Wisconsin Law Journal – WI Legal News & Resources Wisconsin Legal News & Resources

Check out more Legal All-Stars Since joining Foley & Lardner five years ago, Jesse Byam-Katzman has established himself as a go-to litigator. Byam-Katzman is a business litigation lawyer and member of the firm’s Business Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice. His work includes litigating contracts, distribution and franchise, and trade secret and copyright disputes in both state and federal court. He ...

Check out more Legal All-Stars Timothy Schelwat became a lawyer so he could help people. Schelwat, an attorney at Hupy and Abraham, enjoys “taking a situation where someone may be involved in an accident through no fault of their own and dealing with multibillion dollar insurance agencies who at face value would have the upper hand against an individual.” “That’s ...

Check out more Legal All-Stars When Appleton attorney Ron Tusler started practicing personal injury law, his goal was to create a firm with a client-first mentality. At Tusler Law, he’s done this just that. Tusler treats his clients with a personal touch — they’re not just another case to settle. In addition to personal injury law, Tusler also provides legal ...

Check out more Legal All-Stars Bill Weigel chose a career in law to make the world a better place. “My greatest enjoyment has been always trying to do the right thing competently and compassionately,” said Weigel. “Sure, I have always been competitive and driven — but it is not about winning, pushing paper and making money. The law as a ...

Check out more Legal All-Stars Peter Lawrence-Wehrle began work at the University of Wisconsin Law Library more than a decade ago, where he was first an evening and weekend circulation supervisor. After just six months, he was offered a day-side position as the ILL associate, a role he still holds today. He uses his research and communication skills to provide ...

Check out more Legal All-Stars Like mother, like daughter. Maryann Wilson joined Quarles & Brady in 1990 as an office messenger. Over the years, she advanced to her current leadership role as a secretarial work coordinator, where she supports six attorneys and coordinates secretary workflow. Wilson is known for her caring demeanor and that is on display in everything she ...

Check out more Legal All-Stars Since joining Fox, O’Neill & Shannon, Lauren Maddente has become one of the firm’s go-to attorneys for the litigation and transactional groups. In addition to her own litigation practice, she works closely with the firm’s other litigators in all aspects and phases of civil and criminal litigation, including second chairing a major criminal defense trial. ...

Check out more Legal All-Stars Since 2013, MMG Law has grown from a one-person outfit to a nine-member team. The Madison-based law firm is headed by Matthew Gillhouse, who — along with the rest of his team — provide bilingual services to clients in Wisconsin and other states. Most of the firm’s clients are Spanish speakers, and they find comfort ...

Check out more Legal All-Stars Growing up, Samantha Huddleston Baker had everything she needed and a loving family. However, when the Great Recession hit in 2008, she realized how hard her family worked and how fragile employment was, as companies around the country laid off workers en masse. “I wanted to be able to have the autonomy over my career ...

Check out more Legal All-Stars Matt Conway found work ahead of Y2K but he found a career with Godfrey & Kahn. Conway is the firm’s technical support manager, where he is responsible for the seamless integration of technology into all the firm’s operations. He got his start in the IT field in 1998, installing Y2K patches on old PCs. But ...

Check out more Legal All-Stars The appointment clerks at the Wisconsin State Public Defender’s Office – each and every one of them – have gone above their call of duty to champion for the people of Wisconsin. When someone needs a public defender, appointment clerks work diligently to find the right attorney that can handle their case with tact, tenacity ...

Check out more Legal All-Stars Megan Lee was working at marketing agency when she decided to change careers and go to law school. “I loved my work but wanted to help people, and law school felt like the right fit,” she said. “I especially wanted to help children who can often feel voiceless.” Lee earned her degree from Michigan State ...

Check out more Legal All-Stars Mary Sorrenti’s legal career began in a restaurant. While she was working behind a bar cleaning glassware, an attorney recognized her work ethic and asked for her résumé. Soon, she was working for him as an assistant at his bankruptcy law firm. She worked in that field of law for three years, then began work ...

Check out more Legal All-Stars There is a lot of gray area in the legal field. That can be both challenging and rewarding, said Lori Meddings, partner and national chair of Quarles & Brady’s Intellectual Property Practice Group. Meddings is widely acknowledged as a leader in helping clients protect and enforce their intellectual property throughout the world. Clients rely on ...

