Personal Mentions

In June 1998 Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson received an honorary doctor of laws degree from Lawrence University in Oshkosh. She also received the Wisconsin News Photographers Association Fellowship Award, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of cameras in the courtroom in appreciation for her support of the project.

R. Valjon Anderson, Marquette 1982, has joined the law offices of de la Mora & de la Mora at the firm's Delafield location. As lead litigation counsel, Anderson will continue to concentrate in personal injury, business, and general civil litigation. Anderson formerly was with DiRenzo and Bomier of Neenah.

Thomas G. Aridas, Marquette 1997, has joined the telecommunications division of the Illinois Commerce Commission as a special assistant attorney general. His practice will focus on administrative and regulatory litigation in the telecommunications industry.

Wayne A. Arnold, U.W. 1974, recently gave a presentation on "The Board/CEO Relationship" at the 22nd Annual Executive & Trustee Conference on Rural Health, sponsored by the Wisconsin Health and Hospital Association. Arnold is chair of the board of Lakeview Medical Center, Rice Lake, and is private bar liaison with the State Public Defender.

Sally R. Bentley, Marquette 1987, has joined Wisconsin Electric Power Co. as law director - corporate. She formerly was corporate counsel for Carson Pirie Scott & Co.

Grant E. Birtch, U.W. 1990, has joined the Neenah law firm of Hesson & Associates Ltd., practicing business law, estate planning, probate, and real estate.

Michael B. Brennan, Northwestern 1989, has taken a leave of absence from his assistant district attorney position in the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office to serve as the staff counsel to the Criminal Penalties Study Committee, established by 1997 Wis. Act 283, the "truth-in-sentencing" legislation. The committee is charged with rewriting chapters 939 to 951 of the criminal code and issuing a report on or before April 30, 1999.

Brennan, Steil, Basting & MacDougall S.C. has moved its Madison office to the north side of the Capitol Square at 22 E. Mifflin St., Suite 400, Madison.

Ernest E. Bruns, U.W. 1942, has opened a law office at 6409 Odana Rd., Suite A, Madison. He formerly practiced at Winner, Wixson & Pernitz of Madison.

Sheryl A. Haarmann Cahn, Marquette 1983, has become chair of the Milwaukee Bar Family Law Section Bench Bar Committee. Cahn is a member of the law firm of Richard J. Podell & Associates S.C., and has practiced family law exclusively since 1987.

Capwell, Nolden, Kallenbach & Grahovac S.C., is the new name of the Capwell and Berthelsen law firm located at 601 Lake Ave., Racine. Continuing shareholders in the organization, which was founded in 1947, are David J. Nolden, Terrance L. Kallenbach, and John E. Grahovac. Rex Capwell remains of counsel. Four other attorneys also are associated with the firm: John V. Casanova, Philip Lehner, Bernard J. Powers, and Thomas W. Durkin. The firm represents businesses, government entities, and individuals in litigation and appellate work in state and federal courts, worker's compensation defense, business, tax, employee benefits, estate planning, probate, real estate, and construction law.

John Chambers, Creighton 1996, has opened the Law Office of John M. Chambers, a general practice firm, on the island of Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. He formerly practiced with John A. Manglona who was recently appointed as a judge to the Commonwealth Superior Court.

Phillip M. Chavez, U.W. 1998, has joined Bauer Law Office, Madison, as an associate practicing in sports law, civil litigation, and employment law.

John T. Coughlin, Marquette 1968, former commissioner for the Wisconsin Public Service Commission, has been selected by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) to be on its National Energy Panel of mediator/arbitrators. He also is on AAA's California Panel of mediator/arbitrators for California's Electric Utility Disputes. He recently became a member of the Federal Energy Bar Association which is headquartered in Washington, D.C. He is a member of its newly created ADR Committee.

Mary Wright, U.W. 1971, has become associated in the Madison law firm of Cullen, Weston, Pines & Bach, practicing in the energy and telecommunications areas. Jordan Loeb, U.W. 1994, also has become associated in the firm, practicing primarily in criminal defense and civil litigation. The firm has relocated its offices to 122 W. Washington Ave., Suite 900, Madison.

