Emery Harlan named Lifetime Legal Innovator by State Bar of Wisconsin

Milwaukee, Wisconsin – Nov. 8, 2018 – MWH Law Group, a certified minority-owned law firm, announced today that Emery Harlan, founding partner, was named a Lifetime Legal Innovator for the State Bar of Wisconsin’s fifth annual “That’s a Fine Idea: Legal Innovation Wisconsin” initiative. The honor was announced alongside five additional innovators in the November issue of Wisconsin Lawyer, the State Bar’s flagship publication. Harlan will formally accept the award at a ceremony in Madison on Dec. 7, 2018.

The Legal Innovation Wisconsin initiative aims to help facilitate a future where lawyers thrive in an evolving and competitive marketplace. For the legal profession, innovation equals improvement for the customer or the lawyer, from
offering a new product, service, or business model to increase the efficiency of delivery systems or internal operations.

“We hope these innovations can help lead to a future where lawyers thrive in an ever-changing and highly competitive legal marketplace,” said Tom Watson, chair of the Innovation Subcommittee of the State Bar’s Communications Committee, in the November issue of Wisconsin Lawyer.

Harlan has more than 25 years of experience as a trial lawyer representing clients from a broad array of industries in complex civil litigation matters. His practice includes an emphasis on defending companies and government entities in high profile, aggravated discrimination matters. Harlan has represented numerous companies caught in the crosshairs of national civil rights groups and succeeded in achieving behind the scenes “win-win” resolutions.

“Throughout his career, Emery has taken the same focus and energy he uses on behalf of clients in the courtroom and used it to promote greater diversity and inclusion in the legal profession,” said Kerrie Murphy, managing partner of MWH Law Group. “This work is reflected on a national level, a community level, and at our company level, where a diverse and inclusive environment is the catalyst for attorney growth and success.”

Prior to co-founding MWH Law Group, Harlan served as Chairman of Gonzalez Saggio & Harlan, one of the largest minority-owned law firms in the United States. He also co-founded the premier trade association focused on creating opportunities for women and minority-owned law firms – the National Association of Minority & Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF) and currently serves as Chairman Emeritus. Additionally, since its formation, Harlan has served as an advisor to the Minority In-House Counsel Association (MIHCA) – an organization focused on developing and promoting minority in-house lawyers.

Harlan is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School.

“I am deeply appreciative of this recognition from the State Bar,” said Harlan. “My success in the profession is due, in large part, to the many outstanding diverse lawyers who blazed a path for me and many others. I have worked to pay my debt by advocating for greater diversity in the profession. For our profession is better when it reflects the diversity found in society.”

About MWH Law Group LLP
MWH Law Group LLP is a certified minority-owned law firm delivering the highest quality legal advice and service. MWH harnesses the power of its attorneys’ diverse backgrounds to provide a broader and more complete perspective for clients. The firm’s legal expertise includes labor and employment, litigation, corporate, transactional, real estate, technology, intellectual property, and public finance. MWH provides legal services across a wide range of industries with a strategic focus on financial services, technology, retail, food and beverage, and manufacturing. For more information, visit https://mwhlawgroup.com