Biographies

Laurel Bellows, a principal of Bellows and Bellows, P.C., represents executives, in the United States and internationally.  Ms. Bellows is an experienced business lawyer counseling senior executives and corporations on employment matters, employment and severance agreements, executive compensation, and workplace disputes. 

Ms. Bellows is past Chair of the American Bar Association’s House of Delegates, the ABA’s policy-making body; the second-highest elected office in the ABA.  She was the second woman president of the 22,000 member Chicago Bar Association in 1991. Her many accolades include: Crain’s Chicago Business annual list of Power Players, one of 28 Power Lawyers in the city by Chicago Magazine, one of Chicago’s 100 Women of Influence in 1996 by Crain’s Chicago Business, one of Working Mother Magazine 25 Most Influential Working Mothers in the country in 1997, served on the Illinois Supreme Court Special Commission on the Administration of Justice and on the United States Senate Judicial Nominations Commission for the State of Illinois, Past President of the National Conference of Bar Presidents, Past Chair of The Chicago Network, Past Chair of the American Bar Association’s Commission on Women in the Profession, and as Past Chair of the Finance Committee of the American Bar Association’s Board of Governors.

Ms. Bellows writes and lectures nationally on topics related to negotiation skills, business and investment litigation.  A Chicago native, she graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and received her law degree from Loyola University School of Law in 1974.

Lenor Coe is the firm administrator at Godfrey, Leibsle, Blackbourn & Howarth, S.C. in Elkhorn, WI. She is a certified human resource professional (PHR) with over 10 years of human resource experience, including five years as a consultant to small and medium sized businesses.  Ms. Coe has over 25 years of training experience ranging from teaching how to build fires and cook wonderful meals over them to mentoring, teamwork and employment issues.

Tracy Coenen is a forensic accountant and fraud investigator with Sequence Inc. in Milwaukee and Chicago. Her credentials include an Honors Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Law Studies, a Master of Business Administration, a Certified Public Accountant license, designation as a Certified Fraud Examiner, and an Adjunct Professor at Concordia University – Wisconsin. Ms. Coenen’s anti-fraud work includes investigation of embezzlement, financial statement fraud, and insurance fraud. She is the author of Essentials of Corporate Fraud. She has served as Adjunct Faculty for the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, and she trains anti-fraud professionals worldwide on the financial aspects of fraud.

Daniel S. Davis is a founding member of Davis & Gelshenen LLP, a plaintiff’s personal injury law firm with offices in Milwaukee, Madison, Waukesha, and Racine, Wisconsin.

Mr. Davis concentrates his trial practice in the areas of personal injury, nursing home negligence, and health and other insurance disputes.

Mr. Davis is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Bar Association, the American Association of Justice, and the Wisconsin Association of Justice.  Mr. Davis received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Ripon College, and his Juris Doctor from the University of Kansas School of Law.

Dean R. Dietrich is a partner with the Ruder Ware Law Firm where he represents private and public sector employers in all aspects of labor and employment law.  He is a graduate of Marquette University (B.S., 1974) and Marquette University Law School (J.D., 1977).

Since July 1991, Mr. Dietrich has served on the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Committee on Professional Ethics.  He currently serves as Chair of the Committee and served as Chair from 2000-2002.  He also served on the Committee appointed by the Wisconsin Supreme Court to review and propose changes to Chapter 20, the Rules of Professional Conduct for Attorneys.  Mr. Dietrich served as Treasurer of the State Bar of Wisconsin from 2001-2005.

Mr. Dietrich has been a frequent presenter and author on the topic of professional ethics and professional responsibility.  He has represented attorneys in matters before the Wisconsin Supreme Court Office of Lawyer Regulation and has consulted with numerous law firms and lawyers regarding compliance with the Rules of Professional Conduct.

Marty Ditkof of Brookfield, Wisconsin is the former General Counsel of Morris Material Handling (P&H Cranes) with world wide experience in handling legal issues affecting companies and their executives.  He opened a solo legal practice from a home office in February 2001 with the desire to help business owners, executives, and their employees understand the law, assist and guide them in analyzing and managing legal risks, and to provide cost-effective resolutions to legal issues.  His focus is on representing companies involved in manufacturing and distributing products, along with those who help such companies. His work includes handling lawsuits, human resources, contracts, mergers and acquisitions, and various other matters that affect companies.

