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Overview

Emily drives consistency and minimizes chaos for clients pursuing or defending contract claims.

Emily represents and advises businesses in pursuit or defense of contractual claims. She provides legal guidance and project management through the often-chaotic prospect and realities of litigation—including pre-litigation analysis and negotiation; all aspects of discovery, motion practice, trial, and appeal; as well as other alternative dispute resolution opportunities. Whether conducting investigations, negotiating the end of a contractual relationship, or managing lawsuits in state and federal courts, Emily brings an unparalleled ability to drive consistency that clients value. Her creative problem-solving abilities allow her to craft innovative legal strategies tailored to each client's unique goals and circumstances.

A master at imposing order, Emily initiates and executes detailed processes and procedures to minimize the disruption litigation often brings. She understands that legal disputes can derail a company's operations and momentum. As both a legal advisor and project manager, she collaborates with clients to implement systems for organization, communication, and keeping key initiatives advancing smoothly. Drawing from her studies in well-being at Yale, Emily works to optimize time management and workflow efficiency to mitigate strains.

Emily is passionate about safeguarding clients' long-term interests amid complex legal challenges. Her holistic approach immerses her fully in their businesses, bringing consistency, communication, and control despite the unpredictability of litigation. Emily's focused project management enables her to guide clients through litigation while ensuring overarching corporate visions remain on path.

Industries

Services

Recognition

  • Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America
    • Alternative Dispute Resolution, 2021-2025
    • Commercial Litigation, 2021-2025
  • Corporate Counsel, Women, Influence & Power in Law, Mental Health & Well Being Initiative, 2024
  • BizTimes Milwaukee
    • Rising Stars in Law, 2022
  • Wisconsin Super Lawyers
    • Rising Star, 2021-2023
  • Wisconsin Access to Justice Commission, Wisconsin Pro Bono Honor Society, 2016-2019
  • Forward 48, 2021 Class

Education

  • J.D., University of Mississippi School of Law
    • Mississippi Law Journal, Editor-in-Chief
    • magna cum laude
  • B.A., Wake Forest University
    • cum laude

Admissions

  • Wisconsin
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin

Professional Memberships and Certifications

  • Wisconsin Law Foundation, Fellow, 2023
  • The American Lawyer's Young Lawyers Editorial Board, Inaugural Member, 2017-2022
  • State Bar of Wisconsin, Young Lawyers Division, Past President; Wisconsin Taskforce on Lawyer Well-Being, Inaugural Member and Committee Chair, 2020-2022
  • Milwaukee Bar Association, 2014-present; Board Member, 2024-present
  • Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association, Co-Chair of Membership Committee, 2022-present
  • Forward 48 Alumni Advisory Board, 2022-present
  • Certificate for "The Science of Well-Being," Yale University, March 2020

Clerkships

  • Hon. Pamela Pepper, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • Hon. Pamela Pepper, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
2023 Pro Bono Achiever
Experience

Litigation

  • Advised and consulted on practices and procedures for clients across practice areas and industries facing claims in federal court, particularly the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
  • Defended client against claims under Wisconsin's minimum-markup law and related to proving up daily gas prices.
  • Obtained favorable arbitration awards for nationwide client facing consumer breach of contract claims.
  • Advised clients making changes in dealer, distributor, and sales representative relationships, including litigating cases arising under relationship terminations laws, such as the Wisconsin Fair Dealership Law.
  • Defended client against complex and multi-million dollar breach of contract claim, arising from multifaceted business transaction and financial advisor agreement.
  • Defended client against breach of trust claims and negotiated favorable settlement.
  • Managed sophisticated and sizeable document collection, review, and production in large breach of contract case.

Contract Review and Counseling

  • Negotiated contract termination between family-owned Wisconsin business and SaaS provider.
  • Reviewed and provided strategy for adjusting contract terms and potential termination of agreement between manufacturer and IT service provider.
  • Researched and advised on options for addressing breach of real estate broker agreement and potential claims against mortgage corporations.

Pro Bono

  • Successfully challenged conditions of confinement at Wisconsin's juvenile prison.
  • Obtained favorable jury verdict for defamation against Sandy Hook conspiracy theorist; affirmed in all aspects on appeal.
  • Created end of life documents for first responders and other public servants through Wisconsin's Wills For Heroes Program.
Media Mentions | September 13, 2022
BizTimes: Rising Stars in Law: Emily Stedman
Outside the Office

As a junior and mid-level associate, Emily became passionate about lawyer well-being and how the realities of big law impact anxiety and mental health. She pressed the topic while president of the Young Lawyers Division for the State Bar of Wisconsin, creating programming on mindfulness for attorneys. That developed into serving on the Wisconsin Taskforce for Lawyer Well-Being and ultimately building a platform on LinkedIn where she posts regularly on the realities of being a Big Law associate and the need to destigmatize lawyer well-being. Emily also produces her own podcast, The Grace Period, covering topics that affect the legal industry like mental health and wellbeing, the billable hour, and time and practice management.

Part of how Emily prioritizes her own well-being is by keeping up with her tennis game. Emily has been playing tennis from the age of five, staying with the sport for its camaraderie, community building, and competition.

Emily and her husband, Dave, enjoy their family cabin Up North, cheering for the Packers, and traveling (recently visiting Whistler and Vancouver, Canada, as well as the Houston Rodeo).

Community Leadership

Emily is dedicated to pro bono and community service.

Before beginning her legal career, Emily served as a Corps Member with Teach for America, teaching fifth grade in rural Arizona, outside of Phoenix.

Emily now maintains an active pro bono practice, including creating end of life documents for first responders and other civil servants through Wisconsin’s Wills for Heroes Program. She also accepts pro bono appointments in prisoner litigation, and her past significant cases have included challenging confinement conditions at Wisconsin's only juvenile prison and obtaining a favorable jury verdict for defamation damages against a Sandy Hook conspiracy theorist. 

Emily also serves on the planning committee for the annual fundraiser for Milwaukee Parks Foundation (Go Green for Parks).

LinkedIn Blogging

Emily is passionate about attorney wellbeing and routinely uses her LinkedIn profile as her blog on the subject. Connect with Emily and follow her posts to stay in tune with wellness and what it's like to be an associate in "Big Law."