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It’s all in the family for Lonergan

By: JESSICA STEPHEN//September 30, 2015//

It’s all in the family for Lonergan

By: JESSICA STEPHEN//September 30, 2015//

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New attorneys don’t come much tougher than Emily Lonergan.

“She is such a tenacious advocate for her clients,” said Christopher Strohbehn, a partner at Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown. “She is someone who has no fear of going to trial, which is very rare in today’s climate. She also has a battery to go along with it. A ton of people want to try cases but don’t actually want to do all the work; some people tend to get tired of that. She is not one of those people. As things get closer, she gets stronger. I don’t know how she does it.”

It’s a bit of a family secret, actually.

“I can’t speak highly enough of my support network,” said Lonergan, an associate attorney at Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown.

Team Lonergan includes her father, Kevin Lonergan, who has been practicing for more than 30 years; her sister, Kristen Lonergan, who has been an attorney since 2010; and her wife, Sarah Knutson, who has been a lawyer since 2011 – a network of past and present plaintiff’s personal injury attorneys happy to provide 24/7 support, including during trial.

“It’s been amazing to be surrounded by lawyers during my career. My dad’s influence has been great, especially practicing the same practice area as I do. So, when I’m in trial, I could call him two to three times a day or more and say, ‘Here’s my latest theory.’ And he brainstorms with me. My sister has been practicing a year longer than I have, but I can call her, too. And I shouldn’t leave out Sarah. I call my dad two or three times a day sometimes, but she’s got it 24/7 with me at home.”

Even the non-attorneys in the Lonergan family get into the act.

“I do also have two siblings and a mom who are not lawyers. My mom, Liz, being the victim primarily,” Lonergan deadpanned. “I will also call her and run things by her. It’s great to get the perspective of someone who’s not in law. They’re starting from the same place as a juror.”

It’s an advantage that has served her well. And one she’s trying to share with others.

Lonergan has worked as a moot court coach for a former Milwaukee Public School’s charter school and is currently a coach at Marquette University Law School’s Moot Court team, which advanced last year to the National Moot Court Competition for the first time in nearly 40 years.

Lonergan also is co-chair of the state bar’s mock trial program, which includes more than 100 teams.

“People have helped me,” Lonergan said. “I want to give back.”

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