New Hires, Promotions, Partners

Olivia Kay Mote, U.W. 2016, and Morgan K. Stippel, U.W. 2018, have become directors at Bell, Moore & Richter S.C., Madison. Mote focuses exclusively on family law, representing clients in divorce, legal separation, paternity, and postjudgment cases, including custody and placement and financial disputes; marital property agreements, including prenuptial agreements; and other family law matters. Stippel concentrates in state and federal civil defense litigation, including personal-injury matters, business disputes, and civil rights actions.

Kevin B. Cronin, Alabama 2012, has been appointed executive director-assistant general counsel at Wells Fargo Bank, Washington, D.C. He is the lead attorney and advisor in Wells Fargo’s Technology, Digital, and Innovation Legal Division for all matters related to digital assets, distributed ledgers, and blockchain and the lead attorney for innovation advocacy initiatives including personal data rights under section 1033 of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010, digital platforms, payments, financial technology companies, digital assets, artificial intelligence, and other emerging new technologies. He also is a senior advisor on matters involving federal and state regulatory agencies. Before joining Wells Fargo, Cronin was senior counsel in the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Office of Supervision Policy.

Nathaniel (Nate) Cullen, Marquette 2021, has become assistant corporation counsel for Columbia County. Cullen previously worked as a staff attorney for the Wisconsin Professional Police Association and in January 2024 retired after serving as a city of Waterloo police officer for 17 years. Cullen has additional professional experience as a captain with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections and is a U.S. Navy veteran.

Sam Liverseed, Marquette 2012, has been named partner at Domer Law, where he exclusively practices Wisconsin worker’s compensation law. Domer Law, with offices in Milwaukee and Waukesha, represents injured workers in worker’s compensation matters around the state.

John H. Healy, U.W. 2014, has joined DiRenzo & Bomier LLC, Neenah, as a shareholder. Healy’s practice areas include plaintiffs’ personal injury, worker’s compensation (for employees), business and commercial, employment, administrative, municipal law, and general civil litigation.

Edward A. Olsen, U.W. 1991, has been appointed chief of the Civil Division in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California.

Five attorneys have been named shareholders with Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c.

Christopher Hruska, Michigan 2016, is a member of the Corporate Law Practice in the Milwaukee office, advising clients on mergers and acquisitions, commercial transactions, entity formation, security offerings and general corporate governance. He also helps clients navigate supply-chain issues, software licensing, commercial contracting, and distribution. Blake Knickelbein, U.W. 2013, is a member of the Corporate Law Practice in the Waukesha office, counseling clients on matters including mergers and acquisitions, commercial transactions, commercial contracting, corporate governance, entity formation, and equity issuances. He also has
extensive experience helping closely held businesses throughout their succession-planning process and regularly advises clients on business-succession
alternatives.

Katherine Kratcha, U.W. 2016, is a member of the Employee Benefits Practice in the Milwaukee office, focusing on health and welfare plans. She has extensive experience with the federal laws that apply to these plans, including the Affordable Care Act, the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, COBRA, HIPAA, and other laws. Her experience with qualified retirement plans includes advising on employee-stock-ownership plans, other defined-contribution plans, and pension plans. Christopher Schuele, U.W. 2016, is a member of the Labor and Employment Practice in the Milwaukee office, representing clients in business disputes, including breach of fiduciary duty claims, shareholder disputes, and wage and hour actions (both individual and class actions). He also counsels clients on traditional labor relations matters, restrictive covenant agreements, and compliance with nondiscrimination and affirmative action requirements.

Heidi Thole, U.W. 2015, is a member of the Intellectual Property Practice in the Milwaukee office, providing counsel on branding and trademark issues such as analyzing risk around selecting, registering, and using marks, negotiating solutions with competitors, and litigating when necessary to protect clients’ interests. She is also a member of Reinhart’s Artificial Intelligence Team and counsels clients on technical and regulatory requirements, challenges, and opportunities.

Kurt Dykstra, Marquette 1998, has rejoined Reinhart as a shareholder in the Litigation Practice in the Milwaukee office. He regularly advises on the permitting and construction of utility generation facilities and works with companies on economic incentive programs for site selection and expansion. Before returning to Reinhart, in addition to practicing at two large law firms, he served as mayor of Holland, Mich., was senior vice president at a major regional bank, and was president of a private liberal arts college. Dykstra also is a major in the U.S. Army Reserve, Civil Affairs.

Appointments, Elections

The Hon. Michael P. Maxwell, Marquette 2001, has been appointed by Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Annette Ziegler to serve on the Commercial Court. Judge Maxwell is the presiding judge for Branch VIII in Waukesha County.

