Law Firm News

Anderson O'Brien is pleased to announce Richard H. Fuller as the firm's newest partner. Rich joined the firm as an associate in 2003. Prior to that time, he practiced law in the Milwaukee and Waukesha area for over ten years. His areas of practice include civil litigation, insurance defense, product liability, personal injury, and labor and employment law. Rich utilizes his litigation skills to aggressively fight for his clients' rights and obtain optimal results for them.

Rich graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from UW-Madison with distinction. He then went on to graduate with honors from Marquette University Law School. After graduation he clerked for the United States Federal Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

Rich is currently Chairman of the Board of Directors of the North Central Wisconsin Regional Chapter of the American Red Cross.  He also serves on the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Institutional Review Board and on the Board of Directors for the Portage County Child Passenger Safety Association, Inc.

Rich and his wife, Julie, reside in Stevens Point with their daughter, Brianna.

Attorneys Gerald O'Brien, Russell Golla and Ronald Skrenes have been selected for inclusion on the 2011 Wisconsin Super Lawyers list. Attorneys O'Brien and Golla were also named Wisconsin Super Lawyers in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. Wisconsin Super Lawyers is an annual listing of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Only 5% of all active attorneys (both public and private) comprise this prestigious list. Gerald O'Brien, Russell Golla and Ronald Skrenes were chosen as candidates by their peers and were selected by Law & Politics as Wisconsin Super Lawyers. Law & Politics is a legal publisher which uses a system of balloting, peer evaluation and internal research to select qualified candidates. More than 11,000 ballots were mailed to Wisconsin lawyers who have been in practice for at least five years. Lawyers were asked to nominate the best attorneys they have personally observed in action.

In addition to being named "Wisconsin Super Lawyers," all three attorneys have received an AV Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell. An AV certification mark is a significant rating accomplishment - a testament to the fact that a lawyer's peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence. A lawyer must be admitted to the Bar for 10 years or more to receive an AV rating. The Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings service, which evaluates lawyers and law firms in the United States and Canada, is based on the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and Judiciary, including both those who are rated and those who are not.

Mr. O'Brien and Mr. Golla are also Board Certified as Civil Trial Specialists by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Attorneys who are Board Certified have passed rigorous tests and have demonstrated substantial experience in the courts.

Mr. Skrenes is one of only twelve attorneys in Wisconsin who have achieved the Estate Planning Law Specialist designation. He is the only attorney in Wisconsin who simultaneously holds designations/certifications as an (1) Attorney, (2) Certified Public Accountant, (3) Accredited Estate Planner, (4) Certified Financial Planner and (5) Estate Planning Law Specialist. Consumers' Research Council of America has also listed him in its guide as one of America's top financial planners. Consumers' Research Council of America, a Washington, D.C. based research organization, provides consumers' information guides for professional services throughout America.

We are pleased to annouce that Brent W. Jacobson recently joined our firm as an associate. Raised in Mosinee, Wisconsin, Brent is a graduate of Mosinee High School. He went on to graduate with honors from Saint Cloud State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management. Brent completed his legal education at West Virginia University, where he graduated at the top of his class in 2009. After law school, Brent practiced in Pennsylvania as a commercial litigator. He is a member of the Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia Bar Associations, as well as the local Portage County and Marathon County Bar Associations.

Brent enjoys golfing, fishing, reading, and studying Italian. He feels that the greatest enjoyment from practicing law comes from helping a variety of clients find the best possible solution to resolving their legal matters. He is committed to working closely with clients to ensure that their goals are developed into an effective litigation strategy.

Attorney Amy J. Eddy has received the designation of Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) from the National Elder Law Foundation. The National Elder Law Foundation, which is the only organization approved by the American Bar Association to offer certification in the elder law area, has developed a certification program for Elder Law Attorneys to identify those lawyers who have the enhanced knowledge, skills, experience, and proficiency to be properly identified to the public as Certified Elder Law Attorneys. To obtain certification, an attorney must have significant practice experience in elder law, pass a rigorous full day examination, and receive references from their other attorneys who are familiar with their practice.

Attorneys certified in elder law have the experience to recognize the unique issues of concern that arise during counseling and representation of aging and disabled persons and their families. Elder law involves representation and advice with respect to health and long-term care planning, public benefits, legal capacity, guardianship, estate planning and estate settlements, and dealing with cases of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of older persons.

Attorney Eddy is one of only 13 attorneys in Wisconsin to have achieved this designation. She earned her law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 2000.

Attorney Maurice G. Rice, Jr. was presented with the 2011 John Klismet Justiceworks Award on January 17, 2011 at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Community Celebration. The award is presented by Justiceworks, Ltd. in recognition of an individual's contribution to the justice system and honor volunteers whose efforts advance programs and practices of justice that secure right relationships within communities. Over the span of his career as an attorney, Maury Rice gave free legal assistance to those in need and obtained funding to support pro bono services in Portage County through his work with the Portage County Legal Aid Society. In addition to his volunteer work as present and past board member of the Portage County Legal Aid Society, Maury has also served as an elected official and board member for the Wisconsin Disability Rights organization and is a current member of the United States Power Squadron, a non-profit boating education organization.