Our Team
Meet the great personalities of our family law team.
Christopher Krimmer
Partner
Christopher has practiced law for over 28 years and exclusively in family law for over 20 years. He is greatly respected throughout the state and have received numerous awards and recognitions for his work in family law.
Kimberly Ripp
Partner
Kim has practiced family law for over 24 years, with an emphasis on mediation and collaborative divorce. A conflict resolution specialist, Kim is passionate about alternative dispute resolution options that avoid the emotional and financial costs of litigation.
Adam Onkels
Attorney
Adam enjoys family law practice because it provides him with the opportunity to affect most directly the quality of life of his clients. In family practice, attorneys address highly personal issues that affect their clients’ daily living.
Elizabeth McInerny
Attorney
Elizabeth McInerny loves being a lawyer. She earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Literature from Marquette University in 2012 (magna cum laude) and earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 2015.
Courtney Steffens
Attorney
A magna cum laude UW Law graduate with experience in corrections and family advocacy, Courtney brings a calm, supportive approach to divorce mediation—helping clients find personalized solutions with compassion and understanding.
Taylor Earing
Attorney
Taylor is a dedicated family law advocate with a summa cum laude sociology degree and a UW Law JD. She brings hands-on experience, compassion, and a collaborative approach to help clients navigate custody, guardianship, and complex family transitions.
Janice Wexler
Attorney
Janice Wexler is a highly respected attorney, not only by her clients but also by other divorce lawyers and judges. During her 40-plus years as an attorney, she has made it her mission to make family law less adversarial and more family-oriented.
Nanette L. Karls
Attorney
Nanette is a trusted attorney who believes clients deserve clear guidance, open communication, and honest advice every step of the way. She takes the time to answer questions, explain the legal process, and provide straightforward insight so clients always understand where their case stands.
Brandon Pope
Attorney
Brandon is a dedicated advocate committed to serving his communities. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater before earning his J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Wisconsin Journal of Law, Gender & Society.
Cody Smalley
Paralegal
Cody is a Paralegal who supports the attorneys of our firm. Cody brings years of experience as a paralegal to the firm and assists our clients with many important aspects of their cases.
Kristy Finch
Legal Assistant
Kristy is a dedicated Legal Assistant with a passion for delivering exceptional client service and administrative support.
Jennifer Recob
Legal Assistant
Jen is recognized for her attention to detail and organization skills. She is motivated by helping others and is client focused.
Carmen Kubly
Director of Operations
Carmen is responsible for the firm’s accounting, facilitates information regarding office technologies, oversees marketing, and assists in overall business development and professional collaborations.
Diane Fremgen
Human Resources Manager
Diane is recognized for her reliability, problem-solving abilities, and positive attitude. She is motivated by helping others succeed and takes pride in delivering high-quality outcomes.
Angela Bakke
Attorney
Angela has practiced law for over 12 years, specializing in bankruptcy and family law for her entire career and utilizing her extensive experience to help clients navigate through these difficult legal areas when they intersect. She practices from the firm’s Sun Prairie office. Prior to joining Forward Legal Services, Angela operated her own law firm in Sun Prairie for 7 years.
Ashley Bakke
Paralegal
Ashley joined Forward Legal Services, LLC as a family law paralegal with over 10 years of experience. She is a driven paralegal with experience in successfully supporting and managing caseloads for multiple attorneys.
Our Downtown Madison Team
Emily Semenas
Formerly Emily Cunningham
Attorney
Emily is passionate about families, conflict resolution, and effective communication. She brings her diverse legal background to her family law practice making her approach to each case unique to the needs of her client and their families.
Jade Proctor
Attorney
Jade is dedicated to reaching outcomes that help support children and their families. A summa cum laude Edgewood University graduate and a UW Law JD, she brings her passion for justice to every situation.
Jessa Stecker
Paralegal
Jessa joined Forward Legal in January 2025, bringing experience in estate and civil law. A UW alumna and Fulbright grantee, she’s detail-oriented, multilingual, and dedicated to client communication.