The Legal Association for Women (LAW) officers elected for 2024 are the following: president – Tracey L. Schwalbe, U.W. 1988; president-elect – Leslie A. Freehill, U.W. 2015; secretary – Elizabeth A. McInerny, U.W. 2015; and treasurer – Heather L. Curnutt, New York Univ. 1999. Breanne L. Snapp, U.W. 2014, continues as past president. Other elected board members include Jacqueline Cuellar, Minnesota 2023; Emily C. Cunningham, Oregon 2021; Kristin A. Degeneffe, U.W. 2011; Leslie Elkins, Chicago-Kent, 2011; Gail C. Groy, Westminster Law School 2011; Richelle A. Martin, U.W. 2011; Olivia K. Mote, U.W. 2016; Erin E. Rome, U.W. 2013; Morgan K. Stippel, U.W. 2018; Naomi R. Swain, U.W. 2021; and Marilyn Townsend, Potomac College 1979.

Authors, Speakers

Henry J. Plum, Marquette 1972, and Deanna Weiss, Hamline 1990, authored the recently revised Minor Guardianships of the Person: Wisconsin Children’s Court Practice and Procedure (State Bar of Wis. 2d ed. 2024). Plum is in private law practice in the greater Milwaukee area. Weiss is a solo practitioner in Milwaukee County.

Awards, Degrees, Honors

Lawrence Burnett, Cornell 1982, has been named 2023 Pro Bono Attorney of the Year by Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c. Burnett, a shareholder in the Milwaukee office, was chosen as this year’s honoree based on his commitment to pro bono work, serving individuals who cannot afford legal representation with empathy and respect for more than two decades through the Marquette Legal Aid Clinic and the firm’s pro bono program. As a member of Reinhart’s Corporate Law and Consumer Finance practices, Burnett counsels business clients on a range of issues, especially mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance.

Gary Gassman, Illinois Chicago 1993, has been recognized by Crain’s Chicago Business as one of 2023’s Notable Leaders in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Gassman is co-vice-chair of the Global Insurance Department and co-chair of the Professional Liability Practice Group at Cozen O’Connor, Chicago. Gassman focuses in insurance coverage counseling and litigation. He handles cases involving directors’ and officers’ liability, employment practices liability, fiduciary liability, other types of professional liability, and general liability. He also serves as national coverage counsel for domestic and international insurance clients. In addition, Gassman has led the Cozen O’Connor LGBTQ+ attorney resource group and serves on the firm’s diversity committee.

Retirements

Carol A. Chapman, Marquette 2006, retired as publications manager for the State Bar of Wisconsin in March. Chapman managed the PINNACLE Books division, including the creation and updating of all the State Bar treatises and other PINNACLE books and forms. She also spearheaded the move to the new Books UnBound online book platform.

In Memoriam

Sean E. Froelich, William Mitchell 2010, Saint Paul, Minn., Aug. 19, 1979 – Dec. 31, 2023.

J. Gardner Govan, U.W. 1988, Milwaukee, Sept. 24, 1953 – Jan. 4, 2024.

Joseph D. Kaufman, Marquette 1982, Menasha, June 18, 1957 – Jan. 7, 2024.

Carl W. Kuehne, U.W. 1966, De Pere, Nov. 17, 1941 – Jan. 30, 2024.

James Menehan, Creighton 1963, Monroe, Aug. 11, 1938 – Oct. 19, 2023.

Daniel J. Miron, Marquette 1960, Marinette, March 19, 1936 – Dec. 26, 2023.

Susan Carter Pearsall, U.W. 1988, Austin, Texas, Jan. 21, 1943 – Jan. 11, 2024.

Howard A. Pollack, U.W. 1973, Brookfield, Oct. 17, 1946 – Dec. 25, 2023.

William V. Reilly Jr., U.W. 1966, Shorewood, Nov. 8, 1941 – Dec. 9, 2023.

Edward J. Salzsieder, Toledo 1969, Oshkosh, Sept. 27, 1939 – April 23, 2021.

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! Email announcements to: MembersOnly@wisbar.org. Notices about State Bar members in good standing are printed as space is available, and subject to editing. Writing guidelines are available here. Questions? Email us or call (608) 250-6127.

Photo placement: Submit a professional-quality photo. If the photo is used, the State Bar will issue an invoice ($35 each). Group photos are not accepted. High-resolution electronic photos are preferred.

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.

Ineligible announcements: Talks, speeches (unless they are of national stature), honors from other publications, and political announcements are not accepted.