New Hires, Promotions, Partners
Eric J. Callisto, U.W. 1994 cum laude, has joined the Madison office of Michael Best & Friedrich LLP as a partner on the firm’s energy and environmental teams. Callisto previously was chair of the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin and has extensive experience with state, regional, and national energy and utility issues.
Benjamin C. Grawe, Vermont 2000, has joined the Madison office of DeWitt Ross & Stevens S.C. Grawe focuses on environmental compliance and enforcement matters, with an emphasis on complex air, waste, and permitting issues.
Gerardo “Jerry” Hernández, Marquette 1993, has joined Navas & Rodríguez, San Juan, Puerto Rico, as special counsel and continues to focus on employment law compliance and litigation, premises liability, and civil litigation.
Colleen Wentworth Jones, Marquette 1998, has joined Rogahn Kelley, Waukesha, as senior counsel. Jones previously was managing attorney of Wentworth Jones Law Firm LLC. She concentrates her practice in sophisticated and general business transactions.
Nicholas J. Linz, Marquette 2007,has joined Hager, Dewick & Zuengler S.C., Green Bay, as an associate, practicing in business and civil litigation, employment law, and landlord-tenant law.
Dieter J. Juedes, Marquette 2012 cum laude, and Garrett Soberalski, Marquette 2012 magna cum laude,have joined Meissner Tierney Fisher & Nichols S.C., Milwaukee, as associates. Juedes practices commercial and insurance litigation, focusing on business and corporate disputes, insurance coverage, and appellate matters. Soberalski previously was a law clerk to Judge G. Michael Halfenger, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
Jonathan P. Nagy, Southern Methodist 2000, has joined the Office of the Indiana Attorney General as deputy attorney general in the civil litigation division. He previously was with American Family Insurance Co., Madison.
John T. Schomisch Jr., Marquette 1989, has become a partner with the Appleton office of Stellpflug Law S.C. Schomisch’s practice areas include personal injury, worker’s compensation, and wrongful death.
Christine C. Senty, Hamline 1997, has joined Unity Health Insurance as vice president, general counsel, and secretary. She previously was general counsel and corporate compliance officer with Dean Health Plan.
Laura F. Straus, Northwestern 2005, has joined the Milwaukee office of Morgan Legal Group LLC. Straus has a background in commercial law, banking, and contract negotiation. She previously was in-house counsel for the Forest County Potawatomi Community.
Nicholas J. Vlies, U.W. 2013, has joined Lin.Liebman LLC, Green Bay, as an associate, practicing in the areas of employment and corporate/business law and general civil litigation.
Andrew T. Phillips, Marquette 1995, Daniel J. Borowski, U.W. 1990, Christine V. Hamiel, South Dakota 2007, Patrick C. Henneger, Marquette 2002, and Steven M. Schindhelm, U.W. 1995, have joined von Briesen & Roper S.C., Milwaukee, as members of the firm’s newly formed government law group. All five attorneys previously practiced at Phillips Borowski S.C., Mequon, and will assist governmental entities, such as municipalities, schools, and quasi-governmental regional and national groups, in business, labor, employment, litigation, finance, and organizational matters.
Mergers, Relocations, New Offices
Davis & Kuelthau S.C. has moved its Oshkosh office to the Universal Business Park, 2905 Universal Street.
Alan M. Tuerkheimer, U.W. 2000, has founded Trial Methods, Chicago, where he is the principal and a jury consultant. He has experience conducting jury research, including focus groups, mock trials, and venue attitude surveys; voir dire; and jury selection.
Appointments, Elections
Kevin Lonergan, U.W. 1979, has been named president of Herrling Clark Law Firm Ltd., Appleton. His practice is devoted to personal injury litigation.
John B. Rhode, Marquette 1995, has been elected Langlade County Circuit Court judge. He has been with the Antigo office of Sommer, Olk & Payant S.C. since 1995.
Kevin Schulz, U.W. 1999, a partner with Foley & Lardner LLP, Milwaukee, has been appointed vice chair of the firm’s sports industry team. Schulz’s clients include professional sports teams, owners and acquirers of professional sports teams, a professional sports league, colleges, sponsors, and media companies. His primary focus is on mergers and acquisitions and commercial matters.
Mark A. Seidl, U.W. 1974, has been elected to the Wisconsin Court of Appeals District III. He has practiced law in Wausau since 1974 and replaces Judge Michael Hoover, who is retiring.
Gilbert Southwell, U.W. 1981, has been appointed to the National Federation of Municipal Analysts board and reappointed to the advisory board of the General Accounting Standards Board and has coauthored NFMA Whitepapers on conflicts of interest and best practices in municipal bond issuance. He is a vice president and senior municipal bond analyst with Wells Capital Management Inc., Menomonee Falls.
Gov. Scott Walker has appointed R. Michael Waterman, Hamline 1995,to the St. Croix County Circuit Court, to replace Judge Howard Cameron, who resigned March 4, 2015. Waterman is a shareholder at Mudge Porter Lundeen & Seguin, Hudson.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has appointed Deputy Chief Judge Maxine A. White, Marquette 1985, as chief judge of the state’s First Judicial District for a two-year term effective Aug. 1. White joins nine other Wisconsin circuit court judges on the Committee of Chief Judges. White is presiding judge of Milwaukee County Circuit Court’s Family Division.
