacksonville, Fla. He previously was a professor of international law at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, Garmisch, Germany.
The Divorce Cooperation Institute has elected the following officers for the 2013-15 term: president – David B. Karp, Marquette 1982, Karp Law Offices S.C., Milwaukee; vice president – Dennis H. Milbrath, New England 1979, Levy & Levy S.C., Cedarburg; treasurer – Thomas A. Merkle, Marquette 1972, O’Neil, Cannon, Hollman, DeJong & Laing S.C., Milwaukee; financial officer – Lisa A. Martin, Marquette 1999, Hayes & Martin S.C., Brookfield; secretary – Sara M. Vanden Brook, U.W. 2008, Law Center for Children & Families, Madison; members-at-large – Mary E. Leonard, Marquette 1989, Murphy & Leonard LLP, Milwaukee, Patricia A. Kujawa, Marquette 1980, DeWitt Ross & Stevens S.C., Brookfield, and Anthony J. Menting, Marquette 1993, Stafford & Rosenbaum LLP, Madison; and emeritus counselors – Gregg M. Herman, U.W. 1977, Loeb & Herman S.C., Milwaukee, and Daphne Webb, U.W. 1973, Stafford Rosenbaum LLP, Madison.
The Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association has elected the following officers: president – Anthony S. Baish, Michigan 1997, Godfrey & Kahn S.C.; president-elect – Jonathan H. Koenig, William & Mary 1995, U.S. Attorney’s Office Eastern District; vice president – Scott W. Hansen, U.W. 1976, Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c.; secretary – Sandra R. Gegios, U.W. 1982, U.S. District Court Eastern District, all in Milwaukee; and treasurer – T. Wickham Schmidt, Yale 2002, Conway Olejniczak & Jerry S.C., Green Bay.
Two attorneys in the Madison office of Godfrey & Kahn S.C. have been appointed to positions with the American Health Lawyers Association. C. Wade Harrison, U.W. 2007, has been appointed vice chair of the labor and employment practice group. Thomas N. Shorter, Northeastern 1996, has been appointed to the dispute resolution council. Shorter, a shareholder and chair of the firm’s health-care practice group, also has become a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Patricia A. Hutter, Illinois 1997, has been appointed to the board of the Wisconsin Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth. She is a partner with the corporate services practice group and national chair of the mergers and acquisitions team in the Milwaukee office of Quarles & Brady LLP.
Lecia D. Johnson, Iowa 2000, has been named chair of the Women’s Leadership Forum at Godfrey & Kahn S.C., Milwaukee. She is a shareholder and a member of the firm’s tax and employee benefits practice group.
Shana Lewis, U.W. 1999, has been appointed to the board of the Wisconsin School Attorneys Association. She is a shareholder with Davis & Kuelthau s.c., Madison.
Kevin J. Lyons, U.W. 1970, has been elected treasurer of the State Bar of Wisconsin. He is a shareholder on the litigation team at Davis & Kuelthau s.c., Milwaukee.
Elizabeth C. Perkins, Minnesota 2000, was elected to a second three-year term on the Seventh Circuit Bar Association’s board. She is a partner with the Milwaukee office of Quarles & Brady LLP, focusing on commercial and securities litigation.
Amanda Pirt, Marquette 2011, has been appointed vice chair of the Tort, Trial and Insurance Practice Committee of the ABA’s Young Lawyers Division. She is with the Madison office of Hupy and Abraham S.C.
Amalia L. Todryk, Marquette 2003, was designated chair of the Milwaukee Bar Association’s Estate & Trust Section. She is a partner with the trusts and estates group in the Milwaukee office of Quarles & Brady LLP.
Authors, Speakers
Authors of the recently revised Attorney’s Guide to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals (State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE, 5th ed. 2013) include the following: Linda S. Isnard, Marquette 1988, Isnard Law Offices LLC, Mequon; Michael D. Leffel, Michigan 1997, Foley & Lardner LLP, Madison; James C. Schroeder, U.W. 1981, Mayer Brown LLP, Chicago; Krista J. Sterken, Columbia 2010, Foley & Lardner LLP, Madison; and Donald J. Wall, Marquette 1977, Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, Chicago. Attorneys practicing in other states within the Seventh Circuit’s jurisdiction also contributed to the revision.