Terry Dunst came to Bakke Norman S.C. after two successful careers. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee with a degree in Education, he taught high school for a number of years. He then went to work for the software division of ICOM-Rockwell International. His work took him around the world, including a three year assignment in England as manager of the UK office.

After fifteen years with Rockwell and once his children were grown, Mr. Dunst enrolled in the University of St. Thomas School of Law, graduating cum laude with a Juris Doctor. During law school, he worked for the City of St. Paul City Attorney's office, and also worked as a law clerk for Bakke Norman in Spring Valley and New Richmond.

Mr. Dunst is a member of the transactional team and focuses on business and municipal law, residential and commercial real estate, landlord tenant law, estate planning, and probate at Bakke Norman.

Timothy Edwards is a partner in the firm of Axley Brynelson LLP and an adjunct lecturer at the University of Wisconsin Law School, where he teaches Civil Procedure, Pre-Trial Advocacy, Legal Writing and Professional Responsibility. Mr. Edwards is a member of the Litigation, Labor and Employment and Construction and Transportation Practice Groups. In addition to teaching, Mr. Edwards is a frequent speaker  to law students and local bar associations, on behalf of the Wisconsin Lawyer's Assistance Program (WisLAP), for which he was awarded the State Bar of Wisconsin's "Volunteer of the Year" award in 2006. He has extensive experience in criminal defense law, both in state and federal court. He is licensed in Arizona and Wisconsin, the Eastern and Western District of Wisconsin and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

Anne Ertel-Sawasky has over 20 years of experience advising corporations and small business owners in the areas of commercial real estate, securities law, contracts, insurance and banking law, formerly acting as legal counsel to Aid Association for Lutherans (a/k/a Thrivent Financial), and then as outside counsel to Banc One Insurance, Inc. advising senior management and handling all contracts and legal matters.

Ms. Ertel-Sawasky founded Sawasky Law LLC, and its division, Lighthouse Land & Title, in 1997, and has assisted large and small businesses with incorporation, buying and selling businesses, real estate, and equipment as well as other business and corporate transactional matters. She also works as a business intermediary for Creative Business Brokers/Creative Mergers & Acquisitions, assisting small to large businesses with their commercial real estate and business sales and mergers and acquisition needs, working on transactions ranging from $200,000-$200,000,000. Anne graduated from Marquette University Law School in 1987 and received her B.A. in International Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1982.

John J. Gelshenen is a founding member of Davis & Gelshenen LLP, a plaintiff’s personal injury law firm with offices in Milwaukee, Madison, Waukesha, and Racine, Wisconsin. Mr. Gelshenen concentrates his trial practice in the areas of personal injury, real estate agent professional liability defense, nursing home negligence, and health and other insurance disputes.

Mr. Gelshenen is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Bar Association, the American Association of Justice, and the Wisconsin Association of Justice. Mr. Gelshenen received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Marquette University, where he received the Senior Leadership Award. He earned his Juris Doctor (law degree) from the Hamline University School of Law.  While at Hamline, he was a dual degree candidate, completing work toward a Masters Degree in Business Management at the University of St. Thomas Graduate School Of Business.

Jonathan P. Groth, an associate with Pitman, Kyle & Sicula, has dedicated his career to representing plaintiffs in all areas of personal injury law. He has successfully tried cases throughout Wisconsin in both State and Federal Court and has joined the elite few Wisconsin attorneys who have argued before the Wisconsin State Supreme Court.

Prior to joining Pitman, Kyle & Sicula, attorney Groth clerked with a prominent plaintiff personal injury firm in Illinois. After graduation, Mr. Groth spent several years in general practice litigating a wide variety of cases ranging from probate disputes to commercial conflicts to personal injury and privacy matters.

Mr. Groth is a frequent lecturer to local and state bar associations on topics related to personal injury litigation. Mr. Groth has also been asked to speak as a special guest lecturer at Cardinal Stritch University.Most recently he has published a blog and writes on topics in personal injury at www.jonpgroth.com.

Mr. Groth is a member of the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Wisconsin, the American Association for Justice where he is a liaison to Marquette University Law School and on the Board of Governors for the New Lawyer Division, and the Wisconsin Association for Justice where he was Chair of the New Lawyers section. Attorney Groth was recently appointed co-chair of the Wisconsin State Bar Solo & Small Firm's Subcommittee on Technology.

Peter E Grosskopf has over 28 years of experience in Elder Law, Estate Planning, and debtor-creditor matters, including bankruptcy. He is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and former Chair of the Elder Law Section of the Wisconsin State Bar and serves as an Advisor on the Board of Directors.

