About Our Attorneys

An Upland and Minden native, Tom attended and obtained his undergraduate degree from Kearney State College prior to attending law school at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Tom has been licensed to practice in Nebraska since 1978 and is Licensed in both state and federal courts. 

Tom has also served as School Attorney for Minden Public Schools, Village Attorney for Kenesaw and Heartwell, and Attorney for the Minden Country Club.

In addition to expertise in Criminal Law and Municipal Law, Tom also maintains a large private practice. His areas of specialty include Probate, Real Estate, Personal Injury, Criminal Law, Family Law, Municipal Law and Civil Litigation.

Shon Lieske joined the Lieske Law Firm in 2005 after receiving his Juris Doctorate in the Spring of 2005 from the University of Nebraska College of Law in Lincoln, Nebraska. 

While at the UNL College of Law, Shon participated in such activities as the Student Bar Association, Law School Republicans, Phi Alpha Delta, and the UNL College of Law free legal clinic and received such honors as the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Advanced Legal Research. 

Since graduation, Shon has attended the National Criminal Defense College’s (NCDC) Trial Skills Program, the National Association of Counsel for Children National Conference, the Bob Chaloupka Trial Skills Program, as well as numerous seminars and regional conferences in his primary practice areas. 

In the Central Nebraska area, Shon has been involved in the Mock Trial Competition as both a Judge and Team Coach, serves as President of PAC2 - a non-profit child-care center - and as an Alumni Advisor to the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity in the campus of his alma mater, the University of Nebraska–Kearney.

In his years of practice, Shon has litigated cases in Felony and Misdemeanor Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, Paternity, Divorce, Custody, Probate, Juvenile Court, Municipal Law, and other areas of Civil Litigation.  

Shon is currently Public Defender for Adams County, Nebraska and is also Village Attorney for both Kenesaw and Heartwell, Nebraska and a shareholder in the Law Firm of Lieske, Lieske & Ensz PC, LLO. Shon formerly served as a Deputy Public Defender in both Kearney County and Adams County, Nebraska.

Jeffrey P. Ensz received his Juris Doctorate in the Spring of 2008 from the University of Nebraska College of Law in Lincoln, Nebraska, and he has worked at Lieske, Lieske & Ensz PC, LLO since August of 2008. 

Jeff is experienced in several areas of legal practice, including, divorce and custody litigation, criminal defense, civil litigation, personal injury claims, estate planning, and probate. 

Jeff is a seasoned litigator and has successfully litigated many claims, some of which include personal injury awards and not-guilty verdicts in multiple felony criminal jury trials. In addition to his private practice, Jeff is a deputy public defender for Kearney County. 

Jeff is an active member of the Minden and Kearney communities, having served on boards of directors for the Minden Chamber of Commerce, Minden Teammates, and the Minden Community Players. Jeff is also the current present of the Kearney Community Theatre board of directors and the Buffalo County Citizen Advocacy board of directors. 

As a certified family law mediator, Jeff has additionally mediated over 100 custody and divorce cases resulting in various settlements of child custody, parenting time, child-related financial issues, alimony, and property division. Jeff is available for an in-person consultation at his Minden office.

Makenzi Gangwish was born and raised in the Hastings, Nebraska area before embarking on her journey to Orlando, Florida. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Central Florida prior to receiving her Juris Doctor Degree from the Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law in Orlando, Florida in 2022.

While attending Barry University School of Law, Makenzi participated in the Externship Program, the Barry University Juvenile Defense Clinic, Phi Alpha Delta, and the Legal Research and Writing Clinic. Makenzi has been fortunate enough to have obtained legal experience at the Adams County Public Defender’s Office and the Hall County Juvenile Public Defender’s Office in Criminal and Juvenile Defense. She was a Senior Certified Law Student during the summer of 2021 with the Adams County Public Defender’s Office. Makenzi passed the Nebraska Bar Examination in July of 2022.

During the time spent locally and in Orlando, Makenzi has continued to be an active member in the Hastings dance community. She enjoys working with local dance teams in preparation for performances as well as teaching various styles at the local dance studio. Outside of dance, Makenzi loves traveling with her family and watching her younger brother compete in numerous sports through the year.

Makenzi is excited to be living back in the Hastings area with her fiancé and two dogs. Additionally, upon passing the bar exam, is excited to begin working as an associate attorney with the Law Firm of Lieske, Lieske, & Ensz PC, LLO.