Vol. 77, No. 3, March 2004

In the News

New Hires, Promotions, Partners

Bransky

Betsy Abramson, U.W. 1981, has joined the U.W. Law School as a clinical assistant professor, coteaching elder law and developing an elder law clinical for second and third-year law students. She also authored "Ethical Considerations in Potential Elder Abuse Cases," NAELA Quarterly, vol. 16, no. 4.

Aaron Bransky, U.W. 1989, has been promoted to director and shareholder at Brown, Andrew, & Signorelli, Duluth, Minn. He concentrates in estate planning and elder law and also practices in labor, business, and
real estate.

Paul A. Dirkse, U.W. 1994, has joined Hopp Neumann Humke LLP, Sheboygan. He previously was assistant corporation counsel for Marathon County.

Thomas J. Donnelly, Marquette 1995, has been named a shareholder at Emile Banks & Associates LLC, Milwaukee. He concentrates on insurance defense litigation.

James L. Dunlap, William Mitchell 1985, has become a shareholder with Congdon, Walden, Schuster & Vaklyes S.C., Waukesha, concentrating in civil litigation, small business matters, and real estate.

Andrew G. Falkowski, Valparaiso 1998, has been invited into partnership with Elaine A. Shanebrook, Marquette 1977. The new firm is Shanebrook & Falkowski Law Office LLP, West Bend. Falkowski focuses on commercial and residential real estate, real estate development, business law, estate planning, probate and trust administration, and elder law.

T. Dennis George, U.W. 1966, has joined McNaul Ebel Nawrot Helgren & Vance PLLC, Seattle, as of counsel, focusing on litigation, business transactions, investigations, and compliance matters. He previously was senior vice president, corporate affairs, and general counsel for Dendreon Corp., Seattle.

Koplien

Chad W. Koplien, Marquette 1997 with distinction, has joined Lee, Kilkelly, Paulson & Younger, Madison, as an associate, focusing on commercial litigation, financial institutions, construction law, and general business transactional work.

The Hon. Robert A. Haase, U.W. 1968, has joined the Milwaukee-based Resolute Systems Inc. as a mediator. He formerly was a circuit court judge in Winnebago County.

Traci L. McClellan, U.W. 2001, has joined the National Indian Health Board, Washington, D.C., as legislative director. She is an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation and has extensive experience in Federal Indian law and policy.

Stephen B. Mead, U.W. 1995, has become a partner in the Chicago office of McGuireWoods LLP. He is in the labor and employment department and focuses on representing management in litigation, as well as reductions in force and employee termination, accommodation, and leave issues.

Meyers

Marta Meyers, U.W. 1993, has joined Boardman Law Firm LLP, Madison, as an associate, practicing in family law, commercial litigation, trusts and estate litigation, and guardianship. She previously was with the Madison office of Foley & Lardner.

Matthew C. Siderits, Marquette 1996, and Daniel L. Zitzer, Marquette 1989, have become shareholders of Otjen, Van Ert, Lieb & Weir S.C., Milwaukee. Both practice exclusively in worker's compensation defense.

J. Alberto Quiroga, U.W. 2001, has joined the Law Center for Children & Families, Madison, as an associate, concentrating in family law and personal injury.

Sandra Z. Brown, Northwestern 1984, and Robert J. Misey Jr., Vanderbilt 1987, LL.M. (Taxation) Georgetown, have been named shareholders in Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren S.C., Milwaukee. Brown is in the litigation department, and Misey is in the tax department. Misey has coauthored A Practical Guide to U.S. Taxation of International Transactions (4th ed. CCH & Wolters Kluwer Co.).

Jacob R. Reis, Marquette 2003, has joined Liebmann, Conway, Olejniczak & Jerry S.C., Green Bay, as an associate, concentrating in business and corporate matters.

Rod W. Rogahn, U.W. 1996 cum laude, has joined Generac Power Systems Inc., Waukesha, as vice president and general counsel. He previously was the managing partner of Rogahn Law Offices.

Amy F. Scholl, John Marshall 1997 cum laude, has been promoted to shareholder at Coyne, Niess, Schultz, Becker & Bauer S.C., Madison. She continues to concentrate in litigation.

David C. Sienko, Marquette 1994, LL.M. (Securities and Financial Regulation) Georgetown, has been elected to membership in Bell, Boyd & Lloyd LLC, Chicago. He concentrates in corporate, mergers and acquisitions, and securities matters.