Julie A. D'Angelo, U.W. 1998, has joined Balisle & Roberson S.C., Madison, as an associate. She practices in family law, estate planning, probate, and appellate law.

Angela Dentice, Marquette 1985, has become a shareholder in the Brookfield law firm of Cannon & Dunphy S.C. She will continue to practice in automobile accidents, premises liability, product liability, and medical malpractice litigation.

Margaret M. Derus, U.W. 1982 cum laude, has become a shareholder in the Milwaukee firm of Reinhart, Boerner, Van Deuren, Norris & Rieselbach S.C. As a member of the firm's tax department, Derus focuses her practice in sales and use taxation, multistate income taxation, property tax, and selected federal tax issues. She also is a CPA.

Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge John J. DiMotto, U.W. 1974, has received the 1998 Judge of the Year Award from the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). ABOTA is a national organization of trial attorneys whose membership is comprised equally of attorneys concentrating in representation of plaintiffs and defendants in civil litigation. Judge DiMotto has been a circuit court judge since 1990.

Eric S. Gissel, U.W. 1998, Troy D. Thompson, Marquette 1998, and John S. Zarbano, Tulsa 1978, have joined the law firm of Di Renzo and Bomier, 231 E. Wisconsin Ave., Neenah, as associates. Gissel practices in corporations, trusts, estates, and probate; Thompson in personal injury, litigation, worker's compensation, and commercial litigation; and Zarbano in banking, finance, and corporations.

The law firms of Constantine, Christensen & Krohn S.C. and Coates, Dye, Foley & Shannon S.C. have merged and now practice as Dye, Foley, Krohn & Shannon S.C. at 1300 S. Green Bay Rd., Racine. The shareholders are William E. Dye, John W. Foley, Thomas C. Krohn, and John G. Shannon. Glenn R. Coates and Einer Christensen continue of counsel to the firm.

Michael L. Eckert of the Eckert Law Office and Timothy L. Vocke of the Vocke Law Office have formed the Law Firm of Eckert, Kost & Vocke in Rhinelander at 1285 Lincoln St. Eckert, U.W. 1975, who has practiced in Rhinelander since 1975, concentrates in insurance defense and general litigation. Vocke, U.W. 1973, has been in private practice in Rhinelander since 1983, having served previously as Vilas County district attorney and circuit judge. He concentrates in civil and criminal litigation and provides ADR services in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Keith K. Kost, Southern Illinois 1981, joined the Eckert Law Office in 1997. He previously practiced in Lewistown, Ill., for 16 years. He practices in general law, including estate planning and business law. Mitchell R. Olson, Northwestern 1997, also practices with the firm in insurance defense and general litigation.

James M. Fergal, U.W. 1972, has joined Habush, Habush, Davis & Rottier S.C. as a shareholder in the firm's Milwaukee office. He is a member of the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocacy and is the current vice president of the State Bar's Litigation Section.

Foley & Lardner has opened a Denver office at 1999 Broadway, Suite 2560, to serve hospitals and health-care organizations in the metropolitan Denver area and throughout the Rocky Mountain Region.

James D. Friedman, Notre Dame 1972, a partner in the Milwaukee firm of Quarles & Brady, has been reelected to the State Bar of Wisconsin's Board of Governors, as well as elected to its Executive Committee. He also was elected Director of the Wisconsin Bar Foundation, currently serves as an elected member of the Bar's Finance Committee, Investment Subcommittee, and its Strategic Planning Task Force, and chairs the "Building the Future" fund-raising campaign to reduce the debt on the Bar's new facility.

George E. Garvey, U.W. 1972, has recently been awarded a Fulbright Grant to teach at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland, during the spring semester 1999. Prof. Garvey, who teaches at The Catholic University of America School of Law in Washington, D.C., had previously received a Fulbright award to conduct research at the Max Planck Institute in Hamburg, Germany.

Sheril L. Gilberstadt, William Mitchell 1991, has joined the Eau Claire law firm of Garvey, Anderson, Johnson, Gabler & Geraci S.C. She also is a CPA. Gilberstadt will practice in tax, corporate, and estate planning. She formerly worked at the Minnesota Department of Public Service.