Patrick S. Coffey, Chicago-Kent 1984, participated in a panel discussion on “Enforcement and Compliance Perils Confronting Health Care Providers” at the Healthcare Financial Management Association’s annual conference in May. He is leader of the corporate compliance and white-collar defense team and a member of the health care law team at Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C., Milwaukee.
John Fisher, U.W. 1985, was a featured speaker at the Health Care Compliance Association’s 2013 Compliance Institute, where he spoke about mergers and acquisitions. Fisher is with Ruder Ware LLSC, Wausau.
Authors of the recently revised Wisconsin Employment Law (State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE, 5th ed. 2013) are the following: Peter L. Albrecht, Washington Univ. 1986, Albrecht Backer Labor & Employment Law S.C., Madison; Michael Aldana, Michigan 1990, and David B. Kern, Michigan 1979, Quarles & Brady LLP, Milwaukee; Bradden C. Backer, U.W. 1981, Albrecht Backer Labor & Employment Law S.C., Milwaukee; Lisa M. Bergersen, Marquette 1989, City of Pewaukee; Katherine L. Charlton, Vermont 1983, Timothy E. Hawks, Iowa 1977, Summer Murshid, Georgetown 2009, and Jeffrey P. Sweetland, Mississippi 1984, Hawks Quindel S.C., Milwaukee; Joseph Danas Jr., Valparaiso 1975, Borgelt, Powell, Peterson & Frauen S.C., Milwaukee; Daniel T. Dennehy, Marquette 1979, von Briesen & Roper, s.c., Milwaukee; Fred Gants, Chicago 1976, Quarles & Brady LLP, Madison; Eric E. Hobbs, Cornell 1985, Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, Milwaukee; David Lucey, Chicago 1983, Lawrence T. Lynch, Iowa 1982, and Greg W. Renz, Chicago 1975, Foley & Lardner LLP, Milwaukee; Marianne Goldstein Robbins, Northeastern 1977, Previant Law Firm S.C., Milwaukee; Tracey L. Schwalbe, U.W. 1988, Wisconsin Labor & Industry Review Commission, Madison; Robert K. Sholl, Chicago 1981, Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c., Milwaukee; Jonathan T. Swain, Marquette 1975, Lindner & Marsack S.C., Milwaukee; Rose Ann Wasserman, U.W. 1984, Wisconsin Equal Rights Division, Milwaukee; and Brian J. Waterman, Marquette 2006, Buelow Vetter Buikema Olson & Vliet LLC, Waukesha.
John Neal, U.W. 1972, Stafford Neal & Soule S.C., Madison, and Joseph P. Danas Jr., Valparaiso 1975, Borgelt, Powell, Peterson & Frauen S.C., Milwaukee, authored the recently revised Worker’s Compensation Handbook (State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE, 7th ed. 2013).
Awards, Degrees, Honors
Jeffrey P. Aiken, Marquette 1972, has achieved an advanced professional director certification from the American College of Corporate Directors.
Breanne Bucher, Valparaiso 2011, was recognized as Rookie of the Year by the Waukesha County Bar Association. She is with Bucher Law Group LLC, Delafield, and practices in criminal defense, traffic, civil litigation, and landlord-tenant issues and also is a guardian ad litem in family and juvenile cases.
Andrea Gage, Marquette 2011, has earned a master’s degree in dispute resolution from Marquette University’s College of Professional Studies. She is public relations coordinator at the State Bar of Wisconsin, Madison.
Jason J. Knutson, U.W. 2000, has been certified as a civil trial specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He is a shareholder with Habush Habush & Rottier, Madison, and focuses on complex personal injury litigation and class-action employment claims.
Donald W. Layden Jr., Marquette 1982, received Marquette University’s 2013 Alumnus of the Year Award, in recognition of his professional achievement and service to the community and to Marquette University. He is a partner with the corporate services group in the Milwaukee office of Quarles & Brady LLP.
Michele McKinnon, Marquette 2002, has been certified in creditors’ rights law by the American Board of Certification. She focuses on creditors’ rights and banking law at Conway, Olejniczak & Jerry S.C., Green Bay.
Winners of the Milwaukee Bar Association’s annual awards are the following: Lifetime Achievement Award – Robert L. Habush, U.W. 1961, Habush, Habush & Rottier S.C.; Lawyer of the Year – Milwaukee Justice Center Volunteer Attorneys; Distinguished Service Award – Hon. Richard J. Sankovitz, Harvard 1983, Milwaukee County Circuit Court; and E. Michael McCann Distinguished Public Service Award – Grant F. Langley, Marquette 1970, Milwaukee City Attorney.