Mr. Grosskopf is also on the Board of Directors for WisPact, Inc. and currently serves as the chair. He is past President of the Eau Claire County Bar Association and serves on its Executive Committee. He has served as an expert on both Elderlaw and Bankruptcy matters.  He has extensive experience in State and Federal courts and is a 1979 graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School.

Monica Hansen has been an office administrator for Solheim Billing & Grimmer, S.C. in Madison since 1994 when the firm was founded. Prior to that, she spent 13 years at Ross & Stevens S.C.in administration. As an active member of the Wisconsin Association of Legal Administrators since 1995, Hansen has served on the Board of Directors (1999-2006), served as President (2001-2002) and has done committee work in Vendor Relations and Membership. Currently, she is a on a committee working on the development of an Attorney Business Skills Program which will produce six webinars on business skills development for attorneys in collaboration with the State Bar of Wisconsin.
          
Michael F. Hart has practiced in the areas of criminal defense, civil litigation, and personal injury matters for twenty years. During that time, he has distinguished himself as a trial lawyer with an imposing courtroom presence. Court TV has identified Michael as one of the state's most prominent criminal defense attorneys.

Michael maintains a strong legal presence locally and nationally. He is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin, the State Bar of Michigan, the American Association for Justice, the Wisconsin Association for Justice, and the National Criminal Defense Association of Defense Lawyers, In addition to his active litigation practice, Michael serves on the Board of Directors of the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corporation.

Michael earned his Bachelors degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1985 and his law degree from the Michigan State University College of Law in 1988. A native of Flint, Michigan, he practiced in the Detroit area prior to moving to Wisconsin, where he founded Kohler & Hart in 1993.

Gregg Herman is a life-long resident of Milwaukee and attended UW-Madison both as an undergraduate (B.A. with honors, 1974) and law school (J.D., 1977). His first job after law school was as an Assistant District Attorney for Milwaukee County (1977 - 1984), where he handled everything from disorderly conduct to first-degree murder cases.

Gregg joined Leonard L. Loeb in the practice of family law in 1984 and became a shareholder in 1991. He has been active in various professional organizations, legislative endeavors and activities designed to improve the practice of family law and to alleviate the effects of divorce on children.

Margaret Wrenn Hickey practices in the areas of divorce, family law, and elder law including trusts for the disabled, title 19 and guardianship.  She is  a shareholder in the law firm of Becker & Hickey, S.C., Milwaukee, and received her B.A. from Marquette University (1982, summa cum laude), where she was Phi Beta Kappa, and her J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School (1986,  cum laude).

Margaret is a past Chair of the State Bar of Wisconsin Elder Law Section Board of Directors and a past Chair of the Family Law Section Board of Directors. She is a past President of the Milwaukee Bar Association and served on the Board of Directors from 1999-2005. Margaret currently serves on the  State Bar of Wisconsin Board of Governors and on the Board of Directors of the Legal Aid Society, Aurora Family Service and public radio station WUWM. 

Margaret lectures frequently at local, state and national bar meetings and to community groups and other professionals on elder law and family law topics.  She is named in the Best Lawyers in America for family and elder law and has been named as a “Super Lawyer” in elder law. 

Lori J. Kannenberg, CLM is the firm administrator of the Madison law firm of Lawton & Cates, S.C. and is responsible for human resources, finance, public relations, facilities management and other business functions including the overall operations of the law firm.

Ms. Kannenberg graduated magna cum laude from Edgewood College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a minor in Psychology. She earned her Master of Business Administration degree from Cardinal Stritch University and achieved the Certified Legal Manager designation from the Association of Legal Administrators.

Ms. Kannenberg is a Past President of the Wisconsin Association of Legal Administrators (WALA). She currently serves on the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Conference Committee.  She also serves on the Legal Administrative Professional Advisory Committee for Blackhawk Technical College.

An article she co-authored, “Wide Open Spaces: Advice for Starting Up a Solo Practice,” that was published in the ABA GPSolo Magazine was selected for inclusion in the “Best of ABA Sections” publication in September 2007. 

