Wisconsin Lawyer
Vol. 81, No. 7, July 2008

In the News

Place an announcement in In the News

New Hires, Promotions, Partners

Caitlyn A. Beaudry, DePaul 2007, has joined Weiss Berzowski Brady LLP, Milwaukee, as an associate and focuses on real estate transactions, trust and estate administration, and marital property planning.

Barbara A. Hayden, Hamline 1984, has joined Julian, Musial & Friedrich S.C., Madison, and continues to concentrate in family law, including collaborative family law and mediation.

Bruce Kerr, U.W. 1972, has been promoted to assistant general counsel for Sun Microsystems, Santa Clara, Calif., and focuses on global commercial and high-tech transactions.

Debra E. Kuper, Marquette 1997, has been elected vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary for AGCO Corp., Atlanta, Ga. She previously was senior counsel for Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, Ill., and assistant general counsel for Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Bentonville, Ark.

Daniel P. Bach, U.W. 1984 cum laude, Heather L. Curnutt, New York Univ. 1999, Peggy A. Lautenschlager, U.W. 1980, and Ginger L. Murray, Mississippi College 1995, have been named shareholders at Lawton & Cates s.c., Madison. Bach, Curnutt, and Lautenschlager focus on litigation. Murray focuses on family law.
	Bach	Curnutt
	Lautenschlager	Murray

Several attorneys have been elected to partnership at Michael Best & Friedrich LLP. In the Madison office: John N. Giftos, Florida 2000 with honors, is with the litigation practice group. Edward J. Pardon, U.W. 2000 magna cum laude, is with the litigation and health care practice groups. Wendy M. Seffrood, U.W. 2001 cum laude, and Sheldon L. Wolfe, U.W. 1999 cum laude, are with the intellectual property practice group. In the Milwaukee office: Erin Dickinson, Texas 2000, Jacob E. Miota, New York Univ. 2000 cum laude, Monica M. Riederer, U.W. 2001 cum laude, and Ted A. Wisnefski, U.W. 2001 cum laude, are with the litigation practice group. Stephen A. Gigot, Marquette 2001 cum laude, Julie A. Haut, Marquette 2001, and Lori S. Meddings, Marquette 2001, are with the intellectual property practice group. Bradley J. Kalscheur, Marquette 1995 cum laude, is with the wealth planning services practice group. In the Waukesha office: Thomas J. Otterlee, Marquette 2001 cum laude, is with the intellectual property practice group. Lee M. Seese, U.W. 2001 cum laude, is with the litigation practice group.

Michael P. Murphy, U.W. 1996, has joined the Madison office of Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C. as head of the firm's federal Indian law practice. Murphy, previously in private practice in Minneapolis, also practices in labor and employment law.

Maureen L. O'Leary, Marquette 2008 cum laude, has joined Willms S.C., Thiensville, and focuses on estate planning, probate, trust administration, and tax law.

Laura K. Van Fleet, Kansas 2005, has joined the La Crosse office of Lakelaw Wisconsin and emphasizes litigation in employment law, business law, real estate, and estate planning.

Shelley Fite, U.W. 2006 magna cum laude, and Steven D. Grunder, U.W. 2007, have joined the Madison Appellate Office of the Wisconsin State Public Defender. Fite previously was law clerk to the Hon. Lynn Adelman, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. Grunder previously was with the U.W. Law School Innocence Project.

Brittany A. Zernicke, Marquette 2008 magna cum laude, has joined the Law Offices of Warren J. Klaus, Hales Corners, a general practice law firm.

Mergers, Relocations, New Offices

Joshua A. Blakely, U.W. 1998, and Karin J. Wagner, U.W. 1998, have formed Blakely & Wagner S.C., 200 S. Executive Dr., Suite 101, Brookfield, and focus on estate planning, probate and trust administration, and corporate law. Blakely previously was with Reinhart, Boerner, Van Deuren s.c.. Wagner previously was with von Briesen & Roper S.C.

