Three Quarles & Brady Employees Receive Wisconsin Law Journal’s Unsung Heroes Awards

Award Honors Attorney Support Staff

MILWAUKEE, Wis.— The national law firm of Quarles & Brady LLP today announced that legal secretaries Staci Jensen and Kathryn Kirk, along with paralegal Kateri Knous, have received Wisconsin Law Journal Unsung Heroes Awards.

The Unsung Heroes Awards honor the support staff for local attorneys who work hard behind the scenes and play a significant role in contributing to the success of law firms.

Kirk has received recognition for her work with pro-bono efforts in the Quarles & Brady Madison office. She played an essential role in start-up and now ongoing service with partner Leah McNeely who began the firm’s new Legal Intervention for Nonviolence Clinic (LINC). LINC works with Madison’s Domestic Abuse Intervention Services (DAIS) to provide victims of domestic violence with brief legal advice, information, and referrals on a wide range of legal matters.

Jensen was also recognized for her assistance with pro-bono efforts in the Madison office of Quarles & Brady. Jensen collaborates with attorney Emily Feinstein on a pro-bono injunction program that works with DAIS to link victims of domestic abuse with an attorney who will represent them during their hearing. She also helps with the firm’s legal guardianship program, which works with the Dane County Department of Human Services to connect low-income, mentally-challenged adults with guardians to watch out for them.

Kateri Knous won Paralegal of the Year. She’s been with the Quarles & Brady Immigration Practice Group since 2003. She recently spearheaded the effort to find a new client database and workflow system for the group, which has helped attorneys serve clients more efficiently since implementation. Knous is known for providing excellent client service and possessing a strong expertise in immigration law.

The three were honored during a ceremony on Thursday, December 1, at the Grain Exchange Ballroom in Milwaukee.