Wisconsin Lawyer
Vol. 85, No. 6, June 2012

New Hires, Promotions, Partners

Brittany Alexenko, Marquette 2010, has joined the Gurnee, Ill., office of Hupy and Abraham S.C.

Alex Brown, Valparaiso 1992, has joined Sweet & Maier S.C., Elkhorn, focusing on business, real estate, and zoning and land use law. Brown was previously a partner at O'Brien, Anderson, Burgy, Garbowicz & Brown LLP, Eagle River.

Bridget Erwin, William Mitchell 2007, has joined Hermes Law Ltd., Green Bay, practicing in estate planning and probate, elder law and guardianship, Medicaid planning, powers of attorney, trusts, transactional matters, and business law, including business litigation and business start-ups.

Andrea Gage, Marquette 2011, has joined the State Bar of Wisconsin, Madison, working in public relations and communications for the organization's Public Affairs Department.

Joshua J. Kindkeppel, Hamline 2003, has been named a shareholder at Eustice, Laffey, Sebranek & Auby S.C., Sun Prairie, and continues to focus in the areas of business, real estate, employment, administrative law, and civil litigation. He also has been elected president of the Dane County Bar Association.

Christopher M. Kuechler, Marquette 2011, has joined Jaskolski & Jaskolski S.C., Greenfield, focusing on family law.

Andrew J. McDonald, Marquette 2011, has joined McDonald Law Office, Janesville, as an associate focusing on plaintiff's personal injury and civil litigation.

Larraine McNamara-McGraw, Marquette 1982, has joined Horizons Law Group, Brookfield, focusing on foreclosure defense for homeowners. She previously was a sole practitioner focusing on employment and civil rights.

Benjamin Menzel, Marquette 2002, and James Reiher, U.W. 1969, have joined The Schroeder Group, Waukesha. Menzel focuses on commercial and business litigation and debtor/creditor rights. Reiher focuses on employment law, civil litigation, personal injury claims and defense, product liability, and insurance disputes.

Aaron D. Plamann, Marquette 2005, and April K. Toy, Marquette 2010, have joined Matthiesen, Wickert & Lehrer S.C., Hartford, as associates focusing on nationwide subrogation, insurance defense, and insurance coverage litigation. Plamann was previously with Shafer & Stewart. Toy was previously with Hills Legal Group Ltd.

Laura Steele, Marquette 2010, has joined Kerkman & Dunn, Milwaukee, focusing on business litigation/negotiation, real estate, and Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization. She previously was law clerk for the Hon. Susan V. Kelley, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin.

Stacy Vogeltanz, Minnesota 2010, has joined Winter, Chewning & Geary LLP, Two Rivers, as an associate focusing on Social Security disability.

Gregory M. Tears, Rutgers 2002, has joined the Milwaukee office of Michael Best & Friedrich LLP as a partner. He is with the transactional practice group.

Mergers, Relocations, New Offices

Axley Brynelson LLP and Murn & Martin S.C. have combined their firms. John Mitby, U.W. 1971, is the managing partner for the Waukesha office, which includes Don Murn, Marquette 1985, Michelle Martin, Marquette 1992, Whitney Vallier, U.W. 2008, and Frank Murn, Marquette 1953.

Boller & Vaughan LLC has opened a new office at 3610 Oakwood Mall Dr., Ste. 202, Eau Claire. Matthew Boller, District of Columbia 1994, and Michele Vaughan, U.W. 1995, represent individuals and families in accident cases including wrongful death and nursing home abuse and neglect.

Bateman & Schramm P.A. and Geraghty, O'Loughlin & Kenney P.A. have merged to form Geraghty, O'Loughlin & Kenney P.A., Saint Paul and Duluth, Minn. The firm provides legal services to health-care providers.

Lopez Law Group LLC has joined Murphy Desmond S.C., Madison, as an immigration practice group. Lawyers include Glorily A. Lopez, U.W. 2000, and Raluca Vais-Ottosen, Louisiana State University 2004.

James A Walcheske, Marquette 2007, and Scott S. Luzi, Marquette 2010, have opened Walcheske & Luzi LLC, focusing on employment law. Offices are located at 200 S. Executive Dr., Ste. 101, Brookfield, and 4650 W. Spencer St., Ste. 13, Appleton.

Appointments, Elections

Kevin A. Delorey, U.W. 1986, was appointed to the steering committee of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) Contract Documents Forum. He is a partner at Quarles & Brady LLP, Madison, focusing on commercial real estate development.