Mark J. Dahlberg, Thomas M. Cooley 2008, has formed Dahlberg & Assoc. LLC, 933 N. Mayfair Rd., Suite 107, Milwaukee, a general practice firm focusing on criminal and family matters.

Michael P. Maxwell, Marquette 2001, has opened Maxwell Attorneys LLC, 8112 W. Bluemound Rd., Suite 61, Wauwatosa. He is a Chapter 7 bankruptcy trustee and practices primarily in bankruptcy, civil litigation, and business organizations. Also with the firm is Cheryl A. Ward, Northern Illinois 2004, an associate practicing in criminal defense, family law, and guardian ad litem work.

Scott A. Schmidlkofer, Marquette 2001, Mark R. Toth, Marquette 2001, and Basil M. Loeb, Marquette 2001, have expanded their firm, now known as Schmidlkofer, Toth & Loeb LLC, to 1011 N. Mayfair Rd., Suite 307, Wauwatosa, and continue to provide general legal services with a focus on family, probate, estate planning, criminal, traffic, and business law.

Appointments, Elections

The Dane County Bar Association has elected the following officers: president - Teresa Kobelt, Middleton; president-elect - Dan Gartzke, Madison; secretary - Valerie Bailey-Rihn, Madison; and treasurer - David Friedman, Madison.

The Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association has elected the following officers: president - Kathy L. Nusslock; president-elect - Cristina D. Hernandez-Malaby; vice president - G. Michael Halfenger; secretary - Matthew W. O'Neill; and treasurer - William H. Levit, all of Milwaukee.

The Eau Claire County Bar Association has elected the following officers: president - Jay Heit; president-elect - John Richie; secretary - Shawn Rauckman; and treasurer - Mary L. Klinkhammer, all of Eau Claire.

The Hon. Michael J. Gableman, Hamline 1993, was elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court in April. He previously sat on the Burnett County Circuit Court.

Dianne Post, U.W. 1979, has been appointed head of the Office of the ABA Rule of Law Initiative in Vladivostok, Russia, which focuses on bar development, gender-based violence, and human trafficking.

The Rock County Bar Association has elected the following officers: president - Michael Fitzpatrick, Janesville; vice-president - Matthew Roethe, Edgerton; secretary - Christopher La Brie, Janesville; and treasurer - Tim Lindau, Janesville.

Rebecca L. Salawdeh, U.W. 1996, has been elected to her second term on the National Employment Lawyers Association board and also is secretary of the executive committee. She is a solo practitioner in Wauwatosa and focuses entirely on representing individuals in employment litigation.

The St. Croix Valley County Bar Association has elected the following officers: president - Robert A. Parsons, River Falls; vice-president - Angela Olson, New Richmond; secretary - Christine Rasmussen, New Richmond; and treasurer - Joel Schlitz, Hudson.

The Washington County Bar Association has elected the following officers: president - Frederick B. Kaftan; president-elect and secretary - David A. Nelson; and treasurer - Mark D. Bensen, all of West Bend.

The Waukesha County Bar Association has elected the following officers: president - Daniel J. Habeck; vice-president - Douglas E. Swanson; and secretary/treasurer - Christine Davies D'Angelo, all of Waukesha.

Teresa (Tess) J. Welch, U.W. 1987, has been named to the board of Tempo International, a global nonprofit organization that enhances women's leadership and professional talents. She is chair of the life science practice group and a partner in intellectual property law at the Madison office of Michael Best & Friedrich LLP.

Attorneys recently elected to seats on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals include the following: the Hon. Burneatta (Burnie) L. Bridge, U.W. 1982, District IV; and the Hon. Lisa Neubauer, Chicago 1987, District II.

