New Hires, Promotions, Partners

Elissa M. Bowlin, Dayton 2004, has joined the Milwaukee office of Habush Habush & Rottier S.C. as an associate. Bowlin previously worked for two defense firms handling all aspects of litigation, with a specialization in complex medial issues.

Daniel Chanen, U.W. 2002, has joined Goldstein Law Group S.C., Milwaukee, as Of Counsel. His practice focuses on providing private- and public-sector employers with proactive legal representation involving labor and employment law matters. His background also includes significant experience representing school districts and other public-sector entities in matters involving public records, open meetings, and governance issues.

Six attorneys and the support staff of Friebert, Finerty & St. John have joined Davis & Kuelthau s.c. Friebert, Finerty & St. John ceased operations effective March 29, 2018.

Milwaukee office: Todd Farris, U.W. 1984 with honors, Of Counsel with the litigation, municipal law, and real estate teams, concentrates in litigation and real estate, representing developers and owners of residential, commercial and office projects in acquisitions and sales, condominium formation, entity organization and structure, financing, eminent domain issues, leasing, property tax disputes, TIF financing, and zoning opinions.

Larry Glusman, U.W. 1995 cum laude, a shareholder with the commercial finance, corporate, and real estate teams, focuses on commercial lending, real estate, and business transactions. He was recently selected as Wisconsin’s 2018 Small Business Legal Assistance award winner by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Chris Meuler, U.W. 2001, a senior attorney with the insurance coverage disputes and litigation teams, focuses on commercial litigation with an emphasis on business disputes, eminent domain, insurance coverage, appellate work, contract disputes, and bid protests. He also has a strong background in election law and is chair of the Milwaukee County Ethics Board.

Brian Randall, Marquette 1999, a shareholder with the land use & zoning, real estate, food & beverage, and municipal law teams, primarily focuses on land use and real estate matters for commercial, industrial, and residential developments and assists food and beverage clients and other businesses with obtaining licenses.

Andy Skwierawski, U.W. 2007, a senior attorney with the environmental, litigation, and technology law teams, is a veteran software developer and small business owner who focuses his legal practice on environmental litigation, e-discovery, complex commercial disputes, and municipal compliance.

Green Bay office: Ted A. Warpinski, Marquette 1987, is a shareholder with the litigation and environmental teams. His practice includes environmental nuisance claims and toxic tort litigation, contract and property disputes, and insurance coverage litigation and enforcement actions.

Michael G. Koutnik, Marquette 2013 cum laude, has been promoted to shareholder at Fox, O’Neill & Shannon S.C., Milwaukee, and is with the transactional and real estate practice.

Jennifer F. Budzien, Marquette 2017, and Mai Chao Chang, U.W. 2017, have joined the Madison office of Lawton & Cates S.C. as associates. Budzien concentrates on civil litigation, personal injury, and consumer protection law. Chang’s practice focuses on civil litigation, family law, and assisting clients in immigration matters.

Stephanie Losching, Hamline 2013, has joined Carney Thorpe LLC, Janesville. Her practice is devoted primarily to civil litigation, corporate-related matters, employment law, real estate transactions, and construction law. She previously practiced with a large firm in Minneapolis.

Kimberly Latus, Creighton 2014, and Kristin Degeneffe, U.W. 2011, have been promoted to corporate counsel at Quartz Health Solutions, Sauk City and Middleton. Latus previously was vendor contract manager, and Degeneffe was senior legal and compliance analyst. Both will focus in regulatory compliance and health insurance law.

Kathleen M. Quinn, U.W. 1995, has joined Zetley Law Offices S.C., Milwaukee, as Of Counsel. She has more than 20 years experience as a trial and appellate attorney in state and federal courts in Wisconsin and will complement the firm’s team of tax attorneys who combine tax litigation expertise with the knowledge and skills of the firm’s Certified Public Accountants.

Chantelle M. Ringe, DePaul 2006, has been promoted to partner at Hill Glowacki LLP, Madison, and continues to focus on elder law, special needs planning, estate planning, trust and probate administration, guardianships, business organization matters, and real estate transactions.

Kristine Seymour, Marquette 1993, has joined Michael Best Strategies, Waukesha, as partner with the healthcare team. Seymour works with healthcare clients to optimize their business strategy, evaluate potential mergers and expansions, and discover alternative distribution and product strategies. Her previous positions include regional vice president of market development in Humana’s commercial markets; executive vice president of the employee benefit group at Milwaukee insurance consultant, Willis; and head of sales, operations, underwriting, product development, and compliance for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin.

Steve Thomas, Marquette 1992, has been promoted to Executive Vice President, Chief Risk & Compliance Officer at Kohl’s Department Stores Inc., Menomonee Falls.