S. Ward Greene, Duke 1973, has been elected president of the Multnomah Bar Association, the largest voluntary bar in Oregon. The MBA is comprised of almost 4,000 lawyers and judges practicing in the Portland metropolitan area. He formerly practiced with Godfrey & Kahn, Milwaukee, and is now with Greene & Markley P.C., Portland. His firm focuses on bankruptcy, collection, real estate, and commercial law.

Krislyn M. Holaday, Syracuse 1997, has joined the Oconomowoc law firm of Snyder & Ek S.C. as an associate. She also is licensed to practice law in Georgia.

Robert J. Kasieta, Marquette 1983, of Kasieta Legal Group LLC, Madison, recently became board certified in civil trial law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.

Susan M. Kaye, U.W. 1993, has been appointed as a delegate to the National Conference of Special Court Judges of the Judicial Division of the American Bar Association. She is a judicial court commissioner in Sheboygan County, cochair of the Participation of Women in the Bar Committee, and is membership services coordinator for the Wisconsin Screenwriters Forum.

Steven W. Keane, Marquette 1995 cum laude, has joined the Milwaukee office of Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C. as an associate. He will concentrate in litigation. He formerly was an associate with Hinshaw & Culbertson.

Philip E. Harris, Chicago 1977, has become of counsel to Kinney & Urban. The firm has opened a branch office at 49 Kessel Court, Suite 200, Madison. James E. Lewis, U.W. 1998, has joined the firm as an associate.

Robert W. Kohn, U.W. 1959, of Kohn Law Firm, Milwaukee, was appointed vice chair of the Government Debt Collection Committee of the Commercial Law League of America. Kohn has spoken in several educational programs. He practices in commercial and retail collections.

Chad W. Koplien, Marquette 1997 with honors, formerly of Host & Keane S.C., Brookfield, has joined the offices of Terschan, Steinle & Ness, Milwaukee. He will practice civil and commercial litigation, concentrating on legal and medical malpractice, insurance defense, and personal injury trial work.

Raymond Laravuso, U.W. 1995, has been awarded the Backyard Hero Award by Community Shares of Wisconsin for his work at ABC for Health over the last two years. ABC for Health is a public interest law firm that works to improve health-care access by providing families with information, advocacy tools, legal services, and support. As a lawyer and full-time practicing physician, Laravuso helps low-income clients challenge inappropriate health insurance claim denials. He also provides direct counseling and legal representation, presents at training sessions, and supervises volunteers and legal interns.

D. Orlando Ledbetter, Cincinnati 1990, was awarded a first-place in the Wisconsin Newspapers Association's 1998 Better Newspaper Contest for a sports feature article published in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on the life and times of the Milwaukee native Latrell Sprewell. Ledbetter also received a third-place award from the National Association of Black Journalists in its Salute to Excellence contest for a group of stories on the then-impending National Basketball Association's labor situation.

Laurie J. Levin, U.W. 1981, of counsel in the Orlando, Fla., office of Baker & Hostetler LLP, has become board certified in health law by the Florida Bar. She also has been appointed a vice chair of the ABA TIPS Section Committee on Law and Medicine.

Alan M. Levy, Chicago 1965, an attorney with the Milwaukee law firm of Lindner & Marsack S.C., has been appointed to the national Alumni Association Board of Governors of the University of Chicago. Levy, who practices in labor and employment law matters and employee benefits, has been chair of the University's Alumni Schools Committee for the Milwaukee area for the past 10 years, and chair of the University of Chicago Alumni Association of Milwaukee since 1996.

Jonathan T. Levy, U.W. 1995, has joined the firm of Rosenthal & Weissman P.A., in West Palm Beach, Fla. He represents plaintiffs in personal injury and wrongful death matters as well as social security claims.

The Milwaukee office of Mallery & Zimmerman S.C. has relocated its offices to 731 N. Jackson St., Suite 900. Mallery & Zimmerman is a business-oriented law firm with offices in Milwaukee, Wausau, Merrill, and Mosinee. The firm serves financial institutions, corporations, partnerships, and other business and real estate clients.