Connie Kilmark has developed an original approach to personal money management.  Her approach, which balances the emotional and psychological aspects of money with the financial facts, has helped thousands of clients achieve financial health during her many years in practice.  Beginning in 1975, Kilmark served as counselor and then director of the Madison Consumer Credit Counseling Service. While there, she developed the foundation of her professional practice which includes a commitment to empowering clients to design their own lives and then use the resources of money and time to bring the design to life.  In 1987, Kilmark founded her own Madison–based counseling and consulting firm, Kilmark & Associates, LLC. 

A regular guest on public radio for 18 years, Connie Kilmark is frequently interviewed by the local and national media concerning personal finance, psychologically sensitive money management and investment strategies and the connection between money and emotions.

Jeffrey S. Krause is a Wisconsin attorney and is the owner and founder of Krause Practice Management, LLC. Krause Practice Management provides technology advice and service to law firms of all sizes, with a focus on the efficient use of technology in the law office.

After beginning his career in private practice, Mr. Krause began assisting other attorneys to better use technology in their law practice. Since 1998, he has assisted hundreds of law firms through custom configurations, training and general support.

Mr. Krause is a Certified Independent Consultant (CIC) for the popular Time Matters Business and Practice Management software as well as its companion, Billing Matters.

His extensive background includes knowledge of document management, e-mail systems, litigation support, time and billing, web marketing and office suite applications. 

Prior to embarking on his career as a Technology Professional, Mr. Krause was engaged in the private practice of law. His legal background includes Plaintiff's Personal Injury, Insurance Defense, Real Estate, Land Use Planning and Corporate Law. Jeff is a 1996 graduate of the Marquette University Law School. He also holds a B.A. and M.A. in History from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

J. David Krekeler is a principal shareholder with the firm of Krekeler Strother, S.C., Madison, Wisconsin, which devotes a substantial portion of its practice to debtor-creditor and bankruptcy matters. Mr. Krekeler's practice includes representation of debtors, creditors, and bankruptcy trustees in cases under Chapters 7, 11, 12, and 13 of the Bankruptcy Code.

He has been certified as a Business Bankruptcy Law Specialist by the American Board of Certification, and is on the Board of Directors of the Bankruptcy, Insolvency and Creditor's Rights section of Wisconsin State Bar. He is also Past chairman of Western District Bankruptcy Bar and was voted one of Madison's Best Bankruptcy Lawyers, as published in Madison Magazine.  Krekeler has authored or co-authored number materials including “Understanding the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 2005”, and “Effective Mortgage Foreclosure Techniques in Wisconsin”.

Ross L. Kodner is the President and founder of MicroLaw, Inc., a 24+ year old Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based legal technology consultancy and turnkey legal automation system provider. He is a 1986 graduate of Marquette University Law School where he was a member of the Law Review and both a St. Thomas More Scholar and Milwaukee Lawyer Scholar. Ross was honored as the “Legal Technology Consultant of the Year 1999, “a lifetime achievement award by Technolawyer.com, He was also honored as the “Technolawyer Contributor of the Year” for an unprecedented five years, making him the most awarded legal technologist in history. In 2007, the UK’s CityMagazine, included him in their first Global Legal Tech 100 – a listing for the world’s most influential legal technologists.

Ross served the Milwaukee Bar Association as a founding member and chair for six years of its Technology Committee, and also as chair of the Wisconsin Law & Technology Conference for five years. He was the founder of the Wisconsin Solo & Small Firm Conference and its first Chair in 2006.

He has written number columns and articles, including his most recent, called “SmallLaw,” debuting October 2008 at technolawyer.com and reaching over 20,000 subscribers. He spends much of his time as an international CLE speaker on legal technology and law practice management topics, having delivered nearly 1400 CLE sessions since the 1980s. His blog called “Ross Ipsa Loquitur” (www.rossipsa.com) has won a number of legal industry awards for its value to lawyers and legal professionals.

He was a very active member of the ABA and its Law Practice Management Section, having served five terms as Chair of its Computer and Technology Division. He also served as a member of the ABA TECHSHOW 1998-2001 Executive Planning Board. He is currently an active member of the ABA's General Practice/Solo & Small Firm Division where he was the founder and Chair of the National Solo & Small Firm Conference, most recently serving as the Chair Emeritus for the 2008.

His firm, MicroLaw, Inc., has provided legal-exclusive automation consulting, law practice management consulting, technology “visioneering”, legal PC systems design and planning, specialized lawyer and law firm staff training and support to over 1400 law practices including private firms, corporate and government legal departments worldwide since the mid-1980’s.

