Lindner & Marsack, S.C. proudly announces that seven of its attorneys have been acknowledged as 2016 Super Lawyers or Rising Stars by Super Lawyers Magazine.  “We appreciate the support of the legal community and our clients in acknowledging the quality of the legal services we provide,” said Thomas W. Mackenzie, President of the firm.  He added, “the Super Lawyers designation is a way to recognize the accomplishments of attorneys who work hard every day to find solutions to the problems confronting employers.  We have a great team.”

The individual attorneys recognized as Super Lawyers in 2016 included Douglas Feldman, Daniel Finerty, Thomas Mackenzie, Gary Marsack, Jonathan Swain and Oyvind Wistrom.  The list of Rising Stars (under 40 years old or less than ten years of practice) included Chelsie Springstead.

Lindner & Marsack, S.C., one of the region’s most respected and longstanding management-side labor and employment law firms, today announced Joseph Birdsall as the newest associate to join their growing team of leading labor and employment attorneys.

Birdsall defends clients against worker’s compensation claims, advises clients of exposure reduction strategies and keeps clients informed of Wisconsin worker’s compensation law developments. He has particular experience in handling subrogation issues, unreasonable refusal to rehire claims and safety violation claims.

“Joe’s experience across the spectrum of labor and employment law, and especially in the area of worker’s compensation, is a valuable asset for our clients as we help them navigate complex workplace legal challenges,” says Lindner & Marsack Firm President Thomas Mackenzie.

Birdsall received his Juris Doctor from Marquette University Law School in 2013 with certifications in Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution. While in law school, Birdsall served on the Moot Court Executive Board, received the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Negotiations and interned for The Honorable Kitty K. Brennan, Wisconsin Court of Appeals District I. Prior to joining Lindner & Marsack, Birdsall practiced worker’s compensation defense at a large Milwaukee-based law firm. He is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin, the American Bar Association, the Milwaukee Bar Association and the Wisconsin Association of Worker’s Compensation Attorneys.

“There are continually new issues, new regulations and new laws that expose employers to all sorts of potential risks,” says Birdsall. “My goal is to stay on the cutting edge of workplace legal developments to ensure my clients are informed, protected and, ultimately, successful.”

Lindner & Marsack, S.C., one of the region’s most respected and long-standing management-side labor and employment law firms, today announced Sally Piefer as the newest addition to the firm’s growing team of leading labor and employment attorneys. Piefer specializes broadly in all aspects of employment law.

Our number one job is to help employers navigate workplace legal challenges and find the best path to success and stability, and Sally has a proven track record of success in doing just that,” says Lindner & Marsack Firm President Thomas Mackenzie.

Before joining Lindner & Marsack, Piefer served as a Shareholder with the Waukesha-based The Schroeder Group, S.C. from 1998 until spring of this year. She has represented employers in all types of legal matters including employment discrimination; non-competition and trade secret misappropriation; employee theft; harassment; retaliation; wage and hour issues; ADA and accommodation issues; and FMLA and OSHA matters. She has litigated employment cases before state and federal courts and in administrative agencies, and also guided clients through compliance issues including employee handbooks and contracts, human resources audits, I-9 audit compliance, WARN/plant closing compliance, and internal investigations.

“Reducing risk to employers is always my main goal,” says Piefer. “I take pride in working with clients to develop and implement solutions that are proactive, practical and legally sound.”

Lindner & Marsack, S.C., one of the region’s most respected and longstanding management-side labor and employment law firms, announced that three attorneys – Daniel Finerty, Chelsie Springstead and Melissa Stone – will join the Firm’s leadership as partners. In addition, Jerilyn Jacobs joins the Firm as a partner. At the same time, pursuant to its long-term succession plan, Thomas Mackenzie has assumed the duties of President of the Firm.

Mackenzie, who has been with the Firm since 1980 and a shareholder since 1985, succeeds Jonathan Swain who has served as President of the Firm since 2007. Swain will continue to serve on the Firm’s leadership team and will be devoting his efforts to serving the Firm’s clients on full-time basis.

“Every law firm needs to constantly adapt to the changing legal landscape and in recognition of this fact we long ago recognized that we needed to develop a succession plan that will continue to guarantee the success we have enjoyed for more than 100 years,” says Swain. “Tom is not only an exceptional lawyer but he is a great leader and cutting edge thinker. It has been an honor to lead this Firm and I am proud to say that the Firm is in good hands going forward.”

Mackenzie is committed to carrying forth the Firm’s long-standing commitment to unparalleled client service, and is looking forward to doing so with the expanded leadership team. “Employers today face a broad and complex scope of legal challenges and considerations,” says Mackenzie. “Our job is to help clients navigate the challenges and find the best path to success. Dan, Chelsie and Melissa, along with the rest of our team and now with the addition of Jerilyn, have a proven record of success in helping clients reach their goals while assessing costs and managing risks along the way.”

Finerty joined Lindner & Marsack, S.C. in 2012 and works with clients to aggressively defend discrimination, retaliation and harassment claims as well as health care retaliation claims under Wisconsin’s Health Care Worker Protection Act and other employment litigation matters. He represents clients in federal, state and tribal and appellate courts as well as in various regulatory agencies such as the Department of Workforce Development’s Equal Rights and Unemployment Insurance Divisions, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the U.S. Department of Labor. Finerty is AV Rated by Martindale Hubbell in Labor and Employment Law, has been recognized with a ‘First Tier’ ranking by Best Lawyers and U.S. News & World Report in the area of Appellate Practice and was selected for inclusion among Wisconsin’s Super Lawyers in 2014 and 2015 and among Rising Stars five times in Employment Litigation – Defense.

Springstead joined Lindner & Marsack, S.C. in 2009. Her practice focuses on worker’s compensation defense, employment defense, subrogation, and Medicare-related issues. Springstead is a frequent speaker and lecturer on worker’s compensation, labor and employment law, and Medicare-related topics, and also provides training to employers and insurance carriers in these areas. She has been recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers each year since 2013.

Stone joined Lindner & Marsack, S.C. in 2012, but has been exclusively practicing worker’s compensation defense and § 102.29 Wis. Stats. subrogation for nearly a decade. In her practice, she represents insurance carriers and self-insured employers, providing legal guidance and counsel on highly complex fact and legal issues as well as establishing action plans for case investigation and litigation through hearings and appeals. Stone is a frequent lecturer and presenter on worker’s compensation law topics in Wisconsin.

Springstead and Stone are both members of Lindner & Marsack’s highly regarded worker’s compensation defense team, which received a ‘first tier’ ranking by U.S. News & World Report.

Lastly, Lindner & Marsack is welcoming Jerilyn Jacobs as the Firm’s newest partner. With an extensive background in employment related litigation, Jacobs is a 1998 graduate of Cornell Law School and had previously been with the Gonzalez Saggio & Harlan firm since 2005. Her practice focuses on defending employers in discrimination, harassment, tort, and contract lawsuits before federal and state courts and administrative agencies and counseling employers on complex day-to-day issues, compliance with federal, state and local laws, and best practices. Jacobs also defends plan administrators, insurers, and employers in ERISA litigation matters in federal court.