New Hires, Promotions, Partners

Ryan Monsevalles, Marquette 2024, and Eric Silver, Marquette 2024, have joined Grzeca Law Group SC, Milwaukee. Monsevalles and Silver focus on business immigration, helping guide employers through the immigration process from initial transfer through permanent residence.

Elli Becker, Marquette 2024, and Maxwell Jozwiak, Marquette 2024, have joined O’Leary-Guth Law Office S.C., Mequon, as associate attorneys, focusing on estate planning, trust and estate administration, elder law, and tax.

Scott Fiducci, Indiana Univ.-Bloomington 1986, and Abigail (Abby) McGowan, Indiana Univ.-Bloomington 2022, have joined Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c., Milwaukee.

Fiducci is a shareholder in the Corporate Law Practice and focuses on counseling clients on mergers and acquisitions; debt and equity investment transactions; commercial contracts; corporate governance; business counseling, business purchases, and sales; and company formation matters. McGowan is with the Trusts and Estates Practice and advises clients in estate planning, business succession planning, and tax-related matters, including breach of trust, breach of fiduciary duty, undue influence, fiduciary removal and defense, and construction and reformation matters.

Ashley M. Schutt, Marquette 2024, has joined the Waukesha office of Habush Habush & Rottier S.C. as an associate and focuses on plaintiff’s personal injury law.

Reid J. Hazelton, Marquette 2022 magna cum laude,and Kristen N. Nelson, DePaul 2012, have joined von Briesen & Roper s.c. in the Milwaukee office.

Hazelton is an associate in the Business Practice Group and focuses on mergers and acquisitions, business and corporate issues, and Corporate Transparency Act compliance. Nelson is a shareholder in the Health Law and Government Enforcement and Internal Investigations Sections and focuses on professional license defense including health-care licensure, Medicare and Medicaid fraud, governmental investigations and enforcement actions, and professional liability.

Steven Weinshel, Marquette 2013, has become assistant state attorney for the 12th Judicial Circuit of Florida. He works in the misdemeanor division in Manatee County and handles mental health commitment cases. He previously worked for two civil litigation firms.

Mergers, Relocations, New Offices

Coral D. Pleas, Marquette 1993, has formed The Pleas Law Firm LLC, 11414 W. Park Place, Suite 202, Milwaukee. The firm concentrates in personal injury cases and estate planning.

Appointments, Elections

Todd Smith, U.W. 1996, has joined the University of Wisconsin Law School Board of Visitors, for the term 2024-2028. Smith focuses on litigation at Godfrey & Kahn S.C., Madison, is leader of the ERISA Litigation Practice Group, and is the firm’s general counsel.

Authors, Speakers

Authors of the recently revised Securities, Mergers and Acquisitions in Wisconsin (State Bar of Wis. 4th ed. 2024) are the following: Steven R. Barth, Michigan 1984, Austin R. Kissinger, Chicago 2020, and Mitchell D. Lindstrom, Marquette 2015, Foley & Lardner LLP, Milwaukee; Scott W. Brunner, Marquette 2012, Husch Blackwell LLP, Milwaukee; Shawn M. Govern, Marquette 1991, and Matthew J. Hills, Marquette 2014, DeWitt LLP, Brookfield; and Daniel J. Kersey, U.W. 2014, Ryan P. Morrison, U.W. 2001, and Ryan L. Van Den Elzen, Notre Dame 2002, Quarles & Brady LLP, Milwaukee.

Authors of the recently revised Wisconsin Attorney’s Desk Reference (State Bar of Wis. 13th ed. 2024) include the following: Craig W. Albee, U.W. 1990, and Gabriela A. Leija, Marquette 2015, Federal Defender Services of Wisconsin Inc., Milwaukee; Jennifer L. Amundsen, U.W. 2003, Amundsen Law Firm LLC, Madison; Richard L. Binder, U.W. 1973 (retired) and Kyle G. Borkenhagen, Indiana Univ.-Bloomington 2011, Rohde Dales LLP, Sheboygan; and Jesse B. Blocher, Marquette 2006, Habush Habush & Rottier S.C., Waukesha.

