Professional Documents
Culture Documents
IN THE LAW
IN THE LAW
2016
IN THE LAW
Remzy Bitar
Jason Abraham
Hupy and Abraham
Janet Cain
12
John Daniels
13
David Dickmann
Stewart Macaulay
18
Lori Meddings
Boyle Fredrickson
21
24
Habush Habush
& Rottier
27
Habush Habush
& Rottier
30
25
Joseph Troy
Patrick Sullivan
Benjamin Wagner
Axley Brynelson
22
26
Jim Phillips
Don Murn
16
Andrew McConnell
20
Wayne Siesennop
15
University of Wisconsin
Law School
Stafford Rosenbaum
John Hogan
14
Paul Kent
9
Jennifer DAmato
Anthony Cotton
10
6
Peterson, Johnson &
Murray
Mary Braza
28
Gregory Wesley
Gonzalez Saggio
& Harlan
32
IN THE LAW
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Jason Abraham
HUPY AND ABRAHAM
Abraham in it for
the long haul
Jason Abraham always knew he wanted to be a trial
lawyer.
He spent a year doing criminal-defense work before applying for a job with Michael Hupy. Personal-injury law was
something Abraham simply knew he would enjoy.
I have a burning desire to help people, he said. And
with what I do, I get the benefit of doing that every day.
That burning desire has served Abraham well when he
has had to settle in for the long haul with one of his cases. In
one of the toughest stretches of his career, he found himself
working on a case that took seven years to go to trial but
then ended up being settled a week into the proceedings.
One of Abrahams biggest achievements so far has been
mastering the business of running a law firm something
one doesnt just pick up in law school.
We have 11 offices in three states and around 200 employees, Abraham said. One of the biggest assets I bring
today is understanding the value of my human capital and
working hard to empower staff to do their job and do it well.
It was by no means an easy achievement.
The challenge at first was understanding the value of
hiring good people and empowering them, he said. Then
there was the public perception that people want something for nothing, that people are just looking for reasons
to find fraud. You have to be willing to take the case the
distance, which we are.
But Abraham emphasizes that he could never have done
any of it alone.
I understand that theres a lot of luck and timing that
goes along with someones success, he said. I cannot say
thank you enough to so many people along the way that
have contributed to my being successful.
One of those many people is Hupy.
He showed me how to make difference not only as a
lawyer but in the community, Abraham said. He showed
me how to run a business.
Erika Strebel
IN THE LAW
6
20
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16
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IN
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Remzy Bitar
Bitar conquers
constitutional matters
As the nephew of a lawyer and the son of a blue-collar
immigrant who stressed the importance of higher education,
Remzy Bitar knew early on he was headed for law school.
But it was his time as a clerk for the Missouri Supreme
Court that shaped his practice and solidified his interest in
federal and constitutional law. Bitar enjoyed observing the
judicial process from behind the bench of the highest court
in Missouri.
Working with Supreme Court Judge Laura Denvir Stith, he
assisted with memos and research in death-penalty cases. He
even had a hand in drafting the landmark U.S. Supreme Court
decision Roper v. Simmons that helped determine whether capital punishment would be constitutional for someone
who was a juvenile at the time he committed a crime.
Now, as a new partner at Arenz, Molter, Macy, Riffle &
Larson, Bitars civil practice involves defending local governments in various matters, including cases involving free
speech and religious liberties, equal protection, open records and the excessive use of police force.
Remzy has placed his fingerprints on municipal law
throughout the state, John Macy of Arenz, Molter, Macy,
Riffle & Larson, said in a statement.
His talents as an attorney are apparent from the community accolades he has received, having been named Best
Lawyer, an attorney at the Best Law Firm and a Rising
Star. In his 14 years of practice, Bitar has taken part in a
number of cases that have gone before the Wisconsin Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the
Seventh Circuit. He is now preparing for a land-use case
Murr v. State of Wisconsin and St. Croix County to be
heard by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Although the case involves a host of state regulations,
eminent domain and constitutional principles, the complexities keep Bitar on his toes. His ambitions are piqued not
only by the difficulties of learning new laws and navigating
technicalities, but also by conveying his new knowledge to
his clients.
Beyond bringing honesty and devotion to his practice,
he believes a leader is someone who wants to be not only
a student learning and absorbing as much as possible, but
also a teacher who passes information on to others. To his
colleagues, these are the traits that most show his expertise.
I dont think there is anybody in the state that knows
constitutional issues like civil rights and due process better
than Remzy, Macy said.
Alison Henderson
IN THE LAW
8
Mary Braza
FOLEY & LARDNER
IN THE LAW
9
Janet Cain
Cain strikes
a balance
Janet Cain considers herself a worker bee saying she
is just one of the many making their way through the legal
profession every day.
Although she goes about her daily duties quietly, her influence is significant.
Cain is a trial lawyer who specializes in civil litigation
and insurance disputes, overseeing most cases from start
to finish. With 29 years at her firm Peterson, Johnson &
Murray she serves as a mentor to the younger staff.
More broadly, she serves as an example to women in
the law.
