More than a just partner, Strohbehn the ‘go to’ attorney

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Erin Strohbehn never quite knows what kind of case will cross her desk.

She likes it that way.

“Whatever comes in the door is on the table,” said Strohbehn, a partner at Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown in Milwaukee. “I’m lucky to have a variety of cases and clients.”

Strohbehn has a well-rounded litigation practice, representing clients in civil, personal-injury, insurance, employment and probate disputes. She also works on trial and appellate briefs for the entire practice. She attributes her writing ability to the wide diversity of cases she handles.

“Having strong writing skills is invaluable for an attorney,” she said. “So much of what you do today as an attorney involves writing since there’s not many cases that go all the way to trial. Most of the time you are arguing your case in front of a mediator or a judge, not a jury — if the case ever gets that far.”

Her communication abilities come into play when making arguments in front of a judge or mediator or in discussions with opposing counsel and clients.

Strohbehn joined Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown as a law clerk after graduating from Marquette University with a bachelor’s degree in print journalism. She later attended Marquette University Law School and eventually became an associate at the firm.

In addition to her busy litigation practice, Strohbehn has taken on many of the firm’s managing duties.

“We do not have a managing partner,” she said. “I have a strong, take-charge personality, and I use that to help the firm run more smoothly. I have my fingers on the pulse of the administrative issues of the practice.”

That means if the dishwasher breaks, Strohbehn said, “It becomes my problem, but most of the time what I need to take on is not that dramatic.”

In addition to her work at the firm, Strohbehn is active in the community as president of the Divine Savior Holy Angels High School Alumnae Association, a volunteer for the ALS’ Evening of Hope Benefit and the Milwaukee Young Lawyers Association.

“Erin is an absolutely essential part of the firm’s outstanding reputation as well as an extremely active member of the community,” said Britt Wegner, the marketing director for Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown. “She is definitely our ‘go to’ person for many of the managing duties of the firm.”