Godfrey and Kahn, S.C.: Elects eight new shareholders

For more information, contact:

Emily Muehl
414.287.9485
emuehl@gklaw.com

Godfrey & Kahn, S.C. elects eight new shareholders

MILWAUKEE (Feb. 3, 2015) – Godfrey & Kahn, S.C. is pleased to announce the election of Jeffrey S. Billings, Jennifer L. Gregor, Margaret R. Kurlinski, Jason E. Kuwayama, John R. McDonald, Laura H. Meronk, Andy S. Oettinger and Jed A. Roher as the firm’s newest shareholders, effective immediately.

Billings is a shareholder in the firm’s Estate Planning and Estate & Trust Administration Practice Groups. His practice is concentrated in the areas of estate and gift tax planning, business succession planning, fiduciary income taxation, charitable giving and private foundation work, probate, estate and trust administration, retirement benefit and life insurance planning, the negotiation of prenuptial and marital property agreements, and same-sex planning. Billings received his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Michigan Law School and earned his bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude, from Lawrence University.

Gregor is a shareholder in the firm’s Intellectual Property and Litigation Practice Groups, and is the co-chair of the firm’s Intellectual Property Litigation Working Group. She is a registered patent attorney who assists clients with all aspects of intellectual property, including procurement, clearance, and enforcement. She regularly counsels clients regarding the management of intellectual property assets, including patent and trademark prosecution, managing domestic and international patent and trademark portfolios, and agreements relating to intellectual property. She is experienced in advertising law, contests and promotions, product clearance, domain name matters, and internet issues. Gregor received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and her J.D., summa cum laude, from DePaul University School of Law.

Kurlinski is a shareholder in Godfrey & Kahn’s Labor and Employment Practice Group. She assists clients with a variety of labor and employment matters, including the management of day-to-day employment matters, drafting and enforcing restrictive covenant agreements, administering family and medical leave laws, litigating federal and state discrimination claims, conducting unlawful harassment investigations, and drafting affirmative action plans. Kurlinski received her J.D., with honors, from Washington University School of Law and earned her bachelor’s, cum laude, from Truman State University.

Kuwayama is a shareholder in the Banking & Financial Institutions Practice Group. He focuses his practice on bank mergers and acquisitions, asset purchases and sales, bank regulation and compliance, and general securities matters. Kuwayama received his J.D. from Marquette University Law School and earned his bachelor’s degree, with honors, from Northwestern University.

McDonald is a shareholder in Godfrey & Kahn’s Corporate Practice Group and co-chair of the Emerging Companies Practice Group. He counsels clients on all stages of a business, from formation, financing and capitalization to exit strategies. A significant portion of his practice is in the area of mergers, acquisitions and other business combinations, including structuring, negotiating and financing acquisitions and dispositions of companies of all sizes. In his emerging company work, McDonald regularly advises early stage companies and venture capital funds in connection with both capital and debt financings. He received his J.D., with honors, from George Washington University National Law Center and earned his bachelor’s degree, cum laude, from hope College.

Meronk is a shareholder in Godfrey and Kahn’s Corporate and Real Estate Practice Groups in. She advises business clients from a variety of industries, including manufacturers, real estate developers, financial institutions and commercial property owners. In addition, Meronk regularly assists in the representation of borrowers and lenders in commercial loan transactions. She earned her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Minnesota Law School and received her bachelor’s degree from the St. Olaf College.

Oettinger is a shareholder in firm’s the Litigation Practice Group. He represents clients in a variety of business disputes, with a focus on the enforcement of creditors’ rights, distressed debt and workouts, real estate litigation, business torts, and financial services. Oettinger received his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Wisconsin Law School and earned his bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude, from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire.

Roher is a shareholder in the Tax & Employee Benefits and Corporate Practice Groups and is co-chair of the Emerging Companies Practice Group. He focuses his practice on helping his business clients achieve their financing, growth and exit objectives in a pragmatic and efficient manner. On the tax side, Roher serves clients in a number of roles. His tax experience allows him to help clients understand – and structure transactions to achieve or avoid – the tax ramifications of specific transactions, including financing transactions, equity rollovers and taxable and tax-free acquisitions and exits. His corporate experience allows him to also step into much broader capacities, ranging from general counsel to the negotiation and implementation of licensing, financing and acquisition documents. Roher received his J.D., magna cum laude, from New York University Law School and earned his bachelor’s degree, manga cum laude, Yale University.

With more than 180 lawyers, Godfrey & Kahn, S.C. is one of Wisconsin’s leading business law firms. Founded in 1957, Godfrey & Kahn maintains offices in Milwaukee, Madison, Appleton, Green Bay and Waukesha, Wis.; and Washington, DC. For more information, please visit the firm’s website at www.gklaw.com.