Attorneys recently elected to seats on Wisconsin circuit courts include the following: the Hon. Steven G. Bauer, U.W. 1992, and the Hon. Brian A. Pfitzinger, Marquette 1988 (Dodge County); the Hon. Howard W. Cameron, U.W. 1987 (St. Croix County); the Hon. Steven R. Cray, U.W. 1976 (Chippewa County); the Hon. Paul S. Curran, Marquette 1986 (Juneau County); the Hon. Rebecca F. Dallet, Case Western Reserve 1994 (Milwaukee County); the Hon. Timothy M. Doyle, U.W. 1974 (Barron County); the Hon. William E. Hanrahan, Hamline 1988, and the Hon. John W. Markson, U.W. 1978 (Dane County); the Hon. Nancy J. Krueger, U.W. 1979, and the Hon. Mitchell J. Metropulos, U.W. 1986 (Outagamie County); the Hon. James K. Muehlbauer, Marquette 1979 (Washington County); the Hon. Patrick F. O'Melia, Marquette 1986 (Oneida County); the Hon. Michael A. Schumacher, Nebraska 1981 (Eau Claire County); and the Hon. Leon D. Stenz, Marquette 1983 (Forest/Florence County).

The Young Lawyers Division has elected the following officers: president - Jessica J. King, Oshkosh; president-elect - Nicholas J. Vivian, Stillwater, Minn.; secretary - Sherry D. Coley, Green Bay; and treasurer - Jill M. Kastner, Milwaukee. Also elected to the YLD Board were: Amanda Ashley, Greenfield; Lydia J. Chartre, Milwaukee; Stacia R. Conneely, Madison; Jonathan Gruhl, Milwaukee; Deanne M. Koll, Menomonie; and Ben Manski, Madison.

Authors, Speakers

Authors of the recently revised Organizing a Wisconsin Business Corporation (State Bar of Wisconsin CLE Books 3d ed. 2008) are Joseph W. Boucher, U.W. 1978, Charles E. Neider, U.W. 1975, and Kent L. Schlienger, U.W. 1985, all with Neider & Boucher S.C., Madison.

John J. Schulze Jr., Marquette 2004, was a contributing editor for the ABA Sherman Antitrust Act Section 1 spring 2008 newsletter. He is with American Transmission Company, Waukesha.

Thomas D. Sykes, Ohio State 1979, has authored the revised edition of Tax Management Portfolio No. 524, Deductibility of Fines, Penalties, Bribes, and Illegal Payments (BNA). He also was appointed to the Tax Advisory Board of the graduate tax programs at the John Marshall Law School. He is a partner in the Chicago office of McDermott Will & Emery LLP, focusing on tax controversies and litigation.

Awards, Degrees, Honors

The Hon. Thomas Barland, U.W. 1956, was honored in April by the Eau Claire County Community Foundation for his restorative justice initiatives. He is a reserve judge.

Jeffrey B. Bartell, U.W. 1968, received the Charles L. Goldberg Distinguished Service Award from the Wisconsin Law Foundation at the State Bar Annual Convention in May. He is a partner with the Madison office of Quarles & Brady LLP and focuses in corporate services, corporate finance and securities, mergers and acquisitions, and insurance regulation.

The Hon. Patrick J. Fiedler, Marquette 1980, received the 2008 Victim Advocacy Award from Wisconsin Victim/Witness Professionals for his dedication to treating crime victims with respect and dignity. He sits on the Dane County Circuit Court.

The Hon. Kathryn W. Foster, Marquette 1977, received the Kay Twerion Award in April from the Addiction Resources Council of Waukesha County for her involvement in the development of Waukesha County's Alcohol Treatment Court.

Eileen Hirsch, Virginia 1977, is a 2008 recipient of the Kutak-Dodds Prize, presented annually to civil legal aid attorneys, public defenders, and public interest advocates who contribute in a significant way to the enhancement of human dignity and quality of life of persons unable to afford legal representation. She is an assistant state public defender with the Wisconsin Public Defender Office, Madison.

The Hon. Philip M. Kirk, Chicago-Kent 1973, received the Judge of the Year award from the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He sits on the Waupaca County Circuit Court.

