Randall D. Crocker, President and CEO of von Briesen & Roper, s.c. (Wisconsin, USA), announced the firm added nine lawyers. von Briesen now has 129 lawyers in Wisconsin. Six of the new lawyers are joining the firm as Shareholders: Megan K. Heinzelman, Josh C. Kopp, Stephen R. Lundeen, Ann E. Rabe, Benjamin S. Stern, and Steven M. Szymanski. Joining the firm as Associates are Austin G. Dieter, Sarah A. Erdmann and Derek J. Waterstreet.
Megan K. Heinzelman joins the Business Practice Group as a Shareholder in the firm’s Milwaukee office. She advises clients on tax issues involved in mergers and acquisitions, succession planning, and entity formation and represents clients in disputes with the IRS and Wisconsin Department of Revenue. Heinzelman is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin and the Milwaukee and Ozaukee Bar Associations. She received an LL.M. in Taxation (2010) from Northwestern University School of Law, and both a J.D. (2008) and B.A. (2000) from Marquette University. She resides in Glendale, Wisconsin.
Josh C. Kopp joins the Business Practice Group as a Shareholder in the firm’s Madison office. Kopp has comprehensive experience in representing businesses and individuals in most all of their transactional and litigation matters. He also has extensive experience representing banks and finance companies in conjunction with non-performing accounts. Kopp is a member of the Wisconsin Land Title Association, the State Bar of Wisconsin and the Dane County and Columbia County Bar Associations. He received a J.D., with honors, (2002) from the University of Wisconsin and a B.S., magna cum laude, (1998) from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. He resides in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin.
Stephen R. Lundeen joins the Business Practice Group as a Shareholder in the firm’s Milwaukee office. He focuses his practice on handling matters for clients who are actively engaged in the global economy and he has extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions ranging from owner-operated companies to foreign businesses that acquired North American operations. He received a J.D., cum laude, (1978) from Northwestern University and a B.A., cum laude, (1969) from Washington University. He resides in Mequon.
Ann E. Rabe joins the Technology Law Section as a Shareholder in the firm’s Milwaukee office. Her practice focuses on advising clients on business and licensing strategies regarding intellectual property (IP), including information, software, cloud computing and technology issues; counseling and preparing opinions in IP matters; performing IP evaluations and audits; and conducting due diligence reviews for acquisitions. Rabe is a member of the American and Wisconsin Intellectual Property Associations, the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Wisconsin and the Milwaukee Bar Association. She received a J.D., cum laude, (2004) from the University of Wisconsin and a B.S., cum laude, (2000) from Viterbo University. She resides in Mequon, Wisconsin.
Benjamin S. Stern joins the Real Estate Group as a Shareholder in the firm’s Milwaukee office. Stern is a well-regarded mediator and arbitrator. His law practice is focused in the areas of lease negotiation, commercial, residential, and retail development as well as complex contract drafting and he has been named in Wisconsin Super Lawyers® in the area of real estate for more than a decade. Stern is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin and the Illinois Bar Association. He received a J.D. and a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin. He resides in Glendale, Wisconsin.
Steven S. Szymanski joins the Business Practice Group as a Shareholder in the firm’s Milwaukee office. Szymanski represents privately and publicly held clients in all aspects of their business needs, including corporate, finance, tax, real estate and mergers and acquisitions. He draws upon his background in tax, finance and the law to provide practical and effective solutions. He represents clients in a wide variety of industries, including, manufacturing, transportation, construction, distribution, technology, professional services, real estate, finance and banking. Szymanski is a member of the Independent Business Association of Wisconsin (IBAW), the Midwest Business Brokers and Intermediaries (MBBI), the Milwaukee Bar Association and the State Bar of Wisconsin. He received a J.D., an M.B.A. and a B.S. from Marquette University. He resides in Brookfield, Wisconsin.
Austin G. Dieter joined the Labor and Employment Law Section as an Associate in the firm’s Milwaukee office. His practice focuses on discrimination defense, FMLA defense, wage and hour defense, and general litigation avoidance strategies. Dieter is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Bar Association, and the State Bar of California. He received a J.D., cum laude, (2015) from the University of Wisconsin and a B.A. (2012) from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. He resides in Milwaukee.
Sarah A. Erdmann joins the Business Practice Group as an Associate in the firm’s Milwaukee office. Her practice focuses on general business and corporate matters. Erdmann is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin and the Milwaukee Bar Association. She received a J.D., cum laude, (2015) from Marquette University and a B.A. (2012) from the University of Wisconsin. She resides in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Derek J. Waterstreet joins the Litigation and Risk Management Practice Group as an Associate in the firm’s Milwaukee office. His practice focuses on general litigation matters, including both civil and criminal matters. Waterstreet is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Bar Association, and the Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association. He received a J.D., magna cum laude, (2015) from Marquette University and a B.A., summa cum laude, (2012) from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. He resides in Mequon, Wisconsin.
