Wisconsin Lawyer
Vol. 82, No. 2, February 2009

New Hires, Promotions, Partners

Steven Biskupic, Marquette 1987, has joined Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, Milwaukee, as a partner in the litigation practice group, focusing on civil and regulatory business matters. He previously was U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.

Kristine S. Cherek, U.W. 1997, has joined the Milwaukee office of Godfrey & Kahn S.C. in the real estate practice group. She previously was with the Hammes Co., a health-care-facility developer.

Anthony A. Coletti, Marquette 1991, has joined Sweet & Maier S.C., Elkhorn, as a shareholder and focuses on condominium, real estate development, corporate, and business law. He previously was with Godfrey, Leibsle, Blackbourn & Howarth S.C., Elkhorn.

Kevin B. Cronin, U.W. 1970, has been appointed chief election officer for the Hawaii Office of Elections. He also was appointed to the state’s constitutional convention cost task force committee.

Three attorneys have joined the Brookfield office of DeWitt Ross & Stevens S.C. Shawn M. Govern, Marquette 1991, is with the litigation, business, and real estate groups. George D. Mistrioty, Marquette 1991, is with the litigation, business, real estate, and family law groups. Kevin M. Scott, U.W. 1999, is with the litigation and business practice groups.
	Govern	Mistrioty	Scott

Jason S. Gerlach, U.W. 1996, has joined Sunrise Capital Partners LLC, Solana Beach, Calif., as a member of the senior management team. He previously was with Howard Rice Nemerovski Canady Falk & Rabkin, San Francisco.

Lindsey Grady, Marquette 2000, has joined Drinka, Levin & Masson S.C., Milwaukee, as a partner and focuses on estate planning, probate, guardianships, real estate, and child, juvenile, and adoption law. She previously was a sole practitioner with LCG LAW LLC, Shorewood.

Jacques C. Condon, Marquette 1999, has been named a shareholder at Hale & Wagner S.C., Milwaukee, and continues to focus on general commercial and business litigation, class-action securities law, and appellate practice. Blake S. Olson, U.W. 2008, has joined the firm as an associate and concentrates on business and corporate litigation, transportation defense, and personal injury matters.

Monica C. Hocum, Marquette 1997, has been promoted to shareholder at the Milwaukee office of Hall Render Killian Heath & Lyman and continues to focus on business matters for health care providers.

Lauren Hurt, U.W. 2008, has joined Schumann Law Office S.C., Milwaukee, as an associate and focuses on worker’s compensation defense.

Kenneth A. Iwinski, Marquette 1992 magna cum laude, has been appointed general counsel and secretary of Energy Composites Corp., Wisconsin Rapids.

Eric R. Johnson, Northern Illinois 2008 cum laude, has joined First Law Group S.C., Stevens Point, as an associate and focuses on litigation and transactional matters.

Aaron E. Kornblum, U.W. 1996, has been named director of security policy, interactive entertainment business, at Microsoft Corp., Redmond, Wash. He previously was a senior attorney on the Internet safety enforcement team in the legal and corporate affairs division.

Stephen C. Lepley, Marquette 1978, has been named chief counsel of the financial remedies section, criminal division, in the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Phoenix.

Linda Swagger Maris, Marquette 1984, has joined the Christian Stewardship Foundation, Brookfield, as executive director. She previously was with Richard J. Podell & Associates, Milwaukee.

Bernard McCartan, Marquette 1976, has been elected vice president of claims-legal at American Family Insurance Co., Madison. He previously was associate general counsel.

Matthew M. Murray, Detroit Mercy 2008 cum laude, has joined Petit & Dommershausen S.C., a Fox Valley firm, as an associate and focuses on criminal defense, appellate advocacy, and family law.

Nathan J. Dosch, Marquette 2004, and Craig Billings Miller, Suffolk 2006, have joined Neider & Boucher S.C., Madison. Dosch concentrates on business and individual taxation, estate planning, probate, and business law. Miller focuses on business organizations, business transactions, and real estate.
	Dosch	Miller

William E. Parsons, U.W. 2004, has been promoted to shareholder at the Madison office of Hawks Quindel Ehlke & Perry S.C. and continues to focus on worker’s compensation, employee benefits, and other labor and employment litigation matters.

Jay Pattumudi, U.W. 2002, has joined Hoxie & Associates, Millburn, N.J., which emphasizes biotechnology and pharmaceutical patent law.

Carrie May Poniewaz, Florida State 2008, has joined Otjen, Van Ert & Weir S.C., Milwaukee, and concentrates in worker’s compensation defense.