Mel S. Johnson, Washington Univ. 1975, Vel Phillips, U.W. 1951, and Thomas H. Reed, Cornell 1981, were honored by the Milwaukee Bar Association at a ceremony in June. Johnson, with the U.S. Attorney's Office, received the Lawyer of the Year Award for his prosecution of the Frank Jude beating civil rights case. Phillips, with the Law Office of Vel Phillips, Milwaukee, received the Lifetime Achievement Award, for her long and distinguished career as a community activist and pioneer in achievements for women. Reed, with the State Public Defender Milwaukee Criminal Trial Office, received the E. Michael McCann Distinguished Public Service Award for his dedication and passion in the support of justice for indigent persons.

Quarles & Brady LLP received the Law Firm Service Award from the Dane County Bar Association for the firm's participation and support of the Family Court Assistance Project (FCAP). Firm attorneys work with the FCAP to help individuals prepare and file restraining order petitions.

Harvey L. Temkin, Illinois 1978, has been made a Fellow of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys. He is a shareholder in the Madison office of Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c. and focuses on real estate and business law.

Tommy Thompson, U.W. 1966, received the Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon from the Taiwanese government and people in March for his work in bolstering relations between Taiwan and the United States. He is with Akin Gump Strauss Hauer Feld LLP, Washington, D.C., and previously was governor of Wisconsin and secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The Hon. James Neuenschwander, Chicago-Kent 1983, and the Hon. David H. Nispel, U.W. 1984, have been recognized by the Wisconsin Municipal Judges Association. Neuenschwander received the 2008 Lifetime Jurist Achievement Award. He is city of Kenosha municipal judge and a professor of history at Carthage College, Kenosha. Nispel received the 2008 Judge of the Year Award. He was city of Middleton municipal judge and is with the Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court received an Openness in Government Award from the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council in recognition of the court's release of two rulings that expanded the public's right to know.

Christopher Wren, Harvard 1979, was a recipient of the Best Briefs Award from the National Association of Attorneys General, awarded for excellence in brief writing in the U.S. Supreme Court by state attorneys. He is an assistant attorney general with the Wisconsin Department of Justice Criminal Appeals Unit, Madison.

Pro Bono

Hupy and Abraham S.C., Milwaukee, was the presenting sponsor for the Milwaukee Bar Association's 150th anniversary luncheon in May.

In Memoriam

David B. Bliss, U.W. 1949, Potomac, Md., June 22, 1922 - May 21, 2008.

Mary Alice Coan, U.W. 1980, Madison, Oct. 24, 1934 - May 13, 2008.

Robert L. Curry, U.W. 1953, Madison, May 10, 1923 - Sept. 20, 2007.

Hon. John B. Danforth, U.W. 1954, Jefferson, Nov. 18, 1929 - Feb. 12, 2008.

William A. Denny, Marquette 1948, Elm Grove, March 2, 1924 - May 27, 2008.

Peggy D. Douglass, U.W. 1982, Eden Prairie, Minn., May 25, 1933 - Feb. 16, 2008.

Sheri Lynn Everson, Michigan 1995, London, England, Aug. 7, 1968 - April 1, 2008.

Thomas Patrick Finley, Marquette 1970, Wausau, March 7, 1946 - Jan. 15, 2005.

James R. Frederick, U.W. 1954, Pittsford, N.Y., July 27, 1926 - June 4, 2008.

Robert H. Gee, U.W. 1949, Superior, Jan. 31, 1922 - May 1, 2008.

Paul J. Kelly, Marquette 1982, Waukesha, March 30, 1956 - April 2008.

Robert L. Kintzler, Marquette 1947, Milwaukee, Sept. 11, 1922 - May 19, 2008.

Robert J. Newell, Marquette 1942, Milwaukee, March 28, 1919 - May 27, 2008.

Roy M. Mersky, U.W. 1952, Austin, Tex., Sept. 1, 1925 - May 6, 2008.

Lucien J. Piery, Marquette 1949, Kenosha, March 8, 1920 - Nov. 27, 2007.

William J. Schneider, Marquette 1951, Greendale, Sept. 2, 1924 - May 21, 2008.

Duane P. Schumacher, U.W. 1961, Madison, Nov. 28, 1934 - May 3, 2008.

James A. Wyss, U.W. 1979, Manitowoc, May 19, 1947 - May 15, 2008.

Wisconsin Lawyer