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Who’s Doing What: MBA honors Michael Best & Friedrich; lawyers on the rise

By: WISCONSIN LAW JOURNAL STAFF//October 28, 2014//

Who’s Doing What: MBA honors Michael Best & Friedrich; lawyers on the rise

By: WISCONSIN LAW JOURNAL STAFF//October 28, 2014//

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AWARDS AND HONORS

The Association for Women Lawyers Foundation has announced the recipients of its annual awards. This year’s winners are: Community Involvement Award: Marla Stephens, Wisconsin Public Defender, Appellate Division; Mentoring Award: Beth Hanan, Gass Weber Mullins LLC; Pro Bono Award: Hon. Patricia Gorence, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin; Founders Award: Hon. Mary Kuhnmuench, Milwaukee County Circuit Court.

Three of the awards have been presented annually since 1992. The Founders Award is in its fifth year and is given to a member who has significantly contributed to the advancement of women in the legal profession, and whose career demonstrates dedication to the highest levels of professional ethics and excellence.

The Milwaukee Bar Association has announced its selection of Michael Best & Friedrich LLP as the winner of the 2014 Pro Bono Publico Award presented to the law firm, organization, business or association with a demonstrated commitment to working for the public good.

Among Michael Best’s pro bono portfolio includes a number of non-profits, such as OneHope27, Student Tenant Education & Mediation Program, Medair and a variety of Milwaukee-area schools, colleges and arts organizations. Michael Best lawyers also volunteer with the Marquette Volunteer Legal Clinic to provide free, brief legal advice on most civil matters at various locations around the city, including the Milwaukee Justice Center, the House of Peace Community Center, the Milwaukee County Veterans Service Office and the Mobile Legal Clinic.

Michael Best was honored for this achievement at the MBA’s 11th annual State of the Court Luncheon on Oct. 22 at the Wisconsin Club.

GIVING BACK

Dean Margaret Raymond has announced that a $3 million gift will allow the University of Wisconsin Law School to support top legal scholars in a new and creative way.

Two ardent UW-Madison supporters, Milwaukee business executive Sheldon and his wife, Marianne Lubar, have provided the money to endow a faculty post at the Law School that would diversify research and support extraordinary legal scholarship by changing the endowment model.

A traditional law school faculty chair is awarded in one area of law and to a single faculty member, often on a long-term basis. The Sheldon B. Lubar Distinguished Research Chair in Law, however, will be awarded on an annual, competitive basis as a way to recognize productive research in a variety of areas, depending on the faculty member chosen.

Sheldon Lubar is a 1951 graduate of what was then known as the School of Commerce and a 1953 graduate of the Law School. Marianne Lubar has held prominent roles with the Milwaukee Public Library, the Milwaukee Art Museum and UW-Milwaukee’s Golda Meir Library.

Raymond said the power of the Lubars’ gift will also be felt in the Law School classroom and be reflected in the quality of its graduates.

Michael Best & Friedrich LLP’s Madison office recently donated technology items to Briarpatch Youth Services and Neighborhood House Community Center in Madison. The donations to the organization included about 65 computer monitors, as well as several computer keyboards, scanners, printers and other computer accessories.

Briarpatch Youth Services provides support, housing and counseling for runaway and homeless youth in Dane County. Briarpatch recently opened a nine-bedroom house for homeless teens and young adults on Madison’s north side.

ON THE RISE

Gretchen Cleveland and Eric Lenzen were named co-leaders of its agribusiness team at Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek SC, Milwaukee.

Cleveland’s agribusiness practice primarily involves transactional services, including structuring and forming new agribusiness entities, guiding clients with regard to strategic enterprises, assisting with licensing and other intellectual-property related matters, and facilitating mergers and acquisitions. She earned her law degree in 2009 from the University of Wisconsin Law School.

Lenzen, a shareholder who also co-leads the firm’s Corporate & Finance Practice Group, a multidisciplinary team comprised of attorneys specializing in corporate, finance, tax, private equity, securities, emerging company ventures, and other related transactions, regularly represents businesses engaged in agricultural production and agrichemical manufacturing and supply. He earned his law degree in 2005 from Washington University School of Law.

YOU’RE HIRED

Molly Berkery
Molly Berkery

Molly Berkery has joined the Law Firm of Conway, Olejniczak & Jerry SC, Green Bay’s health care team.

Berkery advises clients on a variety of healthcare regulatory and compliance matters, as well as health care-related labor and employment issues. Prior to joining the firm, Berkery worked as a postdoctoral legal fellow at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

At the CDC, Berkery worked with both public and private entities on numerous issues, including healthcare reform.

She also has experience as a legal intern at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics and as a patient advocate at the Center of Patient Partnerships in Madison.

She earned her law degree in 2011 from the University of Wisconsin Law School.

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