Check out more Legal All-Stars Jeff Peelen approaches his cases like a chess player — he’s always thinking several steps ahead. Peelen, a partner in Quarles & Brady’s Public Finance Practice Group, has established a national reputation in the field. He is a frequent speaker who regularly hosts industry events, including the Bond Dealers of America’s annual “Heads of Public ...

Check out more Legal All-Stars In the real estate world, every day you come across something different. It’s an experience that has kept Barbara Juran in the field for more than 35 years. Juran is a paralegal for Quarles & Brady’s Real Estate Practice Group, where she is involved in a variety of development deals. “It’s always exciting to see ...

Check out more Legal All-Stars For Samuel Leib, being a lawyer is a special privilege. “My father would have liked to have been a lawyer,” said Leib. “My three brothers and I grew up with discussions around the table about history, government and civil rights. In turn, I enjoyed the learning, the challenge of advocacy and trying to do some ...

Check out more Legal All-Stars Brian Anhalt has become an essential member of Godfrey & Kahn’s Corporate and Securities practice. As an associate, he is a go-to resource on a variety of regulatory issues. “What is remarkable about Brian’s rise within the firm is that he flew under the radar his first few years in practice,” said Godfrey & Kahn ...

Check out more Legal All-Stars Robin Butzke has always been fascinated by the legal field. As an avid reader of true crime stories (four to six books per month), creating a solid legal career for herself was a natural fit. She also shares that her dad was her first hero and helped instill this mentality in her: be the best ...

Check out more Legal All-Stars When Judge Reyna Morales puts her mind to something, nothing can stop her. Moving to the United States at the age of 16 knowing no English, Morales learned the language and put herself through college and law school, truly helping pave the way for women and immigrants alike. She served as a public defense attorney ...

Check out more Legal All-Stars Bryce Loken was just a teenager when his father suggested that the legal field might be a good fit because, as Loken puts it, “I always had to argue everything.” That planted the idea that later became a reality after Loken graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 2016. Later that year, he ...

Check out more Legal All-Stars Sometimes Kate Bechen feels like she’s always on the clock. Being an attorney, it comes with the job. You have to be flexible with your hours, depending on the client. “I don’t get to shut down at a certain time and while I enjoy a lot of flexibility in my day-to-day schedule — and wouldn’t ...

Check out more Legal All-Stars As soon as Alexander Kostal decided to become a lawyer, he knew that he wanted to practice in a courtroom, making arguments and fighting for justice. After graduating from Marquette University Law School in 2017, he was hired by the Wisconsin State Public Defender’s office, where he serves as an assistant state public defender. His ...

Check out more Legal All-Stars Jason Luczak has always wanted to help people. He initially thought about pursuing a career in news broadcasting, but then decided that the best way he could make a tangible difference in people’s lives is through the legal field. “When I got to law school I was drawn to criminal defense and worked with a ...

Check out more Legal All-Stars Lance Duroni’s path into a career in law wasn’t a traditional one. Before going to law school, Duroni was a writer for the legal news website Law360, where he covered a lot of trials and other court proceedings. “I essentially needed a crash course in the court system and the law in order to write ...

The Wisconsin Law Journal celebrated its first-ever Legal All-Star award-winners on Thursday at the Grain Exchange in downtown Milwaukee during a networking and awards event.

Check out more Legal All-Stars When Daniel Norland was in the second grade, he came home with a “what do I want to be when I grow up” homework assignment. He was just a kid, but even at that time — according to the story his mom likes to tell — he already knew what he wanted to be: a ...

Check out more Legal All-Stars Pamela Bartoli began her career in the legal field in 1992, when she worked as a backup receptionist with Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek. She quickly moved into the role of legal secretary, then earned her paralegal certification to become a legal assistant. Today, she works as a group leader/legal executive assistant for Godfrey & Kahn. When ...

Check out more Legal All-Stars When Allison Andrew was an undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, she became a member of the Legal Eagles. The learning group put students together who are interested in all-things law, from law school to law enforcement. “This experience provided me with classes in legal studies and networking opportunities with practicing lawyers,” Andrew said. “I ...

Check out more Legal All-Stars As senior counsel for Dykema Gossett, Robin Lehninger’s collaborative spirit and ability to focus on the issues that matter have facilitated countless complex transactions for health care clients of all stripes. These include individual physicians, provider groups, large hospital systems and health care technology companies. Immersing herself in the operations, objectives and concerns of each ...