His personal mottos are: “Friends don’t let friends word process without Reveal Codes (even in Word!)” and “If you think hiring an expert is expensive, try hiring an amateur.”

Nancy Roberts Linder is the Principal of Nancy Roberts Linder Consulting in LaGrange, Illinois, a marketing consulting practice focusing primarily on law firms.  Nancy has 20 years of experience working with lawyers and other service industry professionals, which includes serving as the first marketing director for Hinshaw & Culbertson.  Nancy served on the board of the Legal Marketing Association Chicago Chapter for eleven years, twice as the chapter’s president. In conjunction with LMA/Chicago, Nancy teaches a marketing course for law students, which has been taught at Chicago-Kent College of Law for eight years and is a program that she developed.  In 2003, Chicago-Kent College of Law bestowed Nancy with a Professional Achievement Award for the innovative curriculum she created.  Nancy has published more than 100 articles and speaks on a variety of law firm marketing topics.  She writes a monthly column on client development issues for Intellectual Property Today which is read by patent lawyers nationwide.

Brenda Majewski is the firm administrator at Kohn Law Firm in Milwaukee and has been with the firm since 1976. She is a member of the National and Wisconsin Association of Legal Administrators, having served three terms as state President. She is the 2005 recipient of WALA's Award of Excellence, and currently serves on the Vendor Relations committee. She is also a member of the Commercial Law League of America, serving as Co-editor of the Creditor's Rights Section newsletter, Free Press, and chairs the National Office Management and Economics Committee. She is a member of Midwestern District Council and the Creditors Rights Section Executive Council. She attended Milwaukee Area Technical College and has a Certificate in Management from Marquette University.

Andrew Mishlove is known and respected throughout Wisconsin and nationwide as an expert in criminal law and drunk driving defense. He is a member of the National College of DUI Defense, one of only two attorneys in Wisconsin who hold this position, and he is the only member in Southeastern Wisconsin. He is specially trained in the scientific evidence of blood, breath and urine testing, at the National College of DUI Defense.
 
He has held the highest post in the State Bar of Wisconsin relating to criminal law:  from 1990-1994 he was the Chairman of the Criminal Law Section of the State Bar of Wisconsin, the only criminal law organization in Wisconsin that is made up of defense lawyers, prosecutors, law professors and judges.
 
He is the former Chairman of the Continuing Legal Education Committee of the Criminal Law Section; in charge of training other lawyers how to practice criminal defense and drunk driving defense(1990-1994). He is a former Editor of the Wisconsin Criminal Law News, the State Bar of Wisconsin's criminal law publication (1988-1990). He holds the learning honors from his university, the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, BA, Cum Laude, 1978. He has a law degree from the University of Wisconsin, Juris Doctor, 1981. He has been helping people save their licensees and their freedom for over 20 years. He is admitted to practice before all of the Courts of the State of Wisconsin, and the Federal Courts. He is admitted to argue cases before the Supreme Court of the United States of America. 

Chris Moander is an independent attorney who owns his own practice, the Moander Law Firm, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  Chris focuses on business law, business litigation, and collections matters, but he enjoys learning about new areas when they come up.  He is particularly fond of working with entrepreneurs and small business owners because they are exciting and passionate people with whom to work.

Prior to law school, Chris was a project accountant for a multinational corporation. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Eisenhower Center in Milwaukee and has contributed services to various other non-profit organizations in the city. Chris received his B.A. from Cornell College and J.D. from Oklahoma City University School of Law.

Kevin O’Keefe, President of LexBlog, Inc., was a trial lawyer for 17 years. Practicing law in rural Wisconsin, he successfully marketed his own law firm on the Internet in such a positive way that USA Today said "If O'Keefe isn't careful, he may wind up giving lawyers a good name.

Prior to LexBlog, Kevin founded Prairielaw.com, an online law community for consumers and small businesspeople, later acquired by LexisNexis and now incorporated into Martindale-Hubbell's lawyers.com. He then served as a VP of Business Development of LexisNexis' Martindale-Hubbell.

While Kevin practiced law, he was a sustaining member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and a board member of his state's trial lawyers association.

Nerino Petro is the Practice Management Advisor for the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Law Practice Management Assistance Program (LOMAP). The mission of LOMAP is to help attorneys operate their offices more effectively and efficiently. As a practicing Illinois attorney for 16 years, as well as CEO/Senior Legal Technologist for CenCom which he founded in 1994, he is aware of the practice management issues facing attorneys throughout Wisconsin.

