WHO’S DOING WHAT: Hupy and Abraham celebrates 50th anniversary; GRGB honored for ALS work

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Hupy and Abraham celebrates 50th anniversary

Hupy and Abraham celebrated it 50th anniversary with a gathering on April 15 at its office in downtown Milwaukee.

Milwaukee Mayor Barrett was in attendance to present the law firm with a proclamation from the city of Milwaukee declaring April 15 as Hupy and Abraham Day.

Founded in 1969 in Milwaukee, the personal injury law firm has collected more than a billion dollars for more than 70,000 clients. With 11 offices in Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa, the firm has donated more than $1 million to thousands of charitable organizations.

Kohner, Mann & Kailas attorney earns certification

The American Board of Certification has certified Kohner, Mann & Kailas attorney Eric von Helms as a Business Bankruptcy Law Specialist.

The board is an organization whose goal is to improve the bankruptcy bar. To get certified, von Helms had to, among other things, devote at least 30 percent of his practice time to business bankruptcy matters and take a daylong exam.

Buelow Vetter promotes school attorney

Waukesha-based Buelow Vetter Buikema Olson & Vliet recently announced that it has promoted attorney Claire Hartley to shareholder.

Hartley, who earned her law degree from the Marquette University Law School in 2009, is a litigator who practices labor and employment and school law. She joined the firm two years ago.

Antitrust attorney joins Husch Blackwell’s Madison office

Husch Blackwell recently announced that antitrust attorney Wendy Arends has joined the firm’s Madison office as a partner.

Arends works in the firm’s corporate practice group and health care, life sciences and education industry group.

Arends earned her law degree from The George Washington University Law School. Before law school, she advised the Clinton administration’s Office of Cabinet Affairs.

Estate planning attorney gets props

Godfrey & Kahn recently announced that estate planning attorney Jeff Billings was recognized by a marketing and advertising firm.

Minnesota-based Five Star Professional named Billings a Five Star Wealth Manager.

Billings, a shareholder at Godfrey’s Milwaukee office, has been designated a Five Star recipient every year since 2011 and is among less than 1 percent of estate planners who will be receiving the award in the Milwaukee area.

The award recognizes wealth managers, real estate agents and other professionals based on feedback from peers and colleagues.

von Briesen promotes labor lawyer

von Briesen & Roper recently promoted labor and employment lawyer Craig Papka to shareholder.

Papka has nearly 15 years of experience and is licensed to practice law in both Wisconsin and Illinois.

Transactional attorney rejoins Michael Best

Michael Best & Friedrich recently announced that Nicholas Boerke has joined the firm’s Transactions Practice Group as senior counsel in the firm’s Milwaukee office.

Boerke advises clients on real estate, tax, and corporate transactions and litigation matters.

Boerke joins Michael Best from a full-service law firm and previously worked at Deloitte Tax LLP and Cushman & Wakefield. He also was an associate attorney with Michael Best from 2013 to 2014.

Foley adds partner

Foley & Lardner has hired attorney Clyde Tinnen.

Tinnen is a partner in Foley’s Milwaukee office and works in the firm’s Business Law Department and Transactions Practice Group.

Tinnen comes to Foley from Withers Bergman, where he was a partner on the corporate team. Before his legal career, Tinnen was a senior financial analyst at two public corporations.

Milwaukee firm gets props at event

Milwaukee-based Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown recently announced a group dedicated to fighting Lou Gehrig’s disease recognized the firm for its support.

The ALS Association’s Wisconsin Chapter recognized the firm at its Evening of Hope Event on March 9 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Milwaukee.

GRGB has supported the ALS Association-Wisconsin Chapter since Jeff Kaufman, one of the firm’s partners, was diagnosed with ALS in 1989 at age 34. Kaufman started the Evening of Hope. He lived with Lou Gehrig’s disease for 21 years.