Four Baker Sterchi Team Members Named to 2026 Wisconsin Law Journal Legal All-Stars List

Four Baker Sterchi team members have been selected for the Wisconsin Law Journal’s 2026 Legal All-Star Awards. Madison attorneys Katherine Cortesy and Christa Keel have been named Rising Young Lawyers, while Green Bay legal professionals Amber Heise and Katie Houska have been recognized as Unsung Heroes in the Law.

The Rising Young Lawyer category recognizes attorneys with fewer than eight years of experience who have demonstrated professional achievement and leadership early in their careers. The Unsung Heroes in the Law category honors legal professionals whose contributions and behind-the-scenes efforts support their colleagues, clients and organizations.

Cortesy focuses her practice on insurance defense litigation, with an emphasis on personal injury, product liability and medical malpractice. She has second-chaired multiple medical malpractice jury trials resulting in defense verdicts and is active in Wisconsin Defense Counsel (WDC), where she co-chairs the Law School Committee. She has also received recognition as a rising lawyer, as well as from WDC for her professional contributions and leadership.

Keel represents individuals, professionals and insurers in civil litigation, including medical malpractice defense, professional liability and insurance matters. She serves on the WDC Board of Directors, participates in Central Insurance’s Next Generation Cohort and has received other recognition from national legal ranking organizations for her professional achievements.

Heise has served as a paralegal with the firm for nearly 10 years, while Houska has served as a legal administrative assistant since 2008. Both provide support to Baker Sterchi attorneys and clients and have worked alongside Member Mark Budzinski throughout their tenure with the firm.