With three children to raise, Cain said her greatest accomplishment has been caring for her family while pursuing
her career.
Its a touchy subject, and its a really different decision
for all women, but I was able to find a balance that I think
allowed me to do justice to both my family and my career,
Cain said. If youre able to find what makes you happy, and
makes your family happy, and makes your employer happy,
then I think you have found something great.
Jim Murray is also a shareholder at Peterson, Johnson
& Murray and has known Cain for 30 years. In addition to
her impeccable ethics and the confidence she gives her clients, Murray acknowledges her achievements as a female
trial lawyer.
For a long time, there werent women in the law at all
and there was still a hurdle of being a trial lawyer, Murray said. Shes part of that first wave that broke that glass
ceiling, adding that Cain has taken more than 75 jury trials
to verdict.
Because Cain often represents the defense, she enjoys
providing reassurance to her clients. She has received
an AV rating by Martindale-Hubbell, which indicates that
a lawyers peers rank him or her at the highest level of
professional excellence. She is also regarded for her civic engagement. For the past 15 years, Cain has facilitated
the collection of gifts, clothing and meals at the firm for the
Sojourner Family Peace Centers Adopt-a-Family program.
Cain said she may have learned this kindness from her
father, who passed away in December.
I think that what he taught me is that just being a good
person and the little things you do every day do matter to
people, she said. I guess (thats) my philosophy of how
I want my work life, and my home life and my relationship
with the world to be.
Alison Henderson
IN THE LAW
10
BOSTON BRUSSELS CHICAGO DETROIT JACKSONVILLE LOS ANGELES MADISON MIAMI MILWAUKEE NEW YORK ORLANDO
S A C R A M E N T O S A N D I E G O S A N F R A N C I S C O S H A N G H A I S I L I C O N VA L L E Y TA L L A H A S S E E TA M PA T O K Y O WA S H I N G T O N , D . C .
2016 Foley & Lardner LLP
15.11777
Congratulations to the
2016 Leaders in the Law.
Stafford Rosenbaum
proudly congratulates
our own Paul Kent
who is included among
this year's winners.
since 1879
www.staffordlaw.com
Anthony Cotton
IN THE LAW
12
Jennifer DAmato
REINHART BOERNER VAN DEUREN
IN THE LAW
13
John Daniels
QUARLES & BRADY
Quarles Daniels
fosters opportunity
John Daniels has the secret sauce.
To him, change and equal opportunity are the indispensable
ingredients for a society in which people can develop and invest.
Daniels, a real estate lawyer with an emphasis on large
urban projects, joined Quarles & Brady in 1974 and is now
chairman emeritus of the firm. During his career of more
than 40 years, he has served as the president, vice president,
chairman and director of dozens of organizations.
He is nationally recognized for his representation of the
credit corporations of Fortune 500 entities, public pension
funds and life-insurance companies. Daniels education began in a segregated school in Birmingham, Ala., but finished
at Harvard Law School. In addition to a laundry list of legacies,
he became the first black man to chair an AmLaw 200 firm.
I tell people that my career is very simple to describe, in
the sense that I believe change is possible, Daniels said.
Change has worked for him. Through his leadership during
a shift in Quarles & Bradys operating model, the firm was
able to expand significantly throughout the U.S.
He has helped establish a company culture that promotes
equality and value an achievement reflected in both his
workplace motto everybody counts, every day, and the
various national accolades that have been received for
workplace diversity.
The thing I enjoy most is making sure that our law firm in
the community finds ways to solve the most difficult problems, he said. Dont shy away from things that can improve
the community.
To support young people in the community, Daniels founded the Fellowship Open golf tournament and helped found
the MKE Fellows program. In 16 years, the Fellowship Open
has raised $1 million for more than 100 local organizations.
Daniels said he has watched some of these children excel
throughout their lives, from middle school through college.
Some are even applying to law school.
Ive had the benefit of getting a law degree, and a law
degree is obviously about helping your clients, but its equally
important that you use those talents to help those who arent
as fortunate, he said.
Daniels has been called a go-to leader and an example
of ways to achieve professional growth and fairness. He is
recognized for his contributions to the Milwaukee community, whether they be to economic development, education
or improving the opportunities open to young men of color.
To Katie Perhach, the Milwaukee Office Managing Partner
at Quarles & Brady, says this is a chance to honor his lifetime
of achievements.
Hes amazing, is really what it comes down to, Perhach said.
Alison Henderson
IN THE LAW
14
David Dickmann
IN THE LAW
15
John Hogan
HOGAN & MELMS
IN THE LAW
16
(877) DUI-DREW
Phone 24/7: 414-332-3499
Fax: 414-332-4578
Andrew Mishlove
Attorney at Law
Wisconsin-OWI.com
andrew@MishloveandStuckert.com
Congratulations
Timothy Melms, Jennifer Stuber and the staff of Hogan and Melms, LLP
proudly congratulate John Hogan on being named one of
Wisconsin Law Journals Leaders in the Law for 2016.
