SEYMOUR KREMER KOCH - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Member of the Wisconsin Bar Association
Ashley L. Renz joined Seymour Kremer Koch LLP in 2013 and became a partner in 2018. Her primary focus is on criminal defense, estate planning, family law, and bankruptcy. Ashley has successfully tried cases in various areas of the law winning verdicts received in both jury trials and bench trials along with winning several directed verdicts in criminal cases.
Ashley grew up in Delavan, Wisconsin where she attended St. Andrew Parish School and Delavan-Darien High School. In 2008 Ashley received her Bachelor of Arts Degrees in Criminal Justice and Sociology from Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri. Ashley then attended the University of Wisconsin Law School where she obtained her Juris Doctorate in May of 2011.
Ashley is a member of the Wisconsin Bar Association, American Bar Association, and Walworth County Bar Association. She is also licensed to practice in both the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin and the Northern District of Illinois.
David A. Rasmussen was born June 17, 1955 in the Town of Geneva, Walworth County, Wisconsin. He graduated from Big Foot High School in Walworth in 1973 and obtained a high school diploma from the National Guild of Piano Teachers the same year. He then attended the University of Wisconsin- Madison graduating in 1977 with a double major in Economics and Political Science and from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1980.
David began his law career in Walworth, Wisconsin in 1980 in the Rasmussen Law Offices and continued with the firm through its merger with Seymour Kremer Koch LLP in 2016. His practice has been concentrated in real estate, business and estate planning, and civil litigation. He continues to work at Seymour Kremer Koch LLP's Walworth office and is passing his litigation business to the Elkhorn office.
During his career he has also served as a bank director for 25 years and for 30 years was an elected official of the Village of Walworth including 10 years as President. He was also President of the Village of Walworth Business and Industrial Corporation and of the Fontana Walworth Water Pollution Control Commission.
His current avocations include playing classical and jazz piano, ice and roller hockey, gardening, golf, boating, and the banjo.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Member of the Wisconsin Bar Association
James B. Duquette became a partner at Seymour Kremer Koch LLP in 2013, after four years as an associate at the firm. His primary focus is family law, civil litigation, real estate, personal injury cases and municipal law. He has successfully tried cases in small claims and circuit court, with winning verdicts received in jury trials and bench trials. He also assists buyers and sellers in a variety of real estate transactions and helps landowners with zoning issues and other property disputes. James is also a municipal attorney, providing representation to the City of Delavan, Town of Linn, and Town of Sharon. James has been elected to the bench three times where he served as Municipal Judge for the City of Elkhorn from 2015 to 2023. During that time, James was asked by the Office of Judicial Education to present various seminars at municipal court education conferences. The topics included rules of evidence and the role of the municipal court prosecutor. James is also a founding member of the Elkhorn Economic Development Alliance and previously served as that organization's President.
In 2014, James argued before the Supreme Court of Wisconsin in State v. Hemp, 2014 WI 129, 359 Wis.2d 320, 856 N.W.2d 811. He assisted his client in that case from the circuit court through the highest court in the state, winning a unanimous decision on behalf of his client. The decision has become the seminal case concerning the expungement of a defendant's criminal conviction in Wisconsin.
James attended UW - Stevens Point, where he served as president of the Student Government Association and graduated in 2005 with a B.S. in political science. He then studied at the University of St. Thomas School of Law in Minneapolis, Minnesota. While in law school James clerked at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota and was a research assistant for Constitutional Law scholar Thomas C. Berg. He earned the Dean's Award for Advanced Trial Advocacy in his third year and received his Juris Doctorate in 2008.
James is a member of the Wisconsin Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Walworth County Bar Association, and he is licensed to practice in the United States District Court of Wisconsin, both Western and Eastern Districts.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Member of the Wisconsin Bar Association
Patrick M. Starnes joined Seymour Kremer Koch LLP as an Associate Attorney in February 2024. His primary focus is criminal defense, general civil matters including small claims, landlord tenant, and restraining orders along with estate planning, probate, guardianships, and real estate. Patrick received his Bachelor of the Arts Degree in Political Science from Purdue University in 2006 and his Master of Business Administration from Benedictine University in 2009. He then went on to earn his Juris Doctorate degree from Michigan State University College of Law in 2012.
While in law school, Patrick clerked for the State of Michigan Court of Appeals. He also earned the Jurisprudence/Dean's Award in Consumer Law and Conflict Resolution, as well as the Best Brief and Top Advocate awards in Moot Court. Prior to joining Seymour Kremer Koch LLP, Patrick served as an Assistant State's Attorney, where he prosecuted thousands of cases ranging from traffic tickets to Murder.
Patrick is a member of the Wisconsin Bar Association, American Bar Association and Walworth County Bar Association. He is also licensed to practice in the state of Illinois.
Steven A. Koch was born in July of 1963 in Madison, Wisconsin. Steve graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1986 with honors with a Bachelor of Science Degree. He graduated in 1989 from the University of Wisconsin with his Juris Doctorate. Upon leaving law school, he joined the firm as an associate and in 1992 he became a partner. He is a member of the Walworth County Bar Association, the State Bar of Wisconsin, the American Bar Association, and the American Association for Justice.
Steve has won a case before the Wisconsin Supreme Court, State v. Harris, 2004 WI 64. Steve has also argued before the Wisconsin Supreme Court in State v. Armstrong, 223 Wis. 2d 331 (1991). In addition, he has successfully handled appeals in State v. Gerald L.C., 194 Wis. 2d 548 (Ct. App. 1995), and State v. Harris, 2003 WI App. 144.