Wisconsin Law Journal honors its Women in the Law

Listen to this article

In front of several hundred of her peers, attorney Jessie Lochmann Allen was honored Thursday night as Wisconsin Law Journal’s 2014 Woman of the Year.

The award capped off the evening’s 2014 Women in the Law awards, an annual event hosted by Wisconsin Law Journal with help from presenting sponsor Associated Bank. Twenty-seven outstanding female members of the state’s legal community were honored at the event, which was attended by more than 375 people at Milwaukee’s Pfister Hotel. See below for a full list of this year’s winners.

The Woman of the Year distinction is made by the Association for Women Lawyers, Wisconsin Law Journal’s event partner in the annual awards.

In choosing her for the honor, the group’s board noted that Allen, a partner at Foley & Lardner LLP and member of the firm’s transactional and securities practice, has “gone above and beyond to help other women achieve similar success both in the law and in business.”

Allen also is a member of the firm’s Recruiting Committee and serves as the hiring partner for the Milwaukee office.

“Jessica is very obviously a highly-qualified lawyer … in a very visible role to colleagues and clients,” AWL President Jennifer Allen said. “However, what impresses me the most is that she uses her position to help other women. She reminds her own clients about the value of putting women on their boards and recommends women to fill these roles.”

All of this, while managing her own responsibilities at work and home.

“She is in a position to help and she does so in spite of her obviously very busy and full life,” Jennifer Allen said. “This speaks volumes about her quality as a professional and a sponsor of women.”

Meet this year’s Women in the Law:

Allen makes a case for having it all
Woman of the Year
Jessie Lochmann Allen — Foley & Lardner LLP

Full Story >>

Allen keeps mother in mind while building career

Shannon Allen — Fox O’Neill & Shannon SC

Full Story >>

Firm founder fights for immigrant rights

Erin Murphy Barbato — Barbato Immigration Law LLC

Full Story >>

Justice Bradley continues to rise to challenges

Justice Ann Walsh Bradley — Wisconsin Supreme Court

Full Story >>

Burkert-Brist leaves lasting impression

Monica Burkert-Brist — Wisconsin Department of Justice

Full Story >>

UW Law professor makes a difference

R. Alta Charo — University of Wisconsin Law School

Full Story >>

Litigation leader devotes time to others

Jean-Marie Crahan — Gonzalez Saggio & Harlan LLP

Full Story >>

Dickinson takes a risk, reaps the rewards

Erin Dickinson — Hansen Reynolds Dickinson Crueger LLC

Full Story >>

In-house counsel relishes spreading goodwill

Joan Bartels Farrell — Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin Inc.

Full Story >>

Hart sets an example while guiding others

Rachelle Hart — Aurora Health Care Inc.

Full Story >>

Hartley gets tougher with every challenge

Jill Hartley — The Previant Law Firm SC

Full Story >>

Havas takes the long route to dream job

Michelle Ackerman Havas — Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office Children’s Court Center

Full Story >>

Hintz goes beyond the basic requirements

Patricia Hintz — Quarles & Brady LLP

Full Story >>

House leads the pack in varied legal career

Rebecca Wickhem House — Harley-Davidson Inc.

Full Story >>

Kirkeide always willing to lend a hand

Jane Kirkeide — Sager & Colwin Law Offices SC

Full Story >>

Summer assignment sets Klimpel on career path

Joan Klimpel — Godfrey & Kahn SC

Full Story >>

Kuchler’s maternal instincts aid defense work

Donna Kuchler — Kuchler & Cotton SC

Full Story >>

La Tour provides a voice for the vulnerable

Jean La Tour — Wisconsin State Public Defender’s Office

Full Story >>

Foreclosure attorney inspired to fight for others

Larraine McNamara-McGraw — Horizons Law Group LLC

Full Story >>

Real estate remains Peck’s priority

Laura Peck — Axley Brynelson LLP

Full Story >>

Prestigiacomo helps nurture others

Antonina Prestigiacomo — Foley & Lardner LLP

Full Story >>

Renlund keeps her focus on clients

Cari Anne Renlund — DeWitt Ross & Stevens SC

Full Story >>

Rohrer offers light in the darkness

Miriam J. “Jodie” Rohrer – Dane County District Attorney’s Office

Full Story >>

Spoerl tries to keep clients out of the system

June Spoerl — Wisconsin State Public Defender’s Office

Full Story >>

Tully stands tall in a male-dominated career

Catherine Tully — Habush Habush & Rottier SC

Full Story >>

Webb helps carve a path for others

Daphne Webb — Stafford Rosenbaum LLP

Full Story >>

Wolfe finds strength in challenges of her job

Mary Wolfe — Wisconsin State Public Defender’s Office

Full Story >>