Stankowski

Thaddeus C. Stankowski, Marquette 1998, has joined von Briesen & Roper S.C., Milwaukee, as an associate in the intellectual property and litigation sections, focusing on areas including patent, trademark, and trade secret infringement.

Mergers, Relocations, New Associations

Jacob P. Blazkovec, U.W. 1961, and Jacob M. Blazkovec, Toledo 1992, have joined with Jeffrey R. Wisnicky, Northern Illinois 2003, to form Blazkovec, Blazkovec & Wisnicky, Algoma. Wisnicky formerly was an associate with Blazkovec & Blazkovec.

Jeffrey L. Hesson, Marquette 1983, and Grant E. Birtch, U.W. 1990, have formed Hesson & Birtch LLC, 244 E. Doty Ave., Neenah, concentrating on business formation, purchase, and sale, tax issues, real estate, estate planning, trusts, and probate. Gerald H. Rammer, U.W. 1970, is of counsel to the new firm.

Catherine M. Thomas, Marquette 2001 cum laude, has opened The Law Offices of Catherine M. Thomas, 5601 S. 108th St., Suite 200, Hales Corners, practicing in family law.

Appointments, Elections

The Douglas County Bar Association has elected the following officers: president - Kelly Thimm; president-elect - Stephen J. Olson; and secretary/treasurer - Tony Briedenbach, all of Superior.

John A. Erich, Chicago 1972, has been appointed to the Community Investment Advisory Council of the Chicago Federal Home Loan Bank. Erich is shareholder and cochair of the real estate law department at Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren S.C., Milwaukee, representing real estate developers, investors, and nonprofit organizations.

The Fond du Lac County Bar Association has chosen the following officers: president - Laurel S. Munger; president-elect - Terrence J. Gaffney; secretary - Ronald P. Hammer; and treasurer - Dawn M. Sabel, all of Fond du Lac.

Michael J. Gratz, U.W. 1994, has been chosen president-elect for the St. Thomas More Lawyers' Society of Wisconsin Inc., which serves lawyers in southeastern Wisconsin by helping create a link between faith and the practice of law. Gratz is a partner in Boyle Fredrickson Newholm Stein & Gratz S.C., Milwaukee, which focuses exclusively on intellectual property law.

Daniel S. Welytok, U.W. 1987, has been reelected chair of the Great Lakes Area Tax Exempt/Government Entities Council, and Michael C. Wieber, Northwestern 1994, has been reelected secretary. The council is a liaison with the IRS. Welytok is with Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C., Milwaukee, and Wieber is with the M&I Trust Co. NA, Milwaukee.

Frederick R. Hardt, U.W. 1972, has been appointed as a circuit court judge for the Florida 20th Judicial Circuit by Gov. Jeb Bush. He previously was in practice in Naples, Fla.

The Monroe County Bar Association has selected the following officers: president - Aaron J. Lueck, Tomah; president-elect - Lisa Aldinger Hamblin, Sparta; and secretary/treasurer - Tyler J. Tripp, Sparta.

The Vernon County Bar Association has elected the following officers: president - George C. Wilbur, La Farge; secretary - Stephanie Hopkins, Viroqua; and treasurer - Timothy Gaskell, Viroqua.

Gregory M. Wesley, U.W. 1997, has been appointed by Gov. Jim Doyle to the board of directors of the Southeastern Wisconsin Professional Baseball Park District, which oversees the maintenance and management of Miller Park Stadium. Wesley is an employment law partner with Gonzalez, Saggio & Harlan LLP, Milwaukee.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has appointed the following attorneys to Office of Lawyer Regulation district investigative committees: District 4 - Mark A. Jinkins, Pinkert Law Firm, Sturgeon Bay; District 5 - Richard A. Radcliffe, Mubarak, Radcliffe & Berry, Tomah, and Jon D. Seifert, Goethel, Seifert & Schultz, Durand; District 6 - Lance S. Grady, The Schroeder Group, Waukesha, and Vincent D. Moschella, Milwaukee assistant city attorney; District 7 - Kenneth W. Gorski, Gorski & Wittman, Marshfield; James J. Natwick, Quale Hartmann, Baraboo, Leon S. Schmidt Jr., Schmidt, Grace & Duncan, Wisconsin Rapids, and John E. Shannon Jr., Anderson, O'Brien, Bertz, Skrenes & Golla, Stevens Point; District 9 - Rick J. Mundt, Winner, Wixson & Pernitz, Madison, and Meredith J. Ross, Frank J. Remington Center, U.W. Law School, Madison; District 13 - Gerald H. Antoine, Huiras, Farrell & Antoine, Port Washington; and District 16 - David J. Condon, David J. Condon S.C., Woodruff.