Also, Erin E. Block, Marquette 2015, and Joseph T. Miotke, Marquette 1999, DeWitt LLP, Brookfield; Drew Cochrane, U.W. 1999, Pellitteri Waste Systems, Madison; Kyle W. Engelke, U.W. 2013, and Clementine Uwabera, Florida State 2014, Stafford Rosenbaum LLP, Madison; Victor Forberger, Northeastern 1997, Madison; and Joseph Franke, Marquette 2023, Benjamin T. Kurten, U.W. 1997, Steven W. Martin, U.W. 1973 (retired), and Robert J. Misey Jr., Vanderbilt 1987, Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c., Milwaukee.

Also, Mark H.T. Fuhrman, U.W. 1993, and Kelly J. Stohr, U.W. 2004, Fuhrman + Dodge S.C., Middleton; Susan Grzes-kowiak, Western Michigan 1998, Lemon Law Justice Center LLC, Brookfield; Shawna Guinn, Valparaiso 2001, Kate Lloyd, U.W. 2002, and Amanda Ramaker, U.W. 2010, Dane County Corporation Counsel, Madison; and Mark R. Hamilton Jr., Marquette 2022, and Alexander C. Lemke, Tulsa 2018, Meissner Tierney Fisher & Nichols S.C., Milwaukee.

Also, Michael S. Heffernan, U.W. 1977 (retired), Foley & Lardner LLP, Madison; Margaret Wrenn Hickey, U.W. 1986, and Heather B. Poster, Marquette 2002, Becker, Hickey & Poster S.C., Milwaukee; Christopher J. Hussin, Univ. of Denver 1997, Boardman & Clark LLP, Madison; Evan Knupp, Marquette 2009, and
Patrick M. Roney, Marquette 2004, Roney & Knupp LLC, Milwaukee; and Eric W. Lengell, Marquette 2007, and Gary S. Stanislawski, Marquette 1997, Zilske Law Firm S.C., Brookfield.

Also, Jack Longert, Illinois 1978, Madison; Amanda R. Rabe Mayer, Marquette 2012, Judicare Legal Aid, Wausau; Avery J. Mayne, Marquette 2015, Walny Legal Group LLC, Milwaukee; Brittany S. Ogden, Syracuse 1999, and Roy L. Prange Jr., U.W. 1975 (retired), Quarles & Brady LLP, Madison; Pamela M. Ploor, Harvard 1993, Stafford Rosenbaum LLP, Milwaukee; Eve Dennison Pollock, U.W. 1999, WR Stewart & Associates SC, Madison; and Eliza M. Reyes, Univ. of Illinois-Chicago 1997, Richman & Richman LLC, Madison.

Also, Theresa L. Roetter, Marquette 1993, DeWitt LLP, Madison; Kyle R. Schaffer, St. Thomas 2016, Willow River Law LLC, Hudson; Timothy G. Schally, U.W. 1985, Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, Milwaukee; Megan L. Sprecher, St. Thomas 2007, Legal Action of Wisconsin Inc., Madison; Thomas S. Vercauteren, U.W. 2009, and David P. Weller, U.W. 1997, Boardman & Clark LLP, Madison; and Peter M. Young, Marquette 2009, Habush Habush & Rottier S.C., Wausau.

Authors of the recently revised Wisconsin Civil Procedure Before Trial (State Bar of Wis. 8th ed. 2024) are the following: Gabrielle B. Adams, U.W. 2008, and Jason K. Smathers, Iowa 2019, Husch Blackwell LLP, Milwaukee; Kara M. Burgos, Marquette 1995, Moen Sheehan Meyer Ltd., La Crosse; Norman D. Farnam, Illinois 1999, and John J. Laubmeier, U.W. 2005, Stroud, Willink & Howard LLC, Madison; Carly Gerads, Marquette 2017, Stafford Rosenbaum LLP, Milwaukee; and Clayton P. Kawski, Northern Illinois 2007, Wisconsin Department of Justice, Madison.