			Five attorneys have been promoted to partner with Quarles & Brady LLP. In the Madison office: Josephine Benkers, U.W. 2000, focuses on intellectual property litigation and commercial litigation. Sara Vinarov, Marquette 2000, focuses on intellectual property. In the Milwaukee office: Sarah Brindley, Illinois 1999, focuses on trademark law, copyright law, and intellectual property licensing. Amy Ciepluch, Marquette 2000, focuses on employee benefits and executive compensation issues. Katie Maloney Perhach, Marquette 2000, focuses on litigation.
Brindley	Ciepluch	Perhach

Ardell W. Skow, U.W. 1966, has rejoined Doar, Drill & Skow S.C., New Richmond, and continues his personal injury practice.

April M. Southwick, Hamline 1998, has been appointed attorney for the Wisconsin Judicial Council, Madison. She previously practiced in Fort Worth, Texas.

Sean M. Sweeney, Marquette 2007, has joined Halling & Cayo S.C., Milwaukee, and continues to focus on business litigation, business transactions, and real estate.

Marna M. Tess-Mattner, Marquette 1983, has joined Schmidt, Rupke, Tess-Mattner & Fox S.C., Brookfield, as a shareholder and continues to focus on management-side employment and labor law.

Brian Vaughn, U.W. 1999, has joined the UW-Madison Office of Administrative Legal Services as university legal counsel, focusing on employment and health law. He previously was with the California Office of the Attorney General, Los Angeles.

Mergers, Relocations, New Offices

Kirk B. Obear, SUNY-Buffalo 1994, has opened a practice at 610 Riverfront Dr., P.O. Box 935, Sheboygan, and practices exclusively in criminal and traffic defense. He previously was with Melowski, Obear & Cohen S.C., Elkhart Lake.

Ross & deJong S.C. has moved to 161 S. First St., Suite 400, Milwaukee, and continues to focus on business and corporate law, commercial litigation, and construction law.

Appointments, Elections

Patrick F. Koenen, Marquette 1986, has been named co-regional director for the upper Midwest region of Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP. He is a partner in the firm’s Appleton office and focuses on litigation.

Correction: The Marathon County Bar Association has elected the following officers: president – Anza D’Antonio, Rothschild; vice president – Alan L. Hougum, Wausau; treasurer – Virginia Erdman, Wausau; and secretary – Cari Logemann, Wausau. Peter C. Rotter, Michael K. Moran, and William Mansell, whose names were incorrectly listed in November, are officers of the Marathon County Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Jim Palmer, Valparaiso 2002, has been elected chair of the Wisconsin Coalition of Annuitants board. He is executive director of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association.

Richard J. Podell, U.W. 1969, has been elected financial officer of the ABA’s senior lawyers division and chair-elect of the ABA’s individual rights and responsibilities section. He is president of the family law firm Richard J. Podell & Associates, Milwaukee.

Steven J. Berryman, Northwestern 1995, has been named chair of commercial litigation in the Milwaukee office of Quarles & Brady LLP. Kevin M. Long, Marquette 1992, has been named national chair of the firm’s commercial litigation practice. Berryman and Long are partners with the Milwaukee office.
	Berryman	Long

William H. Thedinga, Harvard 1973, has been elected president of the Mabel Tainter Literary, Library & Educational Society board. He is a shareholder at Weld, Riley, Prenn & Ricci S.C., Menomonie, focusing on business, cooperative, and telecommunications law.

John Voorhees, Marquette 1976, has been reappointed by State Bar President Diane Diel to the Wisconsin Judicare Inc. board. He is with the State Public Defender’s Office, Rhinelander.

Mary K. Wolverton, Marquette 1978, has been appointed State Bar representative to the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s planning and policy advisory committee for a three-year term. She is with Peterson, Johnson & Murray SC, Milwaukee.

