MILWAUKEE – Jerome M. Janzer, CEO of Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c. (Reinhart), announced that Kate E. Maternowski was named Reinhart Pro Bono Attorney of the Year for 2013. Maternowski was honored during a luncheon at Reinhart’s Milwaukee office in February.
Maternowski is an attorney in Reinhart’s Litigation department. She practices in the area of commercial litigation and her experience includes co-chairing a federal jury trial before the District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. Maternowski has written and presented on various topics related to commercial litigation with a special emphasis on media law issues. Her work includes presentations and publications on Wisconsin defamation law, obtaining and admitting social media evidence in civil litigation, and hot topics in First Amendment law concerning online and commercial speech.
Maternowski was selected as Pro Bono Attorney of the Year for her work on a federal jury trial where she represented a prisoner bringing a claim for sexual abuse against a correctional officer. The first trial resulted in a mistrial. Days before the case was set to go to a retrial, Maternowski was able to successfully mediate the case to resolution before a federal magistrate judge.
“I am honored to receive this award because I am just one of many Reinhart lawyers who devote time and energy to assist people with pro bono legal needs,” noted Maternowski. “The appreciation I received from the victim had an incredible impact on me. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to make a difference, especially for someone whose voice might not otherwise have been heard.”
In 2009, Reinhart initiated its Pro Bono Attorney of the Year award program. The award is presented annually to recognize the exceptional efforts of attorneys within the firm who demonstrate a long-standing and devoted commitment to pro bono work.
“Giving back to the communities where we live and work is very important to Reinhart,” Janzer remarked. “Kate’s dedication and efforts in this case were extraordinary. Her initiative serves as an excellent example for all attorneys.”
ABOUT REINHART BOERNER VAN DEUREN S.C.
Reinhart is a full-service, business-oriented law firm with offices in Milwaukee, Waukesha and Madison, Wisconsin; Rockford and Chicago, Illinois; Phoenix, Arizona; and Denver, Colorado. With more than 200 lawyers, the firm serves clients throughout the United States and internationally with a combination of legal advice, industry understanding and superior client service.
