Who’s Doing What: Walny launches mediation service; DeWitt adds immigration attorney

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Walny to start mediation service

Milwaukee-based Walny Legal Group LLC has launched the state’s only estate and probate mediation service registered with the Wisconsin Association of Mediators.

The new service offers an alternative to litigating the growing number of trust, estate and probate disputes and is designed to keep clients out of court, reduce legal costs and preserve family relationships.

DeWitt adds immigration practice area

DeWitt Ross & Stevens S.C., Madison, has added an immigration practice area and attorney Raluca Vais-Ottosen.

Vais-Ottosen, who will be based in Madison, will be the firm’s resource for its newly formed Immigration Group.

Vais-Ottosen has assisted numerous clients with immigration matters ranging from family based petitions to employment-related visas and individual immigration applications.

The Madison resident earned her law degree from Spiru Haret University Law School in Bucharest, Romania, and her Master of Law from the Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center. She is a member of the Dane County Bar Association, American Immigration Lawyers Association and is on the board of directors for the Community Immigration Law Center.

Levy added to Construction Services Team

Milwaukee-based Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C. has added Joshua Levy to its Construction Services Team as a co-leader.

Levy has knowledge in all areas of construction on behalf of contractors, designers, owners and developers.

He practices out of the firm’s Milwaukee office where, in addition to construction, he focuses on commercial and corporate litigation and labor and employment law.

Levy earned his law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1991.

Quarles & Brady’s Michel voted to The Park People board

Quarles & Brady LLP attorney Naomi Marie Michel has been voted to the board of directors for The Park People of Milwaukee County Inc., a local non-profit organization.

Michel is a member of the firm’s Business Law Practice Group, where she represents clients in connection with reorganizations, stock and asset sales and purchase transactions, and partnership transactions.

The Park People strives to protect the parks of Milwaukee County, improve them for the enjoyment of all ages, and to make the public aware of the parks’ facilities.

Firm adds pair to Financial Institutions Practice Group

Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren S.C., Milwaukee, is strengthening its Banking and Finance practice area with the addition of James Sheriff and John Reichert to its Financial Institutions Practice Group.

They join current practice group attorneys Robert Henkle, Jr. and James Bedore to bolster a group that also includes attorneys Thomas Myers, Brian Carroll, Benjamin Lombard, Eric Hagemeier and John Tokarz.

Reinhart’s Financial Institutions Practice Group counsels clients on mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, regulatory compliance, IPOs and corporate governance.

Sheriff’s legal experience represents multiple large, publicly held banks and holding companies, as well as numerous privately held community banks and thrifts. Sheriff specializes in the corporate governance of banking institutions; mergers, acquisitions and branch purchases and sales; capital formation and securities law; consumer credit; and federal and state banking regulations, as well as numerous other commercial and retail banking business concerns.

He earned his law degree from Duke University School of Law.

Reichert focuses his practice on corporate governance, capital formation, mergers and acquisitions, asset sales and purchases, regulatory and compliance matters, commercial lending transactions and general securities matters.

A native of Milwaukee, he earned his law degree from Marquette University Law School. He will divide his time between the firm’s Milwaukee and Waukesha offices.

Reinhart names 5 shareholders

Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren S.C., Milwaukee, has named five of the firm’s attorneys as shareholders.

James Borchardt is a shareholder and registered patent attorney in the firm’s Intellectual Property Practice. He earned his law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law.

Robert Driscoll is a shareholder in the firm’s Labor and Employment Practice. He earned his law degree from Notre Dame Law School.

Jennifer Naeger is a shareholder in the firm’s Litigation Practice and chair of the firm’s Food and Beverage Law Practice Group. She earned her law degree from St. John’s University School of Law.

Mindy Foss Rice is a shareholder in the firm’s Banking and Finance Practice. She earned her law degree from Columbia Law School.

Gordon Wright is a shareholder and registered patent attorney in the firm’s Intellectual Property Practice. He earned his law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School.