News

Michael Best is pleased to announce eight attorneys have been promoted to the Firm’s partnership. The newly named partners are as follows: Louise Arnott, Daniel R. Borchert, Holly E. Courtney, Mark A. Lotito, Elizabeth A. Prendergast, Jared D. Riedl, Serene R. Sahar and Elias R. Swanson.

Louise Arnott, Intellectual Property, Chicago
Arnott focuses her practice on all aspects of brand protection including trademark, copyright, advertising, and Internet law. Arnott manages global trademark portfolios and counsels clients on trademark clearance, prosecution, maintenance, and enforcement, including opposition and cancellation proceedings before the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. She has particular expertise with respect to trade dress protection and enforcement. Arnott counsels clients on copyright registration and enforcement and handles transactions and agreements which implicate intellectual property. She also assists with intellectual property due diligence in corporate transactions and handles domain name disputes, online takedowns, social media management, and marketplace enforcement for her clients. 

Daniel R. Borchert, Tax, Denver
Borchert advises clients on a variety of domestic and international tax matters. He represents public and private companies in many industries including technology, manufacturing, life sciences, energy, insurance, and more. He has experience counseling clients with regard to mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, joint ventures and leveraged buyouts, investment funds, private equity investments, securities offerings, representation and warranty insurance products, tax controversies, and state and local tax matters.

Holly E. Courtney, Labor & Employment Relations, Madison
Courtney concentrates her practice on labor and employment disputes and counsel. As a litigator, she mounts forceful and persuasive defenses before federal and state courts and administrative agencies on behalf of employers. As an advisor, she helps management develop and maintain compliant employee policies.

Mark A. Lotito, Ph.D., Labor & Employment Relations, Milwaukee
Lotito assists clients in a range of employee benefits matters, including legal compliance, transaction due diligence, and executive compensation. He brings a multifaceted, big picture outlook to helping clients unravel the challenges of complex benefits-related problems. He has also established a strong track record in achieving successful outcomes for clients confronted by employee benefits litigation and arbitration claims.

Elizabeth A. Prendergast, Corporate, Broomfield
Prendergast is a seasoned corporate attorney with a passion for social impact. She guides nonprofit organizations of all shapes and sizes in navigating complex tax, governance, and regulatory matters. She also helps mission-driven companies successfully reach their business goals through positive social change.

Jared D. Riedl, Intellectual Property, Milwaukee
Riedl brings both technical training as an electrical engineer and a broad range of experience in prosecuting patents related to the electrical and computer sciences to his practice. Clients benefit from his unique perspective and informed guidance on matters relating to the successful prosecution and defense of their patents.

Serene R. Sahar, Intellectual Property, Milwaukee
Sahar concentrates her patent practice on prosecution, clearance, and validity opinions for mechanical, electrical, and medical technologies. She represents clients spanning a range of industries, including manufacturing, construction, mining, healthcare, and nuclear technology. She has significant experience with products such as power tools, industrial equipment, medical devices, imaging technologies, office furniture, and chemical and nuclear systems, as well as control systems and other automated systems and processes.

Elias R. Swanson, Intellectual Property, Madison
Swanson assists clients with navigating complex patent landscapes and developing strategic patent portfolios in the United States and abroad. He provides freedom to operate, patentability, and validity analysis, working closely with clients during the development of new products. Swanson also has experience preparing and prosecuting utility and design patent applications in several technology areas including mechanical, electrochemical, manufacturing systems, control systems, medical devices, agricultural equipment, renewable energy, and consumer products. With years of experience in engineering and manufacturing management roles prior to his legal career, Swanson understands the business needs of his clients, and responsively develops strategic, value-added legal solutions.