Helping others drew Reinhart’s Davenport to litigation

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Growing up, Andrea Davenport would often sit starry-eyed while listening to her father talk about his job as a litigator. After majoring in legal studies and psychology as an undergrad at the University of Wisconsin, she knew being an attorney was in the stars.

“I was always interested hearing my dad talk about what he did,” said Davenport, an attorney with Reinhart Boerner Van Dueren in Milwaukee. “I did not intend to follow in his footsteps as a commercial litigator, but it was what was really interesting to me. I enjoy helping individuals and organizations out.”

Davenport said litigators have the unique ability to help clients with their concerns.

“It’s about helping them solve a problem. You can look at the big picture and then develop a solution that will work best,” she said. “With long-term clients you can help them develop forward-looking strategies.”

Davenport gained legal experience participating as an advocate and coach on the Wisconsin Moot Court Board, externing for the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Civil Litigation Unit and working as a legal clerk on business litigation cases with a Minneapolis boutique firm.

Davenport now works on a variety of litigation cases, including commercial disputes, product liability and intellectual property disputes. In addition to her work at Reinhart, she also volunteers at the Milwaukee Justice Center with several of her co-workers, providing pro bono legal advice.

“It’s a rewarding experience. You sit down with clients face-to-face and help them with whatever their problem may be,” Davenport said. “It’s amazing how many people come in and say they are grateful to just have someone listen to them and their problem.”

Wisconsin Law Journal: What makes your work important to you?
Andrea Davenport: I enjoy helping individuals and organizations work through complex issues. At its core, I see my job as one that allows me to work with my clients to answer difficult questions and find solutions to difficult situations. Being able to help my clients in this way is extremely rewarding.

WLJ: What do you do outside of work to deal with stress from the office?
Davenport: Spending time with my friends and family is my biggest stress reliever. I am lucky to have many close friends in and around Milwaukee, so I spend as much time with them as I can. I also regularly visit my family in Madison.

WLJ: What’s one thing many people get wrong about what you do?
Davenport: I think many people are surprised to learn that much of a litigator’s job is writing convincingly, as opposed to simply presenting arguments in the courtroom. Cases are usually built upon documents and are often argued, or resolved, through writing long before a litigator sets foot in the courtroom.

WLJ: What’s your favorite memory from law school?
Davenport: My favorite memory from law school was getting sworn in as a member of the Wisconsin State Bar. I knew long before I started law school that I wanted to be a lawyer, so the moment I actually became licensed to practice in Wisconsin was very meaningful to me. It was also a special day because my father, who is an attorney in Madison, was able to move my admission to the bar. Sharing such an important moment in my life with my family made that day even more memorable for me.