Jeff Goldman, U.W. 2002 cum laude, was elected to the board of the Madison Estate Council. He is with DeWitt Ross & Stevens S.C., Madison, focusing on estate planning and probate.

Jeremy Levitt, U.W. 1996, was elected to the Executive Council of the American Society of International Law. Levitt is with Florida A&M College of Law, Orlando, Fla.

Dennis R. McBride, NYU 1980, was elected Wauwatosa Common Council president. He is a senior trial attorney for the Milwaukee Area Office of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

The Hon. Timothy Vocke, U.W. 1973, was appointed to the Government Accountability Board by Gov. Scott Walker. He is with Vocke ADR, Rhinelander.

Steve Werner, U.W. 1997, has been named chair of the board of Forward Janesville Inc., a private economic development organization assisting area businesses and individuals. He focuses on business and real estate law at Murphy Desmond S.C., Janesville.

Joe Weigel, Marquette 1960, Weigel, Carlson, Blau & Clemens S.C., Milwaukee, has been named to the Leadership Advisory Board of Directors of La Casa de Esperanza, Waukesha.

Awards, Degrees, Honors

Nathaniel Cade Jr., Michigan 1996, has been named to the 2012 Fellows Program of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity. Cade is a partner with Gonzalez Saggio & Harlan LLP, Milwaukee, focusing on litigation.

Latrice M. Milton, U.W. 2006, Milton Family Law, Brookfield, has earned certification in Collaborative Divorce from the Collaborative Family Law Council of Wisconsin.

Adrian Schoone, Marquette 1959, is the recipient of the Marquette University Law School Lifetime Achievement Award. He is the president of Schoone, Leuck, Kelley, Pitts & Knurr S.C., Racine, and a former State Bar president.

The Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association recognized the following judges, lawyers, and associations for their significant contributions to the practice of law and for their positive impact on the community: Hon. James E. Shapiro, Harvard 1954, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Myron L. Gordon Lifetime Achievement Award; Hon. Charles N. Clevert Jr., Georgetown 1972, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Nathan A. Fishbach Founder's Award; Bruce A. Lanser, Marquette 1982, Lanser Law Office, Judge Dale E. Ihlenfeldt Bankruptcy Award; Hon. Patricia J. Gorence, Marquette 1977, and Hon. Nancy Joseph, Rutgers 1993, both with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Judge John W. Reynolds Community Building Award; and Wisconsin Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, Judge Robert W. Warren Public Service Award.

In Memoriam

David E. Beckwith, U.W. 1952, Milwaukee, March 5, 1928 – April 14, 2012.

Donald F. Fitzgerald, Marquette 1962, Sun City West, Ariz., Dec. 2, 1927 – March 16, 2007.

Victoria Hewelt Cazel, Chicago-Kent 1979, Poway, Calif., Dec. 29, 1952 – Oct. 8, 2011.

Ralph E. Houseman, Marquette 1939, Grafton, July 29, 1916 – Feb. 13, 2012.

Arthur C. Kordus, U.W. 1962, Schofield, Dec. 17, 1929 – Oct. 28, 2011.

Ruth La Fave, U.W. 1945, Milwaukee, Oct. 12, 1919 – Dec. 3, 2011.

John K. McCormick, John Marshall 1983, Oak Creek, March 15, 1954 – Feb. 16, 2012.

John C. McElhaney, Nebraska 1958, Monroe, May 3, 1932 – Oct. 21, 2011.

Christine Frances Meyer, Marquette 1997, Brookfield, May 25, 1972 – Oct. 22, 2011.

Amory O. Moore Jr., Northwestern 1948, Brookfield, Jan. 19, 1920 – June 20, 2011.

Harrison W. Nichols, U.W. 1955, Burlington, Dec. 8, 1927 – Nov. 18, 2011.

Willard J. Reik, U.W. 1947, Milwaukee, March 21, 1922 – April 4, 2012.

Lisa D. Thornton, U.W. 2003, Milwaukee, Dec. 21, 1967 – Dec. 18, 2011.

Grant D. Waldo, Marquette 1962, Milwaukee, July 15, 1926 – June 20, 2007.

John M. Webster, U.W. 1973, Two Rivers, Oct. 4, 1945 – Oct. 15, 2011.

Joseph P. Wright, U.W. 1988, Madison, Aug. 1, 1963 – April 10, 2012.   

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