He is a Certified Independent Consultant for TimeMatters® practice management software, Billing Matters®  time and billing software, Billing Matters Plus® time, billing and accounting software and PCLaw time, billing and accounting software, and has provided consulting, installation, customization and training for his clients. He has been an instructor for the official LexisNexis Time Matters Certified Users Training course and has worked with other leading products including TABS® time and billing software, Practice Master® practice management software, Quikscribe Digital Dictation and TValue financial software.

He is a member of the ABA GP, Solo and Small Firm Section Technology Committee and served on the ABA TECHSHOW Advisory Board – Tech University Track for 2005. He is also the Chair for the ISBA Committee on Legal Technology. He is a regular contributor to local, state and national publications and also provides information on legal technology, practice management and items of interest to lawyers on his blawg at www.compujurist.com.

Ron Phillips is a respected leader in the Wisconsin technology and software industry. He is a co-founding partner and in-house counsel for Serlio Software Development Corporation, a professional services and software products company focused on software project requirements management. Ron was graduated cum laude from Marquette University Law School.

Timothy J. Pierce is Ethics Counsel for the State Bar of Wisconsin.  He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and his law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School. Mr. Pierce was previously a Deputy Director at the Office of Lawyer Regulation.  He has also been employed as the Ethics Administrator for Milbank, Hadley, Tweed & McCloy, in New York, and as an Assistant State Public Defender in Racine. He is a frequent speaker on matters of professional ethics.

Sarit Singhal started Superior Support Resources, Inc (SSR) in 1996 providing IT staffing for Harnischfeger and Morris Material Handling, LLC. In 2000 SSR migrated into full service IT service firm focused on small to midsized business located in South Eastern Wisconsin. He is part of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, Council of Small Business Executives Roundtable, Venture Tech Network (VTN), Wisconsin Association of Legal Administrators (WALA), and Wisconsin IT Leadership Association (WITLA).

Jim Statz is a partner with Solheim Billing & Grimmer, S.C. in Madison.  He earned his law degree, with honors, from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1989.   In addition to a practice that focuses on real estate and closely-held businesses, Jim oversees the firm’s technology, keeping on top of the latest and greatest. Practical by nature, he strives to get the most out of the firm’s existing software and equipment. His thinking outside-of-the typical law firm box has lead to some creative and innovative processes, the latest of which is a push to reduce the volume of paper we generate and store. Jim will present the firm’s road to the creation of a policy on electronic file storage of client files, discuss procedures that were established and share a practical analysis of the “project’s success”.

Steven Sorenson is a senior partner in Sorenson Law Office with offices in Ripon and Berlin Wisconsin. He received his undergraduate degree from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa and his law degree from Marquette University.  Sorenson has served in many capacities with the State Bar, chairing several of the State Bar Standing Committees, including the Finance, Communications, Convention and Entertainment Committees.  Sorenson served as President of the State Bar of Wisconsin (1997-1998). Sorenson is also a member of the National Conference of Bar Presidents, where he served as a member of the Executive Council and Chair of the Communications Committee and member of the Finance Committee. He is also a member of the House of Delegates of the American Bar Association.

Sandy Swartzberg is an attorney at the DeWitt Ross & Stevens in their Metro Milwaukee Office in Brookfield. He focuses his law practice on closely held businesses and all issues related to family-owned enterprises. He is skilled in mergers and acquisitions, business structures, and business agreements of all kinds.

A former court commissioner for Milwaukee County, Mr. Swartzberg is a barrister in the American Inns of Court Leander Foley chapter, and a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin sections on family law and corporate law. Mr. Swartzberg's acumen includes serving as general counsel for a national trades association, and as a director of four for-profit businesses and three nonprofit businesses. These activities reflect his dedication, not only to being a better lawyer, but also a better advisor to businesses. His goal is to keep businesses working in harmony and earning money, as well as to keep them out of disputes.

Mr. Swartzberg's passion for business may be, in part, due to a genetic code. He comes from generations of successful businessmen. His grandfather won the first million dollar verdict awarded in New York; an uncle was the founder of Dorsay perfume company and the Lincoln Center. Born in New York City, at age 10 he moved with his family to India where he learned the local dialect (as well as how to deliver a baby in a cab). Eventually, he found his way to Madison where he graduated from college with top honors.

