Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek: Names Melinda Giftos managing shareholder of Madison office

For more information contact:

Peggy Schicantek (414) 978-5346

pschicantek@whdlaw.com

Giftos Becomes First Woman Appointed to the Position

MILWAUKEE – May 6, 2015 – The law firm of Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C. is pleased to announce that Melinda (Mindi) Giftos has been named Managing Shareholder of the firm’s Madison office, which was founded in 1985. She is the first woman and only the second attorney to be appointed to this position. In this role, Giftos will ensure the alignment of the regional office to the overall practices, procedures and strategy of the firm, with an emphasis on strategic hiring, business development and other growth initiatives. She also will ensure effective communication and collaboration between all regional office locations.

A talented leader and attorney who serves on the Board of Directors of the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Intellectual Property and Technology Law Section, Giftos, who has been with WHD for seven years, is also the firm’s Technology Law Team leader and a key member of the Intellectual Property Practice Group. She represents clients in a wide array of industries with complex intellectual property (IP) and information technology matters, including copyright and trademark infringement, licensing and sale of IP assets, and preparing and negotiating complex technology transactions, such as open source software and software-as-a-service license agreements. Giftos is skilled at presenting and writing about pertinent IP and IT topics.

Giftos received her J.D., with honors, from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, and her B.S. from Florida State University. Giftos was named a “Rising Star” by Wisconsin Super Lawyers in 2013. She is Chair of the Board of Directors, a founding site liaison and active coach for Girls on the Run of Dane County, a positive youth development program which encourages young girls to become self-confident, involved, and healthy leaders. Giftos provides volunteer pro bono legal services for students facing expulsion in the Madison Metropolitan School District through the Dane County Bar Association’s new StEPP (Student Expulsion Prevention Project) program. She also provides pro bono representation to a number of veterans and nonprofit organizations that support members of the U.S. military and veterans.

“WHD is pleased to promote Mindi to the role of Managing Shareholder of our Madison office,” said Paul Eberle, WHD’s chief executive. “We are excited to see her bring her unique talents to this important role. Mindi listens to and understands people well. These skills serve her well when working with our clients and they will be very helpful as she moves into this leadership role at WHD.”

Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C., one of Wisconsin’s leading full-service law firms, plays a significant role in shaping political, economic, environmental and legal landscapes. With offices in Milwaukee, Madison and Waukesha County, Wis., and Chicago, the firm has more than 150 professionals practicing in more than 50 industry and specialty areas. WHD is committed to delivering exceptional service and innovative, practical solutions to state, regional and national clients.