The Wisconsin Association for Justice has elected the following officers: president – Mark L. Thomsen, Brookfield; president-elect – Paul Gagliardi, Salem; vice president – J. Michael End, Milwaukee; secretary – Edward J. Vopal, Green Bay; and treasurer – Jeffrey A. Pitman, Milwaukee. Erin Patterson, Milwaukee, was elected chair of the New Lawyers Section. The following attorneys were elected to the board: Timothy T. Sempf, Amery; Avram D. Berk and Richard T. Elrod, both of Appleton; Sarah F. Kaas and Frank T. Pasternak, both of Brookfield; Gary N. Jahn, Chilton; Robert J. Janssen, De Pere; Steven M. Lucareli, Eagle River; Dana John Wachs, Eau Claire; Charles W. Averbeck, Fond du Lac; Steven T. Caya and Scott L. Schroeder, both of Janesville; Thomas M. Fitzpatrick, La Crosse; Victor M. Arellano and Eric J. Haag, both of Madison; Michael C. Meyer, Marion; Thomas J. Flanagan, Patrick J. Gillick, Ann S. Jacobs, David P. Lowe, Jeffrey A. Pitman, Frank R. Terschan, and Jay A. Urban, all of Milwaukee; Gregory R. Wright, Montello; Terrence M. Polich, Plain; David Deda, Phillips; Eugene A. Gasiorkiewicz, Racine; Charles M. Bye, River Falls; Todd E. Basler, Sheboygan; Daniel D. Hannula, Superior; Brenda Sunby, Wausau; and Joseph G. Doherty, West Bend.

Authors, Speakers

Elizabeth T. Russell, Pace 1986, presented “Intellectual Property Issues for Visual Artists and Designers” at the National Council of Art Administrators annual conference in Sarasota, Fla., in November. She is the founder of Russell Law, Madison. 

Awards, Degrees, Honors

Angermeier & Rogers LLP, Milwaukee, marked its 30th anniversary on Nov. 3, 2008.

Francis W. Deisinger, U.W. 1982 with honors, has been named a fellow of the American Bar Foundation. He is a shareholder in the litigation practice of Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c., Milwaukee.

Michael F. Hupy, Marquette 1972, received a certificate of commendation from Gov. Jim Doyle at the Center for Teaching Entrepreneurship annual banquet in December. He also received a distinguished honor award. He is with Hupy and Abraham S.C., Milwaukee.

The Hon. James Olds, U.W. 1980, received the Juvenile Justice Award from the Wisconsin Juvenile Detention Association at its conference in October. He is a Dane County court commissioner.

Quarles & Brady LLP received the Spirit of Diversity Award from the Milwaukee Urban League at a luncheon in November in honor of the firm’s commitment to enhancing the quality of life in Milwaukee and making diversity an integral part of the workplace.

Daniel A. Rottier, U.W. 1976, received the Robert L. Habush Trial Lawyer of the Year Award from the Wisconsin Association for Justice in December. He is a partner with and chief operating officer of Habush Habush & Rottier S.C. in the Madison office.

John B. Stadler, U.W. 1988, has earned a master of science in nursing degree from Marquette University.

Jordan D. Taylor, American Univ. 2004 cum laude, LL.M. (taxation) Georgetown 2008 with distinction, received first prize in the 2008 Mary Moers Wenig Student Writing Competition for his article “What’s the Big Deal? Why Taxpayers, the Courts and the IRS Disagree About a Discount for Built-in Gains,” which appeared in the Winter 2008 issue of the ACTEC Journal. He is an associate with Stroud, Willink & Howard LLC, Madison, and focuses on taxation, estate planning, and corporate law.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has appointed the Hon. Gregory E. Grau, U.W. 1984, Marathon County Circuit Court, and the Hon. Jeffrey A. Kremers, U.W. 1975, Milwaukee County Circuit Court, as chief judges of the Ninth Judicial District and First Judicial District, respectively. Kremers has appointed the Hon. Maxine A. White, Marquette 1985, and the Hon. David Allen Hansher, U.W. 1968, as deputy chief judges. The supreme court also appointed the Hon. Randy R. Koschnick, Hamline 1985, as deputy chief judge of the Third Judicial District, replacing the Hon. Joseph D. McCormack, who retired.

In Memoriam

Irving Eder, Milwaukee, Dec. 13, 1916 – Sept. 4, 2005.

John J. Haka, Marquette 1951, Plover, June 7, 1919 – Dec. 5, 2008.

Hon. William A. Hammann III, Marquette 1960, Superior, Oct. 8, 1934 – Nov. 12, 2008.

Charles H. Johnson, Indiana Univ.-Bloomington 1969, De Pere, March 9, 1944 – Oct. 30, 2008.

Robert D. Jones, Marquette 1940, Milwaukee, Sept. 17, 1914 – May 22, 2008.

Gabe L. Lerner, Georgetown 2007, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, July 23, 1981 – Nov. 12, 2008.

Ralph von Briesen, U.W. 1938, Milwaukee, 1915 – Oct. 28, 2008.

Wisconsin Lawyer