Scott C. Woldt, Hamline 1987, has been appointed to the Winnebago County Circuit Court by Gov. Jim Doyle. Woldt previously was with Curtis Law Office, Oshkosh.

Authors, Speakers

Authors of the new book Critical Terms in Criminal Proceedings in Spanish and English/Terminologias Esenciales en el Proceso Criminal en Español y Inglés, published by State Bar CLE Books, are Ronald Gabriel Benavides, Benavides Law Office, Madison, and Luis C. Cuevas, State Public Defenders Office, Madison.

Authors of the revised 2004 edition of Wisconsin Rules of Evidence: A Courtroom Handbook, published by State Bar CLE Books, are the Hon. Thomas H. Barland, Eau Claire; Michael J. Brose, Doar, Drill & Skow S.C., New Richmond; and Susan R. Steingass, Habush Habush & Rottier S.C., Madison.

Awards, Degrees, Honors

Boyle Fredrickson Newholm Stein & Gratz S.C., Milwaukee, which focuses exclusively on intellectual property law, has been named to the Future 50 List by the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce and the Council of Small Business Executives. The list recognizes young fast-growing companies in the Milwaukee area.

Andrew Hanson, Northwestern 2001, has been awarded a two-year fellowship from the Environmental Leadership Program, New Haven, Conn. He is with Midwest Environmental Advocates Inc., Madison.

Killoran

Grant C. Killoran, Minnesota 1989, was named an "Outstanding Health Care Litigator" in the Nov./Dec. 2003 issue of Nightingale's Healthcare News. He is a partner with and chair of the health law litigation focus group and the pro bono committee at Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, Milwaukee. His practice includes exclusive provider contracts, restrictive covenants, physician employment agreements, and complex medical real estate matters.

Schweitzer

Sommerhauser

John Schweitzer, U.W. 1985, received the Heffernan Award at the 2004 Mock Trial Awards Banquet. The award recognizes lawyers who have demonstrated outstanding commitment and dedication to the Wisconsin High School Mock Trial Tournament. Schweitzer, who is with the Wisconsin Department of Regulation & Licensing, Madison, prepared the case materials for the first several years of the competition.

Peter Sommerhauser, Northwestern 1968, was named to The Business Journal's 2003 "Book of Lists" as a leader in Milwaukee's legal community. He is a shareholder in the corporate law practice group at Godfrey & Kahn S.C., Milwaukee, focusing on mergers and acquisitions and business and financial planning.

Pro Bono, Public Service

Lieutenant Colonel Tom Rhatican, U.W. 1992, commanded the 1st Battalion, 147th Aviation Regiment, Wisconsin Army National Guard, in Kuwait and Iraq from March until September. He is chief of staff for state Sen. Scott Fitzgerald, Madison.

In Memoriam

Steven I. Cohen, U.W. 1960, Green Bay, April 30, 1932 - Dec. 9, 2003.

Patrick W. Cotter, U.W. 1940, Milwaukee, April 11, 1916 - Nov. 21, 2003.

Albert J. Hauer, Marquette 1947, Fond du Lac, Aug. 16, 1922 - Oct. 7, 2003.

Rosalie J. Horwitz, Marquette 1935, Whitefish Bay, Jan. 8, 1914 - Dec. 9, 2003.

Frank X. Kinast, U.W. 1947, Beloit, June 21, 1914 - Dec. 14, 2003.

Mark H. Makholm, U.W. 1950, Stevens Point, Jan. 10, 1915 - Nov. 2, 2003.

Robert L. McGlynn, Marquette 1989, Brookfield, March 10, 1932 - Dec. 11, 2003.

Truman Q. McNulty, Marquette 1948, Milwaukee, Oct. 12, 1921 - Jan. 26, 2004.

Fred W. Miller, U.W. 1936, Madison, March 18, 1912 - Dec. 15, 2003.

Wisconsin Lawyer