Michael Best & Friedrich has admitted the following attorneys to the firm's partnership: in the Madison office - David A. Crass, Paul J. Dombrowski, and Kimberly Cash Tate; in the Milwaukee office - Douglas P. Dehler, David A. Krutz, Peter K. Richardson, Lynda R. Templen, and Mark E. Toth. Crass, U.W. 1991 cum laude, focuses on all aspects of environmental law. Dehler, U.W. 1991 with distinction, concentrates on litigation, including insurance coverage litigation. Dombrowski, Iowa 1991, focuses on commercial law. Krutz, Northwestern 1991 cum laude, practices in commercial and construction litigation. Richardson, Minnesota 1991, focuses on civil litigation. Tate, George Washington 1991, concentrates on litigation. Templen, U.W. 1991 with honors, practices in business litigation. Toth, U.W. 1991 magna cum laude, concentrates on all aspects of labor and employment law.

Julia A. Oas, U.W. 1986, has become of counsel to the Washington, D.C., office of Baker & Hostetler LLP, practicing in advertising, consumer, and trade regulation law. She formerly was counsel to McCutchen, Doyle, Brown & Enersen.

James V. O'Meara, Marquette 1993, has accepted a job with Advanced Micro Devices Inc. of Sunnyvale, Calif., a computer chip manufacturer. He will be responsible for negotiating software contracts with AMD's worldwide suppliers.

Jeffrey R. Pawelski, South Dakota 1997, has joined Hale, Skemp, Hanson, Skemp & Sleik, La Crosse, as an associate. He had been law clerk for the chief justice of the South Dakota Supreme Court.

Marinus (Rick) J.W. Petri, U.W. 1979, formerly of the Madison City Attorney's office, has joined Wendel & Center LLP, Madison, practicing general municipal law, employment, contracts, taxation, land use, liquor regulation, and governmental relations.

Todd M. Podell, Marquette 1993, has been promoted to supply base procurement manager - technology development group at Advanced Micro Devices Inc., Sunnyvale, Calif. He will be responsible for procuring global commodities totaling $300 million annually in a timely manner at the lowest possible cost of ownership.

James C. Ratzel, Toledo 1980, and James J. Mathie, Marquette 1986, have formed Ratzel & Mathie LLC. Randall R. Guse, Marquette 1995, is an associate with the firm. The new firm is located at 16655 W. Bluemound Rd., Suite 240, Brookfield. The firm concentrates in civil and commercial litigation, generally from a defense perspective, representing members of the insurance industry and their insureds in civil litigation, and members of business and industry in commercial litigation, including environmental, transportation, product liability, and employment litigation. Ratzel formerly was a shareholder with Otjen, Van Ert, Stangle, Lieb & Weir S.C. Guse formerly was an associate with the same firm. Mathie formerly was a shareholder with Baxter, O'Meara & Mathie S.C.

Reinhart, Boerner, Van Deuren, Norris & Rieselbach S.C. has added six new associates in its Milwaukee office: Glenn D. Ahrens, De Paul 1980, is a member of the trusts and estates department; Catherine E. Jorgens, U.W. 1998, is a member of the litigation department; Christopher B. Austin, Marquette 1996, is a member of the intellectual property department; Daniel Kelly, Regent 1991, is a member of the litigation department; Jon D. Anderson, Marquette 1994 cum laude, LL.M. - taxation, is a member of the tax department; and James A. Pellegrini, U.W. 1993, is a member of the corporate department.

Waukesha County Assistant District Attorney William J. Roach, Marquette 1989, has been selected to attend the prestigious National District Attorney's Advocacy Center for participation in a trial advocacy course for major felony prosecutors. The facility is located on the campus at the University of South Carolina and is a partnership enterprise of the National District Attorney's Association and the U.S. Department of Justice.

Angela M. Rogers, Iowa 1996, has joined Godfrey & Kahn S.C., Milwaukee, as an associate on the corporate practice team. She previously was an associate with Borgelt, Powell, Peterson & Frauen S.C., Milwaukee.