Mergers, Relocations, New Firms

Matt Carlson, Boston Univ. 1998, Dan O’Callaghan, U.W. 2005, and Steve Battenberg, Iowa 1998, all formerly partners with Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, have joined with Angela Black, U.W. 2002, formerly a partner with Husch Blackwell LLP, to form Carlson Black O’Callaghan & Battenberg LLP, Madison. The firm is focused on commercial real estate, construction and development, land use, general business, and tax law.

DeWitt Ross & Stevens S.C. has moved its Brookfield office to 13845 Bishop’s Drive, Brookfield.

Wisconsin-based Foley & Lardner LLP and Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP combined, effective April 1. The combined firm will have approximately 1,100 lawyers in 24 offices in the United States, Mexico, Asia, and Europe, including Texas (Austin, Dallas, and Houston), Denver, and Mexico City. The combined firm will be known as Foley Gardere in Austin, Dallas, Denver, and Houston and as Foley Gardere Arena in Mexico City. All other offices will operate as Foley & Lardner LLP.

Hansen Reynolds has opened a new office, located in the Capella Tower office building at 225 S. 6th St., Suite 3900, Minneapolis. The firm already has offices in Chicago, Madison, and Milwaukee.

Hill Glowacki LLP has moved its offices to the American Parkway neighborhood and is now located at 5250 E. Terrace Dr., Suite 130, Madison.

Appointments, Elections

Gilbert Southwell, U.W. 1981, was appointed to the executive committee of the Governmental Accounting Standards Advisory Board as a buy-side representative. He also received the Meritorious Service Award for his work on municipal disclosure practices from the National Federation of Municipal Analysts.

Gia Pionek Valle, Marquette 2006, owner of Pionek Valle Law Group LLC, Waukesha, has been named a 2018 Humphrey Alumni in Residence at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota. Pionek Valle’s practice areas include immigration law, juvenile law, dispute resolution, and leadership development.

Authors, Speakers

Thomas Domer, U.W. 1983, presented “Worker Attorney Involvement in Workers’ Comp Cases” at the College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers (CWCL) National Symposium in Nashville in March. He represents injured workers in Milwaukee and is president of the CWCL.

Debra L. Schneider (nee Hodges), Marquette 1984, a trial attorney in the Madison office of the U.S. Trustee, authored an article and coauthored a second article published in the March 2018 issue of the USA Bulletin, which is entirely focused on bankruptcy and bankruptcy fraud.

Awards, Degrees, Honors

Louis Butler, U.W. 1977, was honored at the National Black Lawyers Student Association’s (NBLSA) 50th Anniversary A.J. Cooper Legacy Banquet & Hall of Fame Induction in Brooklyn, N.Y., on March 17. Butler is with DeWitt Ross & Stevens S.C., Milwaukee.

Butler was honored for many contributions to the practice of law. He was the first African American to serve on the Wisconsin Supreme Court and participated in decisions that had a significant impact on Wisconsin’s legal landscape. Butler was the first public defender in Wisconsin history to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court (McCoy v. Wisconsin Court of Appeals) and was nominated by Pres. Barack Obama to be a U.S. District Court Judge for the Western District of Wisconsin..

In Memoriam

William H. Alverson, U.W. 1960, Milwaukee, July 23, 1933 – March 21, 2018.

Avin Mark Domnitz, U.W. 1968, Whitefish Bay, Sept. 24, 1943 – June 27, 2015.

Michael J. Fitzgerald, Marquette 1985, Wauwatosa, March 7, 1959 – March 6, 2018.

Edward Grutzner, U.W. 1955, Beloit, June 19, 1930 – March 23, 2018.

James B. Halferty, U.W. 1956, Driggs, Idaho, Oct. 9, 1930 – March 28, 2018.

Geraldine Mary Hausch, Marquette 1987, Sept. 13, 1936 – March 18, 2018.

Bronson C. La Follette, U.W. 1960, Madison, Feb. 2, 1936 – March 15, 2018.

Peggy A. Lautenschlager, U.W. 1980, Fond du Lac, Nov. 22, 1955 – March 31, 2018.

Gary L. Luhman, U.W. 1982, Browntown, July 13, 1957 – March 20, 2018.

Scott Michael Nelson, Minnesota 1986, Sept. 18, 1959 – March 23, 2018.

Hon. Robert J. Parins, U.W. 1942, Green Bay, Aug. 23, 1918 – May 26, 2017.

Hon. Velvalea “Vel” Rodgers Phillips, U.W. 1951, Milwaukee, Feb. 18, 1923 – April 17, 2018.

William A. Regan, Marquette 1973, Wauwatosa, Sept. 13, 1948 – Nov. 7, 2017.

William S. Robertson Jr., Indiana Univ. 1953, Pittsburgh, March 29, 1929 – Jan. 25, 2018.

Timothy W. Waldeck, Drake 1972, Minneapolis, Aug. 18, 1947 – Oct. 19, 2017.

Cheryl Rosen Weston, U.W. 1971, Madison, Aug. 18, 1946 – March 23, 2018.

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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