Authors, Speakers
Charles P. Fischbach, U.W. 1967, authored “Revisiting a National Railroad Trust Fund,” published by Railway Age, 2014. He is a retired arbitrator-mediator and former ombudsman for the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis.
Awards, Degrees, Honors
Waushara County District Attorney Scott Blader, Marquette 1999, was named Prosecutor of the Year by the Wisconsin Association of Homicide Investigators for his work in the homicide conviction of Travis L. Petersen. Blader successfully used the testimony and presentation of a forensic podiatrist for the first time in Wisconsin history.
The Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association has recognized the following lawyers and judges for their positive impact on the legal community in the Eastern District: Hon. Vel Phillips, U.W. 1951,Myron L. Gordon Lifetime Achievement Award; Hon. Patricia J. Gorence, Marquette 1977, U.S. District Court Eastern District, Judge Robert W. Warren Public Service Award; Thomas J. King, Akron 1977, Chapter 13 trustee, Oshkosh, Judge Dale E. Ihlenfeldt Bankruptcy Award; Thomas G. Cannon, U.W. 1971, O’Neil, Cannon, Hollman, DeJong & Laing, Milwaukee, Judge John W. Reynolds Community Building Award; and Michael J. Gonring, Marquette 1982, Quarles & Brady LLP, Milwaukee, Nathan A. Fishbach Founder’s Award.
Timothy D. Edwards, Wayne State 1989, of Relles & Milliken LLP, Madison, has passed the Certified E-Discovery Specialists certification examination and has earned the designation CEDS.
Franklyn L. Gimbel, Marquette 1960, a founder of Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown LLP, Milwaukee, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Marquette Law School. Gimbel was an assistant U.S. attorney from 1963 to 1968 and now concentrates in civil litigation, including complex business, employment, communications, and First Amendment cases. He also is chair of the Wisconsin Center District board, which guided construction, renovation, and financing of the buildings that form the core of Milwaukee’s convention business, the Wisconsin Center, the U.S. Cellular Arena, and the Milwaukee Theatre.
Hager, Dewick & Zuengler S.C., Green Bay, received the John and Meredith Rose Award from the Greater Green Bay Chamber Leadership Green Bay program, for exceptional community orientation and leadership.
Hupy and Abraham S.C., headquartered in Milwaukee, was honored for Best Website: Law at the 19th Annual Webby Awards, presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. In 2014, the firm unveiled a more user-friendly interface to its website for easier navigation.
Evan Lin, U.W. 1998, managing member of Lin.Liebmann LLC, Green Bay, has been certified as an Accredited Estate Planner® by the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils. Lin practices in estate planning, probate, real estate, and corporate/business matters.
Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, Milwaukee, was again designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a WasteWise Partner, for its commitment to using only the material needed to get the job done, recycling, and purchasing recycled products.
Wendy S. Rusch, U.W. 2000, a trusts and estates shareholder with the Waukesha office of Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren S.C., has been named an American College of Trust and Estate Counsel Fellow. Rusch focuses on estate planning, family-business succession planning, retirement planning, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, and probate and trust administration.
In Memoriam
Paul J. Clymer, Marquette 1986, Racine, April 26, 1934 – Jan. 24, 2015.
Frank T. Crivello, Marquette 1963, Naples, Fla., June 17, 1935 – March 27, 2015.
J. Peter De Braal, U.W. 1965, Falls Church, Va., May 7, 1940 – March 26, 2015.
Kristi L. Fry, U.W. 1982, Fond du Lac, Dec. 7, 1950 – Nov. 7, 2014.
Howard E. Hanson, Minnesota 1968, Hayward, March 10, 1938 – April 9, 2015.
Justin Dean Johnson, William Mitchell 2010, Minneapolis, May 10, 1975 – Aug. 13, 2014.
John Q. Kamps, U.W. 1958, Waukesha, Dec. 10, 1930 – Jan. 25, 2015.
Adam A. Kreuter, Chicago-Kent 1938, Sturgeon Bay, July 31, 1915 – Aug. 1, 2014.
Vicki Margolis, Maryland 1989, Neenah, Dec. 9, 1964 – April 13, 2015.
Marc J. Marotta, Harvard 1987, Milwaukee, Nov. 19, 1962 – April 8, 2015.
San W. Orr Jr., U.W. 1966, Lake Tomahawk, Sept. 22, 1941 – Sept. 30, 2014.
John A. Palenz, U.W. 1972, Wichita, Kan., March 3, 1947 – March 28, 2015.
Richard J. Pas, U.W. 1970, Oconomowoc, June 15, 1945 – March 24, 2015.
Patton C. Prunty, William Mitchell 2004, Rochester, Minn., Sept. 13, 1976 – April 15, 2015.
Hon. Patrick L. Snyder, Marquette 1960, Oconomowoc, Oct. 20, 1935 – April 22, 2015.
How to Place your Announcement
If you have moved, become a partner or an associate, or received a promotion or an award, let us know. Talks, speeches (unless they are of national stature), honors from other publications, and political announcements are not accepted. Notices about State Bar members in good standing are printed as space is available, and at no cost, must be submitted in writing, and may be edited. Questions: (608) 250-6139.
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Deadline: The first of the month preceding publication. For example, to place an announcement in the May issue, it must be received before April 1. Email to: MembersOnly@wisbar.org. Include your State Bar membership number.