Jennifer D. Schlosstein, U.W. 1990, has become assistant general counsel of Asymetrix Learning Systems Inc., a public software company in Bellevue, Wash. Asymetrix provides online multi-media computer-based training software, learning solutions, and custom learning applications. Schlosstein will practice intellectual property, business, contract, distribution, and employment law.

Gordon R. Shea, Marquette 1998, has won first prize in the 60th Annual Nathan Burkan Memorial Copyright Law Writing Competition, sponsored by the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), for his paper "Reams of Gloss: Constitutional Interpretation and the Copyright Clause."

David C. Sienko, Marquette 1994, Georgetown 1996 LL.M.- securities and corporate law, has joined the Dallas office of Locke Purnell Rain Harrell. He will work in the corporate law group. He previously worked for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as an enforcement staff attorney.

The State Bar Family Law Section has elected its officers for 1998-99: chair - Daniel T. Dillon, Janesville; chair-elect - Christopher D. Walther, Milwaukee; vice-chair - Marjorie H. Schuett, Madison; and secretary - Cheryl Gemignani, Waukesha.

Amy B.F. Tutwiler, U.W 1994, has joined Davis & Kuelthau S.C., as an associate in the environmental law section in the firm's Madison office. She previously was an associate at Axley Brynelson.

Cynthia A. Van Bogaert, U.W. 1982, was appointed by Gov. Thompson to fill a vacancy on the State of Wisconsin Employee Trust Funds Board. Van Bogaert practices with Boardman, Suhr, Curry & Field LLP, Madison, in employee benefits. Her articles have been published in national employee benefits journals, and she has spoken before the State Bar and other groups on pension, health, and cafeteria plan topics.

Paul Voelker, U.W. 1993, has joined the Milwaukee office of Gonzalez, Saggio, Birdsall & Harlan S.C. as an associate in the firm's litigation group. He previously was associated with Axley Brynelson, Madison.

Racine attorneys Gilbert J. Berthelsen, U.W. 1967, Jon Schoeffel, U.W. 1971, and Linda Isnard, Marquette 1988,have joined the Milwaukee law firm of von Briesen, Purtell & Roper S.C., which has established a new Racine/Kenosha practice with trial attorney Berthelsen as resident shareholder. Schoeffel formerly was general counsel at Western Publishing Co. and staff attorney at J.I. Case Corp. Isnard has 10 years of experience serving business and government clients. Their office is at 601 Lake Ave., Racine. The Racine/Kenosha office will provide legal services that include business law, labor and employment, environmental law, benefits and compensation, trusts and estates, real estate, school and municipalities, banking and bankruptcy, health care, and litigation.

Scott E. Wade, Detroit College of Law 1993, has established the Law Office of Scott Wade at 20700 Swenson Dr., Suite 100, Waukesha. The office formerly was known as Law Offices of Peter J. Crowley. Peter J. Crowley remains affiliated with the firm in an of counsel capacity.

Paul H. Weinke, U.W. 1980, has joined the Eau Claire law firm of Weld, Riley, Prenn & Ricci S.C. as a shareholder. Weinke practices primarily in business, corporate, probate, and real estate law.

The Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers New Lawyers Section received the Association of Trial Lawyers of America New Lawyers Division 1998 Outstanding State New Lawyer Division Award for its efforts during its first year. Joy A. Urban, chair, accepted the award on behalf of the section.

The Wisconsin Intellectual Property Law Association has elected new officers: president - Carl R. Schwartz; president-elect - John M. Manion; and secretary/treasurer - Jeffrey S. Sokol; all of Milwaukee.

Thomas K. Zander, U.W. 1977 cum laude, has been elected to chair the Milwaukee Ryan White HIV Services Consortium. The Consortium is a 34-member board mandated by federal law to decide how approximately $500,000 in federal Ryan White Act funds are spent on HIV programs in the greater Milwaukee area. Zander was the executive director of the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee Inc. from 1981 until 1994, when he retired due to complications of AIDS. He is the first HIV-positive person to chair the Milwaukee Ryan White Consortium.

Wisconsin Lawyer