Serena Pollack, Denver 2000, received the Wisconsin Alumni Association’s 2013 Forward Under 40 Award. She is a partner at Gonzalez Saggio & Harlan LLP, Milwaukee, and chairs the firm’s national restaurant and hospitality practice.
Stuart Schroeder, Oklahoma City Univ. 1977, received the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee Irving J. Seher Award, presented to an alumnus who exemplifies the clubs’ mission. He is CEO of The Schroeder Group S.C., Waukesha.
Carlton D. Stansbury, Iowa 1990 with distinction, has been named a fellow of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. He is a shareholder in Burbach & Stansbury S.C., Milwaukee, and focuses on family law.
Francis X. Sullivan, U.W. 2000, has received a fellowship in public health law from the national Attorneys General Training and Research Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. He is a Wisconsin assistant attorney general, focusing on defense of state medical and mental health care providers in the civil litigation unit.
In Memoriam
Leslie M. Altman, Minnesota 1983, Minneapolis, Dec. 9, 1953 – Sept. 6, 2012.
James M. Bablitch, U.W. 1966, Stevens Point, Aug. 27, 1941 – April 23, 2013.
Peter N. Brusky, Marquette 1968, Wauwatosa, April 24, 1943 – Jan. 15, 2013.
Catherine M. Canright, John Marshall 1985, Superior, Oct. 30, 1946 – June 13, 2013.
Neil M. Conway, U.W. 1950, La Crescent, Minn., April 9, 1926 – May 29, 2013.
Michael B. Davy, U.W. 1948, Haverford, Pa., May 27, 1922 – May 20, 2013.
Frederick A. Eckl, Marquette 1942, Milwaukee, April 8, 1919- Aug. 28, 2012.
James L. Everson, Marquette 1952, Green Bay, Feb. 14, 1927 – June 15, 2010.
Gerald A. Flanagan, Marquette 1954, Milwaukee, Sept. 26, 1929 – April 21, 2013.
Mark A. Gehring, U.W. 1963, Milwaukee, April 9, 1931 – April 8, 2013.
I.R. Glick, U.W. 1940, Elm Grove, Oct. 3, 1916 – Nov. 16, 2012.
Raymond L. Hoel, U.W. 1968, Cornell, July 4, 1943 – May 4, 2013.
Hon. Robert A.P. Kennedy, U.W. 1962, Crandon, Sept. 4, 1931 – April 30, 2013.
George A. Koehler, U.W. 1951, New Lisbon, May 9, 1920 – May 31, 2013.
Martha J. McLeod, U.W. 1978, Wausau, May 18, 1942 – Aug. 18, 2012.
Kenneth D. Ohm, U.W. 1954, Amery, June 3, 1929 – Jan. 3, 2013.
Margaret E. Olson, U.W. 1984, Madison, July 30, 1955 – Sept. 1, 2012.
George Papageorge, U.W. 1949, Milwaukee, June 27, 1925 – May 12, 2013.
Carl L. Peterson, U.W. 1952, Menomonie, Jan. 31, 1927 – May 15, 2013.
Sheldon Rapkin, U.W. 1954, Mequon, May 24, 1930 – June 27, 2012.
Mary Wendt Riedl, Marquette 1936, July 31, 1913- May 2, 2013.
Robert E. Slade, U.W. 1965, Greendale, Nov. 9, 1941 – Nov. 28, 2012.
Debra L. Spector, U.W. 2000, Madison, Aug. 31, 1973 – Feb. 9, 2013.
Edmond J. Vaklyes Jr., Marquette 1978, Waukesha, March 19, 1953 – April 26, 2013.
R. Dirk Van Horne, U.W. 1963, Raleigh, N.C., April 26, 1934 – May 26, 2013.
Bryon Jerome Walker, U.W. 1984, La Farge, Feb. 10, 1954 – March 1, 2013.
Steven L. Wilson, U.W. 1982, Appleton, Feb. 11, 1956 – June 3, 2013.
Roxana Wizorek, Catholic Univ. 1998, Milwaukee, April 24, 1970 – May 12, 2013.
Ralph R. Zauner, U.W. 1951, Hot Springs Village, Ark., Nov. 6, 1924 – April 21, 2013.
Judith R. Zuege, Washington Univ. 1977, Rocky Mount, N.C., April 10, 1953 – March 12, 2013. WL
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