Wisconsin Lawyer
Vol. 82, No. 12, December 2009

New Hires, Promotions, Partners

Jeremy Adelson, U.W. 2009 summa cum laude, has joined the Milwaukee office of Michael Best & Friedrich LLP as a member of the intellectual property practice group.

			Three attorneys have joined Aplin & Ringsmuth LLC in the area of worker’s compensation defense. Richelle A. Ladwig, U.W. 2008, is an associate with the Waukesha office. Kevin M. McDonald, DePaul 1993, is a senior associate with the Weston office. He previously was with Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. Matthew C. Siderits, Marquette 1996, is the senior attorney in the Waukesha office. He previously was with Otjen, Van Ert & Weir S.C.
Ladwig	McDonald	Siderits

Carrie Killoran, Harvard 1999, and Michael Lappin, U.W. 1992, have joined Aurora Health Care, Milwaukee. Killoran is vice president and chief compliance and integrity officer. Lappin is vice president and general counsel.
	Killoran	Lappin

Shayna Windsor Borakove, New England 2005 cum laude, has joined the Wilson Law Group LLC, Madison, as an associate and focuses on estate planning and trust administration. She previously was a law clerk to the justices of the Massachusetts Superior Court.

Paul E. Bucher, Marquette 1981, has joined Gatzke & Ruppelt S.C., New Berlin, now known as Gatzke, Ruppelt & Bucher S.C., and will manage the firm’s new Lake Country office. He previously was Waukesha County District Attorney.

Andrew G. Frank, U.W. 2002, has joined Beck, Chaet, Bamberger & Polsky S.C., Milwaukee, as an associate and focuses on receiverships, creditors’ rights, and general litigation.

Nine attorneys have joined the Wisconsin offices of Godfrey & Kahn S.C. In the Appleton office, Christopher G. Smessaert, Marquette 2009, is with the litigation group. The following attorneys have joined the Milwaukee office in the groups indicated: Daniel J. Blinka, U.W. 2009, and Erin “Maggie” Cook, U.W. 2009, litigation; Shannon L. Brusda, U.W. 2009, estate planning; Jessica A. Franklin, Marquette 2009, environmental; Rufino Gaytán III, U.W. 2009, labor and employment; Peggy L. Heyrman, U.W. 2009, business finance and restructuring; Rebecca J. Lauber, Loyola Chicago 2009, corporate law; and Joshuah R. Torres, Marquette 2009, financial institutions.

Stephen M. Govin, Marquette 2003, has been named a partner at Reddin & Singer, now known as Reddin, Singer & Govin LLP, and continues to practice in criminal defense. The firm, whose attorneys also practice in family law, has moved to 1110 N. Old World Third St., Suite 201, Milwaukee.

Tara M. Jenswold-Schipper, U.W. 1998, has become a Wisconsin assistant attorney general in the criminal litigation unit and continues as Wisconsin’s traffic safety resource prosecutor. She previously was with the U.W. Law School’s Resource Center on Impaired Driving.

Olivia M. Kelley, Marquette 2009 cum laude, has become an associate with the Brookfield office of DeWitt Ross & Stevens in the litigation, business, and tax groups.

Jeffrey Kinsler, Valparaiso 1989, has been named founding dean of the new College of Law, at Belmont University, Nashville. He is a professor of law and senior scholar at Elon University School of Law, Greensboro, N.C

		Four attorneys have joined Kerkman & Dunn, Milwaukee. Susan A. Cerbins, Michigan 1989, focuses on business transactions, real estate, and debtor/creditor law. She previously worked with Quarles & Brady and Northwestern Mutual. David J. Espin, Marquette 2008, focuses on chapter 11 cases and business litigation and transactions. He previously was with Petrie & Stocking S.C. Justin M. Mertz, Marquette 2008, focuses on business litigation, real estate, and chapter 11 cases. He previously was with Murn & Martin S.C. Evan P. Schmit, Marquette 2008, focuses on business litigation, commercial law, and chapter 11 reorganizations. He previously was with GE Healthcare.
Cerbins	Espin
Mertz	Schmit

John E. Kosobucki, Marquette 1977, has become an assistant inspector general with the Department of Defense, Office of the Inspector General, Arlington, Va. He formerly was director of the Board of Bar Examiners, Madison, and retired as a colonel in the U.S. Army.

Heidi Melzer, Loyola Chicago 2002, has joined Hermes Law Ltd., Green Bay, and focuses on complex litigation and corporate lawsuits. She previously worked in Chicago.