Also, Benjamin W. Kuhlmann, Case Western Reserve 2020, and Maura K. Logue, Marquette 2020, Laffey, Leitner & Goode LLC, Milwaukee; Marsha M. Mansfield, U.W. 1984, Hawks Quindel S.C., Madison; Brittany S. Ogden, Syracuse 1999, and Randy J. Pflum, U.W. 2016, Quarles & Brady LLP, Madison; Steven J. Schooler, Michigan 1981, Madison; Pahoua Thao, Northern Illinois 2014, Stafford Rosenbaum LLP, Madison; Aaron R. Wegrzyn, Chicago 2013, U.S. Attorney’s Office – Eastern District of Wisconsin, Milwaukee; and Andrew S. Wier, U.W. 2008, Habush Habush & Rottier S.C., Kenosha.

Awards, Degrees, Honors

Aviva M. Kaiser, Buffalo 1979, received a public service commendation medal from the Secretary of the Army for her exceptional support to the military by providing ethics training at the Wisconsin National Guard Judge Advocate General’s Corps readiness and enhancement training events for nine years. Before retiring, Kaiser was ethics counsel with the State Bar of Wisconsin.

Eric J. Ryberg, U.W. 2006, with Habush Habush & Rottier S.C., Madison, has achieved board certification in civil trial law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. This certification indicates an experienced and knowledgeable attorney who has taken many cases to a jury trial verdict. The screening of credentials that all NBTA board-certified attorneys must successfully complete includes demonstration of substantial trial experience, submission of judicial and peer references to attest to their competency, attendance of continuing legal education courses, submission of legal writing documents, proof of good standing, and passing an examination.

Retirements

Gerard J. O’Flaherty, Marquette 1970, retired from the practice of law on March 31, 2024. He primarily practiced in business law and estate planning in La Crosse and surrounding counties in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

In Memoriam

Michael M. Berzowski, Marquette 1969, Oconomowoc, March 27, 1940 – June 3, 2024.

Holly L. Bunch, U.W. 1990, Whitefish Bay, June 19, 1965 – May 10, 2024.

Timothy G. Costello,Marquette 1980, Oct. 24, 1955 – Nov. 27, 2023.

William L. Gansner,U.W. 1974, Madison, March 15, 1947 – March 15, 2024.

Robert M. Hesslink Jr., U.W. 1972, Montrose, Nov. 7, 1945 – Jan. 17, 2024.

James A. Jaeger, Georgetown 1975, Missoula, Mont., May 18, 1948 – May 16, 2024.

Hon. Moria G. Krueger, U.W. 1970, Madison, March 14, 1944 – April 25, 2024.

Robert E. Leib, Boston Univ. 1976, Mequon, Dec. 9, 1950 – May 23, 2024.

Joseph R. Long II, U.W. 1991, Madison, Dec. 28, 1949 – Dec. 19, 2022.

Jack McManus, U.W. 1955, Madison, Nov. 25, 1928 – Oct. 7, 2023.

Scott P. Phillips, Marquette 1984, Milwaukee, Sept. 29, 1958 – May 8, 2024.

David E. Reiff, Valparaiso 1969, Tomahawk, Oct. 11, 1935 – April 16, 2021.

H. Leroy Richards, Illinois 1955, Racine, Jan. 14, 1926 – Feb. 10, 2024.

David E. Schultz, U.W. 1972, Madison, March 9, 1946 – April 5, 2024.

Hon. Michael J. Skwierawski, Georgetown 1967, Milwaukee, Oct. 19, 1942 – March 8, 2024.

Daniel F. Snyder, U.W. 1973, Park Falls, April 22, 1950 – May 20, 2024.

Scott L. Spiller, Southern Illinois 1976, Oshkosh, March 3, 1951 – Jan. 25, 2024.

David J. Tolan, Michigan 1952, Milwaukee, Dec. 27, 1927 – Jan. 20, 2024.

David G. Wartman, U.W. 1954, Ashland, May 24, 1929 – Sept. 21, 2023.

James E. Wojciehowski, U.W. 1966, Madison, Aug. 30, 1939 – Aug. 9, 2023.

William A. Yost III, Yale 1960, Irvine, April 7, 1935 – April 24, 2024.

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) 250-6127.

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.