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Paralegal of the Year

By: WISCONSIN LAW JOURNAL STAFF//November 12, 2010//

Paralegal of the Year

By: WISCONSIN LAW JOURNAL STAFF//November 12, 2010//

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Paralegal of the Year

“Carolyn goes far beyond the technical skills her position requires, and is trusted and valued by colleagues throughout the intellectual property department. Lawyers in the IP group have praised Carolyn for her attention to details, for making certain that filings are error free, and for saving clients money by identifying response dates that might otherwise be missed and thus subjected to late fees and penalties. As one lawyer stated, ‘Once the filing is in Carolyn’s hands, I never have to worry about it.’”  - Joseph N. Ziebert and Cynthia Franecki, Foley & Lardner LLP
“Carolyn goes far beyond the technical skills her position requires, and is trusted and valued by colleagues throughout the intellectual property department. Lawyers in the IP group have praised Carolyn for her attention to details, for making certain that filings are error free, and for saving clients money by identifying response dates that might otherwise be missed and thus subjected to late fees and penalties. As one lawyer stated, ‘Once the filing is in Carolyn’s hands, I never have to worry about it.’” - Joseph N. Ziebert and Cynthia Franecki, Foley & Lardner LLP

Carolyn Simpson
Prosecution Specialist/Paralegal, Foley & Lardner LLP

Carolyn Simpson became one of Foley & Lardner’s first two U.S. patent prosecution specialists in 2003, when Foley concluded that the volume of applications required specialized attention.

Today she handles the filing paperwork on an average of 75 patent applications and related filings a month with the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO), working with more than a dozen intellectual property lawyers in the firm’s Milwaukee and Detroit offices.

She has responsibility for filing the applications and related paperwork and responses in a timely and accurate manner, providing a quality product for the firm’s clients. Carolyn also helps the IP lawyers monitor the ongoing patent approval process (which can take up to three years or longer), and ensures that all response deadlines are met for sophisticated mechanical and electromechanical filings.

Carolyn also serves as the unofficial “go to” resource for lawyers and staff in the Milwaukee office on USPTO rule changes and procedures, and is renowned for her expertise in every aspect of the filing process.

Foley partners Joseph N. Ziebert and Cynthia Franecki remarked, “Carolyn is the unofficial but acknowledged expert on the filing process in the Milwaukee office. As the USPTO has changed its processes and procedures in response to increased filing volume and complexity, she has followed the issues and mentored other specialists, as well as lawyers and paralegals. Her attention to detail is consistently praised, and the lawyers that she works with have called her a vital member of the U.S. patent prosecution team who is incredibly knowledgeable about filing procedure.”

Paralegal Honorees

Kimberly Finnigan
Paralegal, Halloin & Murdock SC

“Kim has been the diligent rock for the entire firm since she started five years ago. Not only does Kim’s work make the rest of us look good, it is inspirational to the remainder of the staff. Kim’s commitment and passion for her work as a paralegal has also rubbed off. Kim’s passion for her profession has encouraged other staff members to continue to pursue a paralegal education and training. This has created a synergistic effect in the office where all staff members continue to learn and grow regardless of whether there is a pending project. The value-added of this synergy has created a dynamic efficiency for client cases that could never have been predicted, but which assists us all in provided the highest level of service to all of our clients.”

Joshua James Roever,
Attorney,
Halloin & Murdock, SC

Rachelle Hocking
Victim/Witness Specialist,
Dane County District Attorney’s Office

“I have worked with Rachelle for almost four years now, ever since I first joined the Dane County District Attorney’s Office. Rachelle’s number one responsibility is to be the primary point of contact for crime victims and witnesses called to testify in court. For crime victims and witnesses, coming to court can often be a frightening and stressful experience. Rachelle has done a tremendous job explaining the legal process, answering questions, and sometimes just being there to listen. She has frequently provided me with excellent guidance on how to handle emotionally fraught situations involving reluctant or recanting witnesses. I simply could not do my job as a prosecutor without her help.”

Tim Kiefer,
Dane County District Attorney’s Office

Theresa A. Lenz
Paralegal, The Jeff Scott Olson Law Firm S.C.

“Theresa Lenz is my indispensable paralegal. Early in her career she developed the ability to follow a file from opening to closing, keeping track of what needs to be done, and making sure it gets done, whether by herself or me or someone else, in a timely fashion. I have been astonished by her capacity for self-propelled advancement in learning new skills and acquiring relevant knowledge. … Our profession needs her, and now it is going to get her, because she is enrolled in Marquette University Law School, while maintaining her position with my firm, and will be admitted to the bar in the summer of 2012.”

Jeff Scott Olson,
Attorney,
The Jeff Scott Olson Law Firm, S.C.

Renee Nehring
Paralegal, Krueger & Hernandez SC

“Renee has worked with me for over 15 years and deals with all of the client concerns at all hours of the day freeing my time for dealing with the trial issues that go with personal injury and divorce practice. Without Renee’s dedication to the firm and the practice we would not continue to get repeat work and referrals from satisfied clients. Thank you to Renee is not enough and this recognition would let her know exactly how important she is to the firm’s success.”

Mark Krueger,
Managing Partner,
Krueger & Hernandez SC

Lisa Stewart-Boettcher
Paralegal, Krekeler Strother SC

“Recently I suffered a heart attack that kept me out of the office for nearly a month. With little direction from me, and on top of the work that Lisa was doing for the other lawyers in our office, Lisa managed to move dates on my calendar, inform clients of my status, work with judges to keep cases fresh, and otherwise clear my desk so that when I came back to work, it was as though I hadn’t missed a day.”

Briane F. Pagel Jr.,
Krekeler Strother SC

Chantelle W. Stocco
Paralegal, Michael Best & Friedrich LLP

“Client service and zealous representation are attributes sought in attorneys. But when these attributes are found in a paralegal who combines them with superior administrative skills, a work ethic that does not quit until the job is done right and a pleasant attitude, it makes our job as attorneys easy. Chantelle Stocco chose to focus her work on complex litigation matters such as patent litigation, professional liability and product liability litigation. This kind of commitment is not often found and when it is, it deserves recognition. She is the definition of reliability and dependability. It is this ‘always willing to step up to the plate, can-do approach to her work that makes us proud to nominate Chantelle Stocco.”

David L. DeBruin,
Litigation Partner,
Michael Best & Friedrich LLP and

Paul E. Benson,
Litigation PG Chair,
Michael Best & Friedrich LLP

Beth N. Zimmermann
Paralegal, The Schroeder Group S.C., Attorneys at Law

“Beth is one of the best employees I have ever hired. She undoubtedly manages my practice. I would not be as successful if it weren’t for her attention to detail, intelligence and common sense approach.”

Stuart Schroeder,
Chief Executive Officer,
The Schroeder Group S.C.,
Attorneys at Law

“Beth just gets it! Beth is a great resource for acquiring the right information in order to be extremely productive.”

Jessica Beyer,
Office Manager,
The Schroeder Group S.C., Attorneys at Law

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