Kelly M. O’Connor, Marquette 2009, has joined Drinka, Levine & Masson S.C., Milwaukee, as an associate and concentrates on Social Security disability cases and probate and estate planning.

The following attorneys have joined the Milwaukee office of Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren S.C. in the practices indicated: Thomas M. Burnett, Notre Dame 2009, and Jacob J. Curtis, U.W. 2008, litigation; Jonathan W. Fritz, Marquette 2009, labor and employment; Matthew S. Hofmeister, Loyola Chicago 2009, employee benefits; Katrina L. Kisiolek, U.W. 2009, tax; Kenneth R. Logsdon, Illinois 2009, banking and finance; Travis R. Mueller, U.W. 2009, business law; and Lauren A. Wu, Loyola Chicago 2009, health care. Jeffrey A. Morris, Marquette 2008 magna cum laude, has joined the firm’s Waukesha office in the environmental and real estate practice.
	Burnett	Curtis	Fritz
	Hofmeister	Kisiolek	Logsdon
	Mueller	Wu	Morris

Stefanie Carton, Marquette 2009, and Brian A. Price, Marquette 1990 cum laude, have joined Simandl & Prentice S.C., Waukesha, and focus on employment counseling and litigation.

Jason Scoby, Marquette 2009 cum laude, has joined the corporate practice group at O’Neil, Cannon, Hollman, DeJong S.C., Milwaukee.

Harold Stafford, William Mitchell 1996, has been promoted to managing attorney in the Madison office of Persels & Associates LLC and continues to focus on acquisitions and retention.

Gina Vollmer, Marquette 2009, has joined DiRenzo & Bomier LLC, Neenah, as an associate and focuses on real estate, business transactions, estate planning, and commercial foreclosures.

James A. Walcheske, Marquette 2007, has joined Heins Law Office LLC, Mequon, as an associate and concentrates on employee-side employment law matters. He previously was with Carroll & McDonald LLC, New Berlin.

Daniel E. Waldman, U.W. 2002, has joined Cantor Fitzgerald Securities, New York City, as vice president and assistant general counsel, focusing on litigation and employment law. He previously was with Cypress Semiconductor Corp., San Jose, Calif.

Four attorneys have joined the corporate and business planning practice of Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C. Jonathan Bundy, U.W. 2009, and Gretchen Cleveland, U.W. 2009, are in the Madison office. Alfredo Cantoral, Marquette 2009, and Rebecca Mitich, Marquette 2009 magna cum laude, are in the Milwaukee office.

Mergers, Relocations, New Associations

Robert Theine Pledl, John Marshall 1980, and Michael J. Cohn, U.W. 1981, have formed Pledl & Cohn S.C., 1110 N. Old World Third St., Suite 215, Milwaukee, and continue to practice in the areas of disability rights, fair housing, employment, criminal defense, and tax controversies.

Appointments, Elections

Luis Arroyo, U.W. 1998, has been elected president of the Wisconsin School Attorneys Association. He is with the labor and employment and education special-practice groups in the Milwaukee office of Michael Best & Friedrich LLP.

Dennis L. Boyer, West Virginia 1978, has been appointed a trustee of the endowment fund for the Interactivity Foundation, a nonpartisan democratic-governance think tank.

Jim Palmer, Valparaiso 2002, has been named to the Traffic Stop Data Collection Advisory Committee. He is executive director of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association.

Authors, Speakers

Melanie Swank, Marquette 1994, has authored the revised Wisconsin Public Records and Open Meetings Handbook (State Bar CLE Books 4th ed. 2009). She is with the Milwaukee City Attorney’s Office.

Authors of the recently revised Wisconsin Rules of Evidence: A Courtroom Handbook (State Bar CLE Books 7th ed. 2009) are the Hon. Thomas Barland, U.W. 1956, and Michael J. Brose, William Mitchell 1991. Barland, of Eau Claire, is a reserve judge and a member of the Government Accountability Board. Brose is with Doar, Drill & Skow S.C., New Richmond.

Awards, Degrees, Honors

Joel Hirschhorn, U.W. 1967, has been elected a fellow in the Litigation Counsel of America, a trial lawyer honorary society. He is with Hirschhorn & Bieber P.A., Coral Gables, Fla.

Ross Kodner, Marquette 1986, received the first John Lederer Solo and Small Firm Service Award, presented by the State Bar of Wisconsin and the Milwaukee Bar Association in October. He is the founder of and a legal technology and law practice management consultant with MicroLaw Inc., Milwaukee.

