For more information contact:
Peggy Schicantek (414) 978-5346
pschicantek@whdlaw.com
MADISON – June 30, 2015 – The law firm of Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C. (WHD) is pleased to announce that Melinda (Mindi) Giftos and Jeffrey L. Vercauteren have been named leaders of the firm’s Technology Law and Communications Law teams, respectively.
Giftos is the managing shareholder of WHD’s Madison office where she is also 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 (IT) 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. She is skilled at presenting and writing about pertinent IP and IT topics, and serves on the Board of Directors of the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Intellectual Property and Technology Law Section.
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 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.
Vercauteren is an attorney in WHD’s Madison office where he is also a member of the Real Estate Practice Group. His practice focuses on commercial real estate, communications law, energy & mining, government affairs, sustainability & renewable energy and technology law.
Vercauteren represents clients in all aspects of project development and financing—from conception through construction—including contract drafting and negotiation, entity formation, permitting, land use and due diligence review. He also advises clients on detailed and complex regulatory and government affairs issues, including matters before the Federal Communications Commission, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin and other state, county and municipal agencies, boards and committees.
Vercauteren received his J.D. cum laude, from the University of Notre Dame Law School, and his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin. He holds several leadership positions within the community, including board member of and Landmarks Ordinance Ad Hoc Committee chair for Downtown Madison, Inc., and president of and Policy Committee chair for Capitol Neighborhoods, Inc.
“We are pleased to bring Mindi and Jeff into these important leadership roles,” said WHD’s Chief Executive Paul Eberle. “Their broad ranges of experience and strong records of delivering client success will enable WHD to continue supporting an always-growing client roster and its technology and communications law needs.”
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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.
