Who’s Doing What: Michael Best’s Smith earns Marquette alumni award; Hupy moves in Madison

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Rojas joins Davis & Kuelthau’s Immigration Practice

Hugo Rojas has joined Davis & Kuelthau’s Immigration and Labor &and Employment Team in its Milwaukee office.

Rojas focuses his practice on advising employers on strategies for navigating the regulations of the U.S. immigration system while seeking a path for permanent residency for their multinational workforce.

He earned his degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School. Prior to joining Davis & Kuelthau, Rojas worked at a minority-owned law firm in Milwaukee.

Michael Best’s Smith honored with Marquette alumni award

Billie Jean Smith, a partner in the Michael Best & Friedrich Intellectual Property Practice Group, will be honored with the Opus College of Engineering Service Award at the upcoming Marquette University Alumni National Awards Weekend. The annual event brings hundreds of guests and alumni back to campus for a weekend of bonding, storytelling, networking and award ceremonies.

Smith, a 1989 graduate of the college, earned her bachelor’s in biomedical engineering. She later earned her law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School.

Smith will receive her award at the Opus College of Engineering Awards Convocation and Reception on April 24.

Michael Best hires Manriquez for its Labor and Employment Relations Practice Group

Michael Best & Friedrich has announced that Miguel Manriquez has joined the firm’s Madison office as an attorney in the Labor and Employment Relations Practice Group.

Manriquez will assist clients with labor relations, contract negotiations and labor and employment litigation. Additionally, he will provide counsel to clients needing assistance with sports and entertainment law.

Manriquez spent three years as an attorney for the National Labor Relations Board, where he investigated hundreds of charges of a variety of unfair labor practices, gained first-chair trial experience, conducted comprehensive investigations, drafted complaints and negotiated settlements of unfair labor practices filed by unions, employees and employers.

Manriquez received his law degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law in 2010. He is also fluent in Spanish and studied abroad at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City.

Witte joins Godfrey & Kahn’s Environment and Energy Strategies Practice Group

Edward (Ned) Witte has joined Godfrey & Kahn’s Environment and Energy Strategies Practice Group as a shareholder in the firm’s Milwaukee office.

Witte’s practice focuses on the representation of publicly- and privately-held clients in the service and manufacturing industries, as well as governmental bodies in a wide range of environmental matters across Wisconsin, nationally and globally.

Witte received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Vermont and earned his J.D. and master’s from Vermont Law School.

Hupy’s Schelwat certified by National Board of Trial Advocacy

Personal injury law firm Hupy and Abraham has announced that Milwaukee Attorney Timothy Schelwat has received board certification as a civil trial advocate by The National Board of Trial Advocacy.

To be declared a “board-certified advocate,” Schelwat has demonstrated that he possesses the required skills, knowledge and proficiency in the law. Only 3 percent of lawyers in the United States have achieved the honor.

Schelwat joins firm President Michael Hupy, Managing Partner Jason Abraham, Shareholder Chad Kreblin, and Shareholder Todd Korb as certified members of The National Board of Trial Advocacy.

Schelwat has been practicing with Hupy and Abraham since 2002.

Murphy Desmond names Casper, Frank as shareholders

The law firm of Murphy Desmond has named attorneys Tim Casper and Matt Frank as equity shareholders at the firm.

Casper is an experienced trial lawyer who has litigated numerous cases in state, federal and appellate courts, involving matters such as product liability, personal injury, securities, commercial litigation, and medical malpractice. He earned his law degree from the UW Law School in 1981.

Frank is a former secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and assistant attorney general at the Wisconsin Department of Justice. He practices environmental and energy law at Murphy Desmond and earned his law degree from the UW Law School in 1981.

Hupy moves to larger office in Madison

Hupy and Abraham has announced the relocation of its Madison office.

The new office, at 3001 W. Beltline Highway, Suite 204, Madison, will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The company’s main headquarters will remain in Milwaukee.

von Briesen & Roper announces new Government Law Group 

Andrew Phillips, Daniel Borowski, Christine Hamiel, Patrick Henneger and Steven Schindhelm have joined von Briesen and will be members of the firm’s newly formed Government Law Group.

All five attorneys previously practiced at Phillips Borowski.

von Briesen’s Government Law Group will assist government entities, such as municipalities, schools and quasi-governmental regional and national groups, in all business, labor, employment, litigation, finance and organizational matters. The newly formed group will be led by Phillips and will comprise lawyers from the firm’s existing Government and Regulatory Law Section, the Municipal Law Section and the School Law Section and constitutes a new cross-section client service group of more than 20 attorneys.

Phillips and Henneger received their law degrees from Marquette University Law School, Borowski and Schindhelm from the University of Wisconsin Law School, and Hamiel from the University of South Dakota School of Law.