Lynn Bodi, U.W. 1987, Carol Gapen, U.W. 1988, and Judith Sperling-Newton, U.W. 1981, all with the Law Center for Children & Families, Madison, have been accepted into the American Academy of Assisted Reproductive Technology Attorneys. The firm provides family law services, including adoption, surrogacy, and other areas of assisted reproduction law.

Jonathan T. Levy, U.W. 1995, has been recertified as a civil trial lawyer by the Florida Bar. He is a partner with Rosenthal, Levy & Simon P.A., West Palm Beach, Fla.

Michael S. McCauley, Iowa 1977, has been inducted as a fellow of the American College of Environmental Lawyers. He is a partner in the Milwaukee office of Quarles & Brady LLP and focuses on Clear Air Act, climate change, and sustainability issues.

The Milwaukee Bar Association honored pro bono contributions at its annual State of the Court luncheon in October. Honorees were the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Law Department, for the hundreds of hours that lawyers and paralegals have contributed to the Milwaukee community; Quarles & Brady LLP, for its leadership in providing pro bono services and for the thousands of hours the firm’s attorneys have provided to low-income individuals; and the Hon. Michael J. Skwierawski, Georgetown 1967, for helping to create the Milwaukee Justice Center.

Rebecca A. Speckhard, U.W. 1990, has been elected a fellow of the American College of Bond Counsel. She focuses on municipal and governmental finance with the Milwaukee office of Quarles & Brady LLP.

The Schroeder Group S.C., Attorneys at Law, Waukesha, received an honorable mention in the Business of the Year category for the Waukesha County Executive Awards.  

Lori Weinstein, U.W. 2002, was a recipient of the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service for her work on an investigation into corrupt payments made by Siemens AG. She is with the U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.

Pro Bono, Public Service

Hupy and Abraham S.C., Milwaukee, sponsored a motorcycle-awareness campaign in 2009, including billboards, television public service announcements, and newspaper advertisements.

In conjunction with the first National Pro Bono Week, Oct. 25–31, Wisconsin Judicare Inc. recognized the contributions of the following attorneys: David Brown, U.W. 1957, Green Bay; Daniel DeMaio, Marquette 1990, Hudson; Alanna Feddick, Oak Brook 1999, and Mark Wittman, Wake Forest 1989, both of Marshfield; Sharon Gisselman, Chicago-Kent 1985, Don Hermanson, U.W. 1979, Christine Olsen, San Diego 1986, and Andrew Schmidt, Hamline 1998, all of Wausau; Tina Gouty-Yellow, U.W. 1987, Cecil; Robert Hanson, U.W. 1990, Lac du Flambeau; Stephen Muza, John Marshall 1979, Menomonie; Michael Palid, Wayne State 1979, Marinette; Theresa Selenske, William Mitchell 1997, Wisconsin Rapids; and Fred Voss, U.W. 1983, Rhinelander.

Retirements, Anniversaries

James L. Cummings, U.W. 1962, recently celebrated 45 years of service with Remley & Sensenbrenner S.C., Neenah, and continues to practice in estate planning, probate, business law, and real estate.

In Memoriam

Hon. Steven L. Abbott, Univ. of Calif. Hastings 1964, Sparta, Nov. 19, 1939 – Jan. 17, 2009.

Albert Bahcall, Marquette 1952, Minocqua, Oct. 27, 1926 – Oct. 1, 2009.

Hon. Robert C. Cannon, Marquette 1941, Milwaukee, June 10, 1917 – Oct. 22, 2009.

Edward Joseph Enichen, Illinois 1954, Rockford, Oct. 14, 1929 – Sept. 20, 2009.

Robert D. Haase, U.W. 1951, Mount Rainier, Md., May 10, 1923 – Sept. 30, 2009.

Michael C. Hurt, McGeorge 1973, Menomonee Falls, Sept. 7, 1943 – Aug. 10, 2009.

Hon. Rita Keshena, UCLA 1980, Keshena, April 30, 1921 – Aug. 24, 2008.

Hon. Roger P. Murphy, U.W. 1951, Waukesha, Oct. 17, 1923 – July 11, 2009.

Mary Catherine Poker, Loyola- Chicago 1992, Waukesha, Nov. 25, 1967 – April 1, 2009.

Frederick J. Smith, Marquette 1992, Muskego, June 5, 1965 – Oct. 15, 2009.

Joseph A. Szabo, Case Western Reserve 1961, Brookfield, Jan. 30, 1936 – Feb. 20, 2009.

Frank R. Vazquez, U.W. 1971, Neillsville, Nov. 23, 1946 – Oct. 12, 2009. 

Wisconsin Lawyer