Paul Kent
STAFFORD ROSENBAUM
IN THE LAW
18
Stewart Macaulay
Macaulay puts
law in its place
If you went to law school, chances are youve read
Stewart Macaulays book and not just because it was
required reading.
Macaulay, an emeritus professor of law at the University
of Wisconsin Law School, wrote a contracts-case book in
1996 that is still being used in contracts courses today.
And that book was built on the foundation of relational
contract theory, something that Macaulay was among the
first to espouse.
I was one of the first to say it, but there all kinds of people that believe this, though maybe not as many as Id like,
he said.
Even if you havent read his book, chances are youve
heard of his ideas in some shape or form. Their underlying
principle is fairly simple.
It really comes down to trying to make a plea: Cant we
focus on lawyers, problem solving, law as applied rather
than theories about the philosophy behind the statement of
the rules? Macaulay said.
In 1963, the year when Macaulay published his groundbreaking research, such ideas were novel.
People say I dont believe in rules, he said. No! When
a rule is vitally important its vitally important. But when is
it important?
Even though Macaulay never worked in private practice,
he was able to find a discrepancy between how contract
law was taught and how contracts worked in the real world.
I knew that I lacked something, he said. My curiosity
was aroused by my father-in-law. And he was reacting to
my telling him about teaching Lon Fullers theories this is
the most honored contracts professor of the Harvard Law
School... And somebody who knew it thought it was limited and being broadcast as if it were the whole story.
Before he retired in 2008, Macaulay was researching the
effect of computers and globalization on contracts. Now, at
82, he is still publishing articles he put his last one out in
2013 and has another on the way.
Im fascinated with human problems, Macaulay said.
Law contributes to the solution of some of them. Law exacerbates others.
Erika Strebel
IN THE LAW
20
Andrew McConnell
BOYLE FREDRICKSON
IN THE LAW
21
Lori Meddings
MICHAEL BEST & FRIEDRICH
IN THE LAW
22
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Don Murn
AXLEY BRYNELSON
IN THE LAW
24
Jim Phillips
GODFREY & KAHN
IN THE LAW
25
Wayne Siesennop
SIESENNOP & SULLIVAN
IN THE LAW
26
Patrick Sullivan
SIESENNOP & SULLIVAN
IN THE LAW
27
Joseph Troy
HABUSH HABUSH & ROTTIER
IN THE LAW
28
We think business.
OFFICES IN MILWAUKEE, MADISON, WAUKESHA, GREEN BAY AND APPLETON, WISCONSIN AND WASHINGTON, D.C.
Congratulations
Benjamin Wagner
HABUSH HABUSH & ROTTIER
Habushs Wagner
a character-builder
When it comes to being an attorney, Benjamin Wagner
believes compassion is one of the most important characteristics a person can have.
As a trial lawyer, its very important to be a good listener,
and another characteristic that you need to have is empathy. You need to understand and empathize with your clients
perspective, said Wagner, a shareholder at Habush Habush
& Rottier S.C. in the firms Milwaukee office. I try to make
empathy a cornerstone of my practice and life, every day.
Wagner became interested in civil litigation during a trial-advocacy class he took while attending the University of Wisconsin Law School. After graduation, he took a job with Habush
working out of its Racine office, where he had an opportunity to
try more than a dozen cases his first two years out of law school.
Being a trial lawyer is a great opportunity to advocate
for your clients in the courtroom, and those skills can translate into advocating in the community for the causes you
believe in. It is an honor and privilege to do both, he said.
His practice includes dealing with nursing-home abuse
and neglect, personal injury, car and motorcycle accidents
and wrong death. Wagner realizes hes often meeting clients in difficult circumstances and says that he enjoys giving them help when they need it the most.
I always try to put my clients at ease when they come
into the office, Wagner said. It is my privilege to help them
piece their lives back together.
Although he has a busy caseload, Wagner finds time to
work with various legal and community organizations outside of the office. Hes president-elect of the Wisconsin Association for Justice and serves on the board of directors
for Jewish Family Services, Safe & Sound Inc., Discovery
World in Milwaukee and the Medical College of Wisconsins Neuroscience Center Advisory Board.
My family instilled in me a duty to help others and when
I have an opportunity to help, I take it, he said.
Wagner credits his success to having great mentors at
Habush, including the founding partners Bob Habush and
Dan Rottier. He said both inspired him to improve his as a
lawyer while also showing him the importance of being active in the community.
Our firm has a culture of being champions not only
for our clients, but also for our respective communities in
which we practice, Wagner said. The firm is very supportive of the attorneys efforts and initiatives in the various
communities across the state.
MaryBeth Matzek
IN THE LAW
30
professional
announcements
CONGRATULATES
ALL OF THE 2016
LEADERS IN THE LAW
AWARD WINNERS,
INCLUDING THESE
ALUMNI.
Becky Schlevensky
becky.schlevensky@wislawjournal.com
414-225-1814
LAW SCHOOL
law.marquette.edu
Gregory Wesley
GONZALEZ SAGGIO & HARLAN
IN THE LAW
32
What dIStINguISheS
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