1980s
Michelle Behnke ’88 was named among Wisconsin’s most influential Black leaders for 2024 by Madison 365. Behnke is an attorney at Boardman Clark, president-elect of the American Bar Association and serves on the University of Wisconsin Law School Board of Visitors and the University of Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association Board.
Tomislav Kuzmanovic ’88 was honored by the Association of Croatian American Professionals (ACAP) with the 2024 Professional Excellence Award in Law, Governance and Public Policy. This annual award recognizes an ACAP member who has excelled in their profession and made meaningful contributions to the Croatian-American community. Kuzmanovic was officially recognized at the ACAP Conference Gala in October in Las Vegas.
Kuzmanovic is the managing partner of Hinshaw’s Milwaukee office and has over 35 years of experience in U.S. and international litigation, including complex litigation, class actions, appellate matters and foreign and domestic investigations. He has made significant contributions to international human rights law, notably defending the Republic of Croatia in major cases. One of his most prominent victories was securing the acquittal of General Mladen Markač at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), a landmark win for Croatia.
Kuzmanovic also successfully represented Croatia and Croatia-related entities in high-profile cases, including the dismissal of a lawsuit against the Order of Friars Minor and favorable outcomes in
Kahvedzic v. Croatia and Lalich v. Croatia. For his efforts in supporting Croatia’s independence, he received the Order of the Croatian “Pleter” from President Franjo Tudjman and was honored by the City Council of Slavonski Brod for his assistance in its defense.
1990s
Cherylyn Harley LeBon ’91 was appointed as an independent board director for Waste Connections Inc. She is also an independent director at Copart Inc. and a partner at Womble Bond Dickinson LLP in Washington, D.C.
Richard Frohling ’96 was named acting U.S. Attorney for Wisconsin’s Eastern District. His predecessor was Gregory Haanstad ’00.
Jeff Kowieski ’96 received the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire President’s Award. Kowieski is a partner and general counsel for Wipfli LLP, one of the largest accounting firms in the U.S. Kowieski’s primary responsibilities at Wipfli include legal and risk management functions.
Kristine Cherek ’97 is the author of the Amazon bestseller, “Tread Loudly: Call Out the Bullsh*t and Fight for Equality in the Workplace.” Cherek sheds a light on the bias, gender disparity and inequities women still face in the workplace today. Over the past year, Cherek has traveled the country to speak at universities, professional organizations and companies ranging from NYSE-listed corporations to Silicon Valley startups about workplace culture and gender equity.
DeVona Wright Cottrell ’99 was named among Wisconsin’s most influential Black leaders for 2024 by Madison 365. She is chief legal officer and general counsel for global experiential agency GMR Marketing and the Omnicom Experiential Group (OEG) more broadly. She serves as the agency’s key corporate legal adviser, oversees the agency’s legal and risk management teams and acts as a partner to agency leadership.
2000s
Jane Lippman ’00 was appointed the first woman judge in the Town of Rye, New York, Justice Court. She will preside over mostly criminal matters.
Judge Kristela Cervera ’01 was named among Wisconsin’s most influential Latino leaders for 2024 by Madison 365. Cervera is a judge in the Milwaukee County Circuit Court, appointed by Gov. Tony Evers in 2021. Prior to her appointment, she presided for two years as an assistant family court commissioner in Milwaukee County. Before joining the court, she spent 14 years as legal counsel for the Milwaukee County Department of Child Support Services and was a court commissioner for the City of Milwaukee Municipal Court, the first Latina appointed to that position.
Double Badger Erin K. Holmes ’02 joined Knox Ricksen LLP as counsel. Holmes has spent her entire career representing clients in insurance litigation matters, including fraud, negligence, breach of contract and bad faith. Holmes is a member of the State Bar of Texas Insurance Law Section and the Travis County Women Lawyers’ Association. She was named a “Rising Star” by Texas Super Lawyers in 2017 and 2014.
Alon Stein ’02 and James Murphy Aguilu ’06 were appointed state court judges in Illinois in 2024. They preside over cases pending in the Circuit Court of Cook County in Chicago.
Stefani Buster ’06 joined the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research as the director of University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Research Security Program.
Husch Blackwell elected the following University of Wisconsin Law School alumni to its partnership: Melissa Williams ’07, Jake Remington ’10, Jacob Harris ’14, Brandon Stein ’15, Samantha Schacht ’16 and Joseph Diedrich ’17.
2010s
Michael Mohr ’10 works as an access consultant at the University of Wisconsin–Madison McBurney Disability Resource Center. Mohr helps more than 500 students a year get the accommodations and resources they need to succeed on campus.
Caroline E. Hecht ’11 joined David P. Buckley Jr. and Linda S. Fine as an equity partner of the firm Buckley Fine Law. In addition to Hecht’s talent and skills, she has proven to be a leader both within the firm and in the legal community. As chair of the firm’s Estate and Trust Administration practice group, she plays a critical role in managing complex trust administrations, estate tax matters and guardianships. She also serves as a guardian ad litem for the Lake County Circuit Court’s probate division and holds licenses in both Illinois and Wisconsin.
Jennifer Vandermeuse ’11 was appointed Chief Legal Counsel at the Wisconsin Department of Administration in February. She recently served as Assistant Attorney General and Criminal Appeals Unit Director for the Wisconsin Department of Justice.
Abosede Odunsi ’12 joined von Briesen & Roper s.c.’s Chicago office. As a shareholder in the Trusts and Estates Section, she focuses her practice on estate planning, tax planning, probate administration and guardianship matters.
Bryce Loken ’16 was elected Partner with Quarles & Brady LLP in the firm’s Madison office. Loken specializes in Intellectual Property litigation and related counseling for his clients in the consumer electronics and technology, computer and healthcare software, consumer and household goods, wireless communications, commercial manufacturing, clothing and apparel, and beverages and nutritional supplements industries.
Tomás Clasen ’18 was named among Wisconsin’s most influential Latino leaders for 2024 by Madison 365. Clasen is a commercial real estate attorney at Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c., where he advises clients on complex development projects in the Milwaukee area. He also mentors young Latino attorneys and law students, fostering diversity in the legal profession.
Patrick Franken ’19 joined Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice in Kansas City as an associate attorney. Franken’s practice focuses on business, construction and surety and fidelity law.
2020s
Jordan Vassel ’21 has joined Ogletree Deakins’ Minneapolis office as an associate.
Peter Rakke ’23 has moved to the Twin Cities in Minnesota and is starting work as an associate attorney at Brandt Kettwick Defense, where he will continue his career in criminal defense.
Gabrielle Struik ’24 has joined Foran Glennon as an associate. Struik concentrates her practice on general commercial litigation, leveraging experience in conducting complex legal research, drafting legal documents and preparing case files to support clients throughout all steps of litigation.
James A. Ryan ’24 joined Foster Swift as an associate attorney. Ryan joined the litigation practice group, focusing on commercial litigation, contracts, insurance law and defense, and no-fault litigation in the Southfield, Michigan office.
Badger Battalion Heritage Alumni Hall of Fame
Bucky Badger and Fort McCoy Garrison Deputy Commander Lt. Col. Mike Corkum are shown above, following an induction ceremony for the university’s Badger Battalion Heritage Alumni Hall of Fame in September 2024.
Corkum accepted the induction on behalf of Fort McCoy and former Army Maj. Gen. Robert Bruce McCoy (UW Law Class of 1891) for whom Fort McCoy is named. He was one of UW Law’s first student-athletes and excelled as a varsity baseball player while in law school. After graduation, he had a distinguished career as a military leader, judge, mayor and gubernatorial candidate.
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