Tom Sweet is the Investment Specialist with New England Financial, The Wisconsin Group, with 29 years of experience. Tom has been a Leaders Conference Qualifier as well as New England Financial's Inner Circle Award-winner from 1999-2006. He is also a frequent continuing education speaker within his industry and also holds a real estate license. His designations include CLU (Chartered Life Underwriter) ChFC (Chartered Financial Consultant).

Christine Harris Taylor, is one of the first attorneys in Wisconsin to hold an advanced law degree in dispute resolution. She earned her LL.M. degree in Dispute Resolution from the University of Missouri - Columbia in 2003. In addition to her private mediation and arbitration practice, Harris Taylor holds appointments at Marquette University as assistant director in the Center for Dispute Resolution Education and as an assistant adjunct professor in the MU graduate program for Dispute Resolution, teaching mediation, family mediation and arbitration. Harris Taylor also serves as a facilitator and trainer for other mediators throughout the U.S. 

Robert Teuber is an associate attorney in the Milwaukee office of Weiss Berzowski Brady LLP where his practice focuses on tax disputes and controversies, tax and business planning and commercial litigation.

Mr. Teuber resolves IRS and Wisconsin tax audits, litigates tax disputes and handles tax collections issues, personal liability assessments and Offers in Compromise. In his business planning practice, he analyzes tax and economic considerations for new and existing businesses, structures transactions and prepares agreements for a variety of business deals. His experience in commercial litigation includes negotiating disputes and out-of-court settlements and representing clients in court.

Mr. Teuber is a graduate of Marquette University’s Accounting Program (B.S., 1997) and Marquette University Law School (J.D., magna cum laude, 2000). He was a member of the Marquette Law Review and the National Moot Court team and was a recipient of the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in both Contract Law and Tax Practice and Procedure.

Mr. Teuber, a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin and the Milwaukee Bar Association, is a frequent speaker at conferences and continuing education seminars. He has also written a number of articles on complex tax and business issues for clients and professionals in the Wisconsin Accountant and other periodicals.

Wade Ullsperger, of New England Financial, The Wisconsin Group, has 6 years of experience advising individuals, families and businesses. He advises in many areas ranging from wealth accumulation strategies, insurance and risk management, business continuation, to estate planning.  Wade has been honored with the Most Valuable New Associate and Star Producer at NEF awards in 2003 and 2002 respectively.

Dr. Greg Van Rybroek is currently Director of the Mendota Mental Health Institute in Madison. In addition, he is an active member of the State Bar. Dr. Van Rybroek received his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the UW-Madison and his J.D. degree from the UW-Madison Law School. He is a lecturer at the UW Law School, Adjunct Associate Professor in the UW-Madison Department of Psychology, and Clinical Instructor in Psychology in the UW-Madison Department of Psychiatry, and Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, specializing in psycho-legal issues.  Dr. Van Rybroek has authored multiple articles on clinical-legal topic areas, and frequently presents at state and national conferences.  In his capacity as a licensed psychologist, he carries out private forensic assessments for the courts and attorneys.

Jascha Beck Walter is an associate attorney at DeWitt Ross & Stevens in their Metro Milwaukee Office in Brookfield working on matters of mergers and acquisitions, business formation and operation, and intellectual property rights. Before beginning his practice at DeWitt Ross & Stevens, Mr. Walter worked as a tax consultant for a global accounting firm and as a stock broker for a national firm. Additionally, Mr. Walter is often sought as a lecturer on topics of corporate law, intellectual property licensing, and taxation.

Mr. Walter is a member of the American Bar Association sections of business, intellectual property and taxation. Active in the local community, Mr. Walter has served as president of the Rotary Club of Mitchell Field, and currently serves as president of the Rotary Club of Mitchell Field Charitable Foundation. Mr. Walter serves on the boards of directors of several non-profit groups, including the Bay View Community Center, the Wisconsin chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America--for which he also serves as legal advisor--and the Professional Learning Institute's School Governance Council.

Mr. Walter spent one semester at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, before earning a law degree from Marquette University.

Thomas J. Watson is Senior Vice President and Director of Marketing and Communications at Wisconsin Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company.  He is a 1981 Marquette University graduate with a degree in Journalism and Broadcast Communications, and a 2002 graduate of Marquette University Law School. He was in private practice in Madison, focusing primarily on Family Law, before joining Wisconsin Lawyers Mutual. Tom is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin and the Dane County Bar Association. He is also a member of the State Bar's Communications Committee. Tom worked